If you own a classic motorcycle, you may eventually have an ignition coil fail. There are several options available such as: Lucas (UK), Lucas (India), NGK, Remax, Bosch and of course manufacturers’ own offerings. Most of those will be good replacements, but the one from Lucas (India) is not. They simply suffer from reliability issues. […]
How to build a stand for working on moto...
If, like me, you enjoy restoring, rebuilding and repairing classic motorcycles, you’ll know that working on their hubs and brakes can be awkward when the wheels are off the bike. Some of the older ones have spindles / axles that don’t simply slide out of the hubs; they need to be pressed out. Having the […]
Repairing a vintage Rom Pom Grease Gun
Brand new grease guns are relatively inexpensive these days, but they tend to be quite large and unwieldy for smaller jobs; they are large as they are normally refilled using long plastic cartridges of grease. Medium sized vintage grease guns made by the likes of Enots, Tecalemit, Wanner and Rom Pom are available at autojumbles […]
How to start a motorcycle fitted with an...
When I bought my 1954 Norton International Model 30, it came fitted with its original Amal 10TT9 carburettor. I asked a few people about it on the relevant forums; some loved them, but many did not. I did try the bike with the 10TT9 on it; cold starting was relatively straight forward, but I simply […]
A Myford Super 7 Lathe – for making roun
My Dad used to have an engineering workshop that included things like lathes, milling machines, drilling machines and the like. After he passed away we sold his workshop equipment at Mum’s request. I wish I’d kept his green Myford lathe, but I wasn’t ready for one at the time. I’ve needed various bits making over […]
Lucas Wiring Colour Code Key
If you’ve ever wondered what the colour code for wiring on your British bikes was, here’s your answer. The colour code is standard across the various brands to make it easier for garages and dealers to make quick repairs. If you’re thinking of making modifications to your bike or adding things such as indicators, it […]
012825 Matchless AJS Front Wheel Spindle...
I thought I’d write this page as a result of problems encountered whilst replacing the front wheel bearings and spindle on my 1953 Matchless G3LS. (# see my ‘update’ at the bottom of this page) My bike has a 1956 ‘barrel shaped’ front hub and uses a complete front spindle and bearing assembly, part number […]
Tekaloid Black Paint
At one time all vehicles were offered in black, black…or you could choose black instead. Then came maroon, dark green then some of the more sombre colours British vehicles were famous for. One of the leading brands of paint was Tekaloid by Thornley & Knight, a very durable coach enamel that was originally applied with […]
Lucas Lead Replacer
If, like me, you have a penchant for classic motorcycles and / or cars, you will know that most of them were designed in a time when petrol had no ethanol in it, but did have a small amount of lead. The lead was there to lubricate things like valve stems and other critical engine […]
AJS Twins…well almost
Last week, on the 2nd of November 2022 to be precise, I hired a long wheelbase Ford Transit van from Tyne Valley Car and Van Hire; they are literally a couple of miles up the road. A friend and I went up to see Roddy and Doris Jones in Damhead, near Edinburgh, to pick up […]