Member postings for colin brannigan

It was believed that custard was invented in my hometown of Swansea but this was just an urban myth, some chemist in Birmingham invented it, not sure if invented is the right word.

But Swansea did have the first passenger carrying railway horse drawn of course, 1807 I believe.

Regards Colin

That looks really nice Tony, a brilliant job, nothing looks out of place, a real credit to you, well done

Colin

Hello to all,

I built a paddock starter many years back and the last time I used it the start capacitor blew so I ordered another and decided to fit it today but sadly that one also blew, not good.

I checked the centrifugal switch and it did seem very dry so cleaned it and put some lube on, ran the motor up with my drill (2,800) and switch opened slightly before reaching that speed.

Before I fit another start capacitor could anyone pass comment good or bad on the motor connections in the photo below, I put my cheap multi meter across the windings and got 1 ohm from one and 2 ohms from the other, the motor runs in reverse and has run fine until now, I have had the connections off and on a few times today and am a little lost as to what they were originally.

If anyone can shed a little light or advice I would be grateful, but please remember I am a humble toolmaker so please keep it simple, my gut feeling is it was the centrifugal switch

Kind regards Colin

Sorry should have said start capacitor is between Z1 and V1 run capacitor is between Z1 and V2

Edited By colin brannigan on 22/05/2023 18:43:15

Hi all,

It has been a busy few months as previously stated I started work on the Douglas beginning of January and it was completed last week, it ran, a little lumpy so that needs looking at but it was pumping oil around and the generator was charging. I have not ridden on the road yet but everything seems okay, but it's far from original the rivet counters will have a field day, I had a pile of parts which were Douglas and from the 1930's but from different models so it took a bit of working out but I am happy with the way it turned out.

This is what I bought..................

How it turned out..................

Lots of stuff had to be made like wheel spindles, fork spindles and bushes, steering damper, drive sprocket, headlamp is homemade from a Lucas and Miller bits with a Chinese lens thrown in. The rear carrier was also made, the leather tool box were from ebay, all we need now is a V5c from the DVLA.

Kind regards Colin

Many years back we used a straight mineral oil for all machine gearboxes including 1, 2, 3 and 7A Ward capstans probably an SAE 40 oil, it all came from a 1000 gallon tank with a label on it saying General Lubricating Oil.

Nice to work on, well nicer than Herbert capstans, that's only my opinion. most had War Finish tags on them, they were still running when new company management decided to shut the machine shop and contract it all out that was 1990ish.

Colin

I bought a 500g tin of Tref off ebay (£20) in January to replace the one that came home with me when I retired in 2018, that's five years it lasted that's not bad, it is my go to cutting compound for tapping into steel and Dormer Super Cut for aluminium.

I love the smell of Tref, reminds me of college in 66, threading conduit in electrical practice and it was a lovely shade of green.

Colin

Edited By colin brannigan on 09/03/2023 15:39:06

Very nice indeed Phil.

Colin

Linda Ronstadt ...........my all time favourite female singer, she has it all.

Colin

Price for chrome incl vat and postage was £480 the cost of new pattern replacement parts was around £575 so my notes say.

The Douglas parts will be close to £800 with no option or pattern parts

Colin

Last week I sent off the chrome work from the Douglas, it's a 1930 machine so it had chrome and nickel but I am going all chrome, I am not having the tank done it will be silver as chrome was an option, again anyone want a guess a price.

Talking cost, I do most things myself so I save a lot but I can spend from £2.5k to £4k depending on the machine.

Mag recon £400 to £500

Dynamo £250

Rims + spokes un plated £300, good chrome £450

Exhausts new, £200 to £400

Speedo £175

Seat/ Saddle £200

Tyres tubes £150 to £250

That's close to £2k and you not looked at the engine and box yet, are the stanchions rusty, or the girders bent, it's an endless money pit but when that engine fires up and the oil is pumping around and the dynamo is charging, no rattles or smoke it's a bloody wonderful feeling.

Riding a bike that's 70, 80 or even 90 years old with the sun shining it's just brilliant.

Kind regards Colin

As we are talking chrome anyone like to guess the price of triple plate chroming of these eight parts I had done last year.

Regards Colin

Yes Hopper I hope it will keep me going through the Winter and into the Spring. Hi Paul, I have been a Douglas member for five years, maybe more since I bought a Dragonfly and there's enough info on the forum to keep you in reading for years.

Colin

Just started my latest project, it's I believe a 1930ish Douglas T6 600cc twin, it's mostly all there and should make a tidy ride when complete.

Colin

Bought my Moore & Wright box in 1966 for the sum of £13, that would have been around a months wages then but was allowed to pay it off at a few bob a week.

I still have it up in the attic but it had been sadly abused over the years along with my other two wooden boxes I gathered over the years.

Colin

While we are talking rapid despatch................ yesterday I ordered two sprockets online from Bearing Boys at around three in the afternoon, had despatch confirmed at three forty five, this morning Rod my Royal Mail postman handed me the two sprockets at eleven thirty.

I couldn't believe it, neither could Rod because he said the backlog at the local sorting office is piled high, also had delivery by Parcel Force containing my steel order from Noggin End, at least I have plenty to do over the festive period.

Colin

Last Thursday I travelled to the National Motorcycles Museum (Solihull), I left Swansea at 6 am and arrived there at 8 45, loaded the motorcycle I had bought the previous day (online auction), had a coffee and left at 9 30 arriving back in Swansea at 12 30, round trip of 320 miles, I didn't enjoy it but needs must.

What made it bearable is I have a Renault Trafic LWB van, the high driving position allows me to see more and it's very comfortable to drive, better than most cars I have owned but it can be a pain to park in towns and cities.

The days of going "out for a spin" n a car are long gone, there is no enjoyment but going out for a ride on a motorcycle still brings a smile to my face, mostly on B roads but a few A roads too, I avoid duals and motorways at all costs.

I have the same lift, bought it new ten years ago for under £300 and worth every penny. But be warned you will forget on times to raise the bike, well I do and find yourself on your hands n knees.

It also serves as an extra bench, without a bike on of course, just a warning the lift does creep down if you don't fit the locking pin.

Kind regards Colin

I left Secondary Modern school in 65 and went to a Further Education college on a pre-apprenticeship engineering course containing mechanical and electrical practice and theory including technical drawing and science, we were also shown how to write application letters and how to conduct oneself in an interview.

At the end of that college year you sat an exam and if your mark was high you went on to G2, above average was T2 and average you went on to MECP2, needles to say I ended up on the craft course. I had several apprenticeship offers and the company offering me the post was part of the EITB, i was never given any books but the books I bought were Chapmans and Engineering Practice, a blue one, The first year of the four year apprenticeship was fulltime in college, that would be 66 which at seventeen was great, lots of girls attending commercial and pre-nursing courses, I also remember a log book one had to fill in every day.

Anyone remember the forty hour practical exam in year four?

Colin

After buying a SPG 2217 mill in 2016 I bought a Chinese 3 axis DRO off ebay and have had no issues at all with it and it's done a lot of work, infact the whole machine has been fault free. Once you get used to it you wonder how you managed without and don't worry about the features you don't understand or use...... you may one day.

I also bought a M-DRO set up for my very old Myford 7 which again has been fault free and it fitted perfectly and makes life so much easier.

Both of the above have been money well spent and you won't regret it.

Kind regards Colin

PS

Are SPG still trading?

I bought a petrol tank from India for my Ariel Sq 4 and the cost was £207, I was then hit with duty which came to £60 and you have to pay before delivery.

Regards Colin