Member postings for Chris Evans 6

If it machines easily it may be 303 grade. 304 can be a bitch to machine and 316 is easier but not to drill and tap. 303 wins for me every time for the cosmetic stuff.

All the sizes are on the net. I get away with 5/16" x 32 tpi for the bigger ones when making motorcycle retaining nuts. The bespoke taps and dies are pricey for the odd nut.

That is a great start, will you be making patterns for the castings ?

Welcome long Steve, the advice to buy a bit more than needed is sound for building up a stock. You also have some handy for when you produce scrap and have to start again.

Your starting clue 10 = 0.25

I concur, some years ago I bought a 1 metre length of leadscrew and two bronze nuts for around £65/£70 (memory ?) I had enough to replace the cross slide screw on my lathe plus make up a spare screw and nut. I still have the spare and a bit of the unused leadscrew.

I have no knowledge to help you but welcome along to the forum. Someone will sure to have an answer for you soon.

Welcome along to the forum. Any ideas re what you would like to make ?

When I made my holder some years ago I seem to recall 7 degrees as a requirement. I used a 14 degree inclusive angle dovetail cutter from my woodworking router set. High spindle speed and very light cuts worked. Difference of 1 degree to your 8 degree requirement may not be noticed over the depth of the slot if you use 14 degree inclusive ?

Once Covid is under control I will have a search for the Hinkley training facility. I am only about 25/30 miles away and would love to improve.

I learnt to gas weld 50+ years ago and got to a stage where I was happy enough with the results. I have had a dabble at TIG and find it difficult.

Big miles on Japanese bikes are not unusual, my Yamaha Diversion owned for 25+ years has 132,000 miles on it. It broke a starter gear at 12,000 miles which meant engine out and split the crankcases. All back together with silicone sealant as I could not afford a gasket set and not touched since. I commuted 200 miles a week plus a 90 mile round trip at the weekend to visit my Mother. I have never had an unreliable bike including all the old British stuff before the Yamaha, all were good.

Welcome along, if you can post a picture of a typical part you would like to make. I am curious having never been the slightest bit musical.

Biggest problem with my Sprite trials iron was the riders incompetence. For me I felt the steering head angle was a little to steep, great for a good rider on the tight nadgery stuff but a tendency to "Tuck under" for the less skilled.

Veloce certainly did things their own way. I've spent a lot of time over the last couple of years working on a 1920s KTT. It took forever correcting all the 90 years of bodging incorrect parts. Camshaft bevel shimming was "interesting".

Joe Craig down the road at Norton must have had a wry smile when he saw the Velo way compared to the Norton. Or is it because I have played with the cammy Norton before ?

As someone with a passion for old pre-war bikes I agree prices are getting stupid. However give it another 5 or 10 years and I believe prices will tumble. Most folk who want these machines are like me in their 70s. Not many younger chaps have any desire to own and work on the older stuff.

I was just looking at the insert size, I did not know the code refered to a hole. Guess I can't help but will still look in my box of unused inserts in case I have something suitable.

I may have some TPUN inserts that would possibly fit, they are a turning tip but a quick touch on a diamond wheel and they work well for milling. I will look tomorrow and if I have any I will let you know and post for the cost of posting.

Nine months now since I had a stroke and only just feeling like doing what I used to do. (didn't stop totally but everything seemed like slow hard work) Looking forward to getting back to 4 or 5 hours a day on the old motorcycles and machining for them. Even during the covid times people where asking me to do jobs for them, had to refuse as not wishing to let them down and post stroke concentration was poor.

I am sometimes guilty of working until ass deep in swarf. Then it's down tools sweep up/clean and oil things to start again. Very satisfying when cleaned up.