Hints & Tips
(or "Lessons Learnt from HARD experiences!!")
Gearbox drain plug - it's the one underneath towards the rear of the engine and NEAREST to the gearbox output sprocket (NOT the one on the kickstart side - take that out at your peril as the kickstart return spring tension will be lost).
Pre-lube Oil Pump - Our advice is NOT to try and do-away with the Pre-lube Oil Pump and use pre-mix. The ignition side crankshaft main bearing ONLY really gets its oil via the pump. The pumps are reputedly extremely reliable.
The Carburettor drillings and jets do get blocked with crud if left standing for a long time - they need great care and patience to clean them out properly. We've lost count of the number of times we've suggested you'll have to do it three or fours times to get the bike to subsequently run clean !
Spark Plugs - We've found NGK B8ES Spark Plugs to be better than Champion N3.
The Clutch Cable can be released from the engine operating arm without taking the clutch side outer cover off the engine.
- Take off the cable at the handlebar to give maximum slack in the inner wire.
- Take out the access plug in the clutch side outer cover.
- Pushing the inner into the engine away from the operating arm, using a wire hook or a small screwdriver, unhook the cable downwards from the arm - not easy to describe but when you've succeeded you'll see why.
- Install the new cable at the engine end first using the same principles.
The Rear Chain is 102 links of '520' - for those that don't know that's nothing more than the code for good old English 5/8" x 1/4" chain ! (where the code relates to '5' = 5 x 1/8" of pitch ie 5/8" and the '2' (2.0) = 2 x 1/8" of width ie 1/4" - and so 525 (2.5 x 1/8" of width) = 5/8" x 5/16" and 530 (3 x 1/8" of width) = 5/8" x 3/8").
Top Speed - in standard trim they won't pull maximum rpm in top gear but you should see 80 to 85mph with relative ease if you don't mind the vibration! The Military based road racer of Anthony Stock seen in the gallery pulls 8,500 rpm in top on 15/38 gearing and that equates to something like 110 mph.
Fuel Consumption - Riding to work we have seen 50 mpg (that's UK gallons - about 17.7 Kilometres per Litre or 42 mpg for US gallons). Not great, but the grin factor of these bikes more than makes up for any expectation of better.