Member postings for Peter Jones 20

I've got a couple of Jacobs chucks that are a bit 'sticky' in places so I think I'll have a go at fixing them. It won't be a big loss to me if they are scrap as I got most of them 'free' when buying other stuff (the box of junk that often goes with used machinery)

Even though I'm in the USA I also find it annoying as I've mainly worked on Japanese motorcycles since I started 'playing' with bikes in 1968.

'Everything' I have is metric but at least UNC is easily available over here. I usually end up 'converting' to metric threads as it's a real pain having multiple sets of tools to work on stuff. I have very few 'imperial' taps and dies but all sorts of odd size metric (7x0.5, etc)

For such a beautifully made model it would be a great shame to bodge it.

When I was training (1975~) I had to make 100+ rivets for instructor from 1/8" stainless steel welding rod.

Heads were 1/16", I forget shank size but remember they were 3/8" total length. I think I lost almost as many in the swarf tray as I made. (his hobby was clock making and obviously he didn't want to make all the rivets, having a bunch of students able to do it for him)

I wasn't bothered though as it did get me a good grade for 'projects completed'. (or something?)

The right thing to do would be dismantle sections and re-build them with new rivets.

Copper isn't the best idea as it has a galvanic interaction with aluminium (stainless steel has similar reaction with aluminium)

Personally, I would make a bunch of rivets from 6061 then modify a 'Mole' grips to set them (get a cheap copy, remove jaws and grind flat, ball end mill for head and set shank) Just squeezing rivets would make re-assembly pretty quick ,particularly if you 'glue' parts and sub assemblies together first

I've got several sets of 1x2x3 blocks of various qualities, some 'perfect' exact size and others a little undersize after being ground square. It's a neat idea which I had forgotten about as I don't use them very often.

video was too long but was for 'beginners' so I guess he had to explain why he was doing things?

I would have made some double diameter studs as well for the times you want blocks locked together in a larger size (oh, I already did )

Various length studs are easy to make from ordinary bolts, cut the head, off turn shank to diameter and thread it. (heads are usually forged so much tougher than shanks)

All the information was available in the free 'handbook' pages published in the 90's in MEW.

I still have mine and reference it more frequently than I probably should to make comments on You Tube

I had a similar experience in the 80's when I was doing Enduro's.

Andre Zembruski and Geraint Jones (World Enduro champion at the time) set up a course somewhere in mid Wales with a 'rather steep' downhill. They put a checkpoint at the top so people would heve to stop and be warned.

I was riding same minute as my buddy Chris. (he won 250 Clubman championship 1980 or 81?) He went first, stopped and looked down then rolled over the edge. I thought 'pussy' and hit it as about 20mph in second gear. He says I passed him about 8ft in the air, upside down. I only remember 'fish tailing a couple of hundred yards bouncing from one sheep track to the next then seeing a cut down tree about 6ft diameter in front of me.

When I woke up, a kid was standing over me , first thing he said was 'why did you crash, we thought you were going to make it' Apparently I did make it almost all the way down but paniced when I saw tree, got sideways and high sided.

Bike was pretty bent up, the chromoly bars had finally bent (been on about 6 bikes previously) front wheel was hitting forks both sides and I was hurting like hell.

Bike started OK so I got instructions how to get back to start. Trying to wheelie over a bank, I found I had a bunch of broken ribs and almost crashed with the pain.

Found out later I caused a major panic, 4 ambulances were out looking for me, course marshals couldn't find me, they thought I was dead in a ditch somewhere but I was already packed up and on my way home (luckily girlfriend at the time was driving, she and a couple of other people loaded biker into van, no way I could do it) It was my worst crash ever but didn't put me off, later I got a 490 Maico (that tried to kill me many times)

That sounds like advice from the 1900's~1920's for normal highwayas it mentions roads coming in at an angle? (rather thasn tracks you would find off road)

I think Covid has also had a lot to do with shipping delays for anything that can't be sorted by robots. Even internal mailing systems are about 4~5 times longer than was normal 2 years ago.

I ordered some parts from Germany, contacted seller after a few weeks and was told things are taking 2~3 weeks inside the country where it used to be 2~3 days.

I've had parcels held up in local distribution centre for 12~20 days (and that's only about 4 miles away)

Side effects from Covid are wider ranging than most people realise.

Bulk shipping is still cheapest way to move large quantities of 'stuff' long distances,.

Diesel ship engines are the most fuel efficient in the world (above 38% compared to about 30% for normal petrol and a little over 10% for external combustion (steam engines)

Edited By Peter Jones 20 on 21/01/2021 21:48:17

Thanks for the link,

I had no idea this stuff was available online

That is something I've only ever seen on a Villiers engine race bike probably 50 years ago? Wasn't 'mine and never got into it.

My father would have known but he's been gone since 2004.

Edited By Peter Jones 20 on 21/01/2021 21:25:34

Is the type 27 more commonly known as AMAL GP? (my father subscribed to 'red one', 'green on'e and 'blue one' as the major motorcycle magazines were known in 50's and 60's)

There are probably 25 or more years worth of magazines buried in front garden at the house I was born in (maybe some future archeologist will find them if they haven't already rotted away?)

My mother was ferd up with the way they were 'taking over the house' so he 'hid' them from her

I used t have information om the remote needle carb but may have given it to a friend who had one on the BSA he was racing in AHRMA 20 years ago.

If it turns up anywhere I'll see about getting it copied and uploaded

Yep, didn't get on motorway or dual carriageway very often during 'road tests' even though it was only about a mile away so don't know top speed of the older telelever bikes.

The late model/new high cam 4 valve motors are supposed to be good fer over 150 although I've only ever ridden a slightly modified one around a housing estate after fitting a new starter motor and ring gear. Surprisingly easy compared to earlier R series)

There was an issue with the starters though as the location could easily be 'off', alignment was by a rather loose 6mm dia pin on crankcase. Startrer motor would move just far enough to disengage then shred teeth off both parts, lock up and break nose off starter. I still have a broken 'nose' here somewhere, maybe I'll post some pics?

. Reassembling anti-lock braking system was probably more involved (swing arm had metal brake line bracket to it with no way to finagle things out)

I've watched a few of the 'Blondihacks' video's and can't believe she has so many subscribers or Patreon's. She talks to camera as if she has been machining for decades which may fool absolute beginners but anyone who has been a machinist wonders what's going on.

She may have a basic understanding but anyone with internet connection can find much better tutorials. The 'novelty' of a woman machinist doesn't make up for the lack of safe operation or 'this is how you do it'.

If it was 'this is how I do it because I don't know what I'm doing' (which she has said a few times) it wouldn't maker her appear to be an 'expert'

Just because you have money for half decent equipment and a great line in BS it doesn't make you an expert or fit to 'teach' beginners

(I taught total beginners motorcycle technology for almost 12 years so do have an idea what I'm talking about, bad advice is much worse than no advice)

Joe 'Pie' is a very experienced machinist.

Even after 45+ years of working with lathes and mills I often find something new or novel in his video's. (and often confirmation may way is the same as his for some processes)

First thing to do is take a file to it and get rid of the worst of the flash and bumps (particularly what looks like a taper on base?)

Set uo as accurately as you can to machine base flat, use that as datum for bore location. It may be easier to remove tool-post, measure height to centre of lathe spindle and drill using lathe chuck after setting suitable packing height. That way you don't need angle block

Edited By Peter Jones 20 on 19/01/2021 20:51:14

Edited By Peter Jones 20 on 19/01/2021 21:00:43

Edited By Peter Jones 20 on 19/01/2021 21:01:27

Pretty sure 'Statute of Limitations' would apply for something like speeding. (there are very few things where it doesn't apply, murder being most obvious)

It's why I don't have an issue with my avatar on sites. (or a problem relating these stories from the past,)

My 1977 CB550F1 at 100mph, rolling over to 100,000 miles many years before mini sports cams were even thought of (1982)

If I can find it on the various hard drives I've had over the years I'll change my grandsons picture to something more 'fitting'

The BMW/GSX-R happened around 1995 when I worked for Motorcycle World in Talbot Green (South Wales).

Late 80's, Motorcycle News had a 'help' feature with Somerset Police trying to contact a motorcyclist who had 'lost' luggage on M4. It may have been me as I dumped panniers after they caught fire aaround 160+ on a modified FJ1100 I had borrowed (gonig to Donnington Park, via Essex )

There were traffic camera in operation but resolution wasn't so good back then (luckily for me) 'Smoke screen' may have also helped?

That's another story though

Had a good friend in South Wales Constabulary who was' traffic cop' and 'armed response' who would tell me 'stuff' now and again. (he's been retired about 15~16 years now.)

He had some good stories about 170mph police Jaguars (one time only then full engine re-build-almost got suspended for that ) and 130mph all day everyday in the Rover SDI without a hitch, 150mph chases in the Volvo estates with 'blues and twos' going

I've been living in Florida last 21 years and would use Florida driving licence if anything did happen which is pretty unlikely

TWS were more into road racing though (8th place in Production TT around 1970 on a T500)

Later they sponsored Ian Lougher befoire he got some works rides.

Personally I liked the BMW telelever for chasing around, it handled better than the GSX-R1100 up to ~130 ish on 'B' roads.

 I only ever saw one Ariel Leader, it was parked in a garden on my way to school, never saw it running though. As a 9 yr old I was quite impressed when a modified 'Arrow' did 126mph (in 1966.)

Edited By Peter Jones 20 on 18/01/2021 19:15:15

Edited By Peter Jones 20 on 18/01/2021 19:16:14

Interesting how far this has gone in only a few days..

I was working in Honda/Yamaha/Triumph/MZ/SILK dealers then moved across the street to Suzuki/BMW/Vespa (?) dealers. (later dropped BMW, didn't want to be a 'boutique' dealer before it was even invented) Did a bit of work on the K series, 750 was quite a nice bike and K100 would do crazy high miles (one customer did about 245,000 )

Switched back and forth every few years as general managers believed they didn't need me to run things after I got workshops running properly.

I have 'first hand' experience of majority of the bikes mentioned (nearest Kawasaki dealer was 20+ miles away so did quite a few of those as well.)

Suzuki GT750, wasn't just fork 'problem' the swing arm was incredibly flexible, it was just a bad design and would wallow around even when in good condition (probably the real reason it was called the water buffalo?)

Always found CB750 too wide and heavy the extra torque was Ok but dragging bits around in corners limited it's use for me, my 591cc CB550F1 was much better for all around use

Also had 550's F2 and K3 ( 550FourK ) at the same time (still have original 1977 F1 don't remember what happened to the others, my brother had the FourK for several years.

Really don't remember much about FJ900, 'we' sold a couple but the earlier XS 1100 and later FJ1100 were much 'nicer' bikes for hooligans (anyone remember the 'Martini Yamaha XS1100?) that was a lot of fun as you could drift it very easily in second gear and have it completely sideways at 50~60 mph.

Sold a lot ofYamaha 600 Diversion but GSX-R was mainstay at dealers

Early-mid 80's after the GSX-R 750 was launched was when things got worse rather than better. Apart from cost cutting, the 'weight savings' using less material became a selling point.

The 'Sport Tourer GSX-F (later Katana's) were a much better handling bike with the perimiter frame but were way too heavy (particularly the GSX600F) 750 top end was direct swap as bore spacing and crank main bearings were same on all model SACS motors (even 1100 and later 1200 Bandit)

(plus, I have a 750/600 motor 'in the shed)

Little bit of modification though and even 600 was Ok to about 135., 750 was good for around 155 (it was most powerful 750 on the market at the time - below 10,000 rpm) All the sport 750's were more powerful but had to be revved harder

That's all for now, been breaking stuff in workshop although welded parts are not quite as tough as if they were made from chill cast steel then 'repaired' by being built up with MIG (no after treatment or normalising) Surprised how hard even A36 gets though.

Hi Ian,

Many years ago brother was late for work and riding a Triumph 500 when he got pulled over for speeding.

After seeing bike, traffic cop said he had enough problems and let him go with a warning. (Bridgend police still using 'Interstate, Norton Rotary, Moggy thou and Rover SD1 back then )

The 'black cap' silencers would be the ones designed by Gordon Blair in Belfast University?

I have a friend in contact with me still in Britain, told me non-stock bikes are worth far less than all original. He was looking at a almost completely stock Honda CB360. I didn't think it was worth more than £400 but seller was adamant it was worth at least £2000

Guess my 1977 CB550F1 isn't worth anything with all the work I did to it as soon as guarantee ran out in 78.

(one owner, 106,000+ miles)

Can you get the rollers in different diameters to account for reconditioning?

I have no experience of the motor your working on but I do have pretty vast knowledge of various engines. (mostly motorcycle, Aerial to Zundapp with petrol, diesel and propane industrial motors thrown in for good measure)

Harley Davidson list 3 different diameters to get correct running clearance.

There are also a few extra sizes 'aftermarket'

The only 'difficult' part is accurate measurement of bearing bore.

If it's through hardened bush it may be possible to have it ground over-size on the ID and get more favourable needle diameters?

Math is simple and you get very accurate results which will result in a better longer lasting engine

Posted by not done it yet on 28/12/2020 09:11:52:

Guessing here, but fix might be 1) bore oversize, 2) fix in bushes, 3) machine holes in correct relation to each other, 4) ream and 5) replace pivot pin.

That's the general plan.

Found I don't have T-nuts to fit cross slide on lathe, (the set that came with it don't fit,

Got them several years and this is the first time I've tried them

got to make some and some accurate height packing so I can bore hole as shown in article (I don't trust mill to get it accurate yet, lets fix one thing at a time)

Luckily I bought a cross slide table about 17~18 years ago intending to make the milling vice for lathe and still had it sitting on shelf. (life does tend to get in the way of things but I haven't needed to sell stuff off yet)

It's actually a lot more accurate than the tilting vice.(less than 0.001" over 5" - with a 0.002" shim under one end of parallel)

Got some A36 steel fly-cut last night to correct thickness, (0.570", 14.5mm)

it was a piece of scrap so wrong orientation to make a 'row' of T-nuts. Seems about normal, no matter how much 'stuff' you have there is always something different you need

If I had the cash and motivation I would get rid of the stuff I have and get everything standardised for tooling instead of 5 different T-nuts, Imperial and metric threads plus different tooling (3/16" to 5/8" sq)

At least R8 taper is standard on mini mill so mill drill can use it but still need Morse for lathe and rotary table, you can never have 'too much stuff' for a milling machine

Adds up and gets expensive even for cheap imports , but, I'm told it's still cheaper than golf?

Edited By Peter Jones 20 on 28/12/2020 23:34:33

LOL, it didn't have extra long rear shocks?

I used to ride mine around on rear wheel only, had much better balance those days

As for 850 COMMANDO, friend in local club had one and did ? thousands of miles on it without too much issue. Replaced gearbox bearings with the barrel type as they were standard parallel roller (even though should have been barrel shaped rollers from factory)

Used the 'race shop' trick to adjust isolastics (lay it on a wood block and beat the other side with a tree trunk, then tighten bolts)

I worked at A Honda dealers when the F2 was launched, forks were incredibly flimsy and would bend badly enough for seals to leak under heavy breaking (you could see the 'wiper' marks on rear of fork leg about 2" higher than on front)

Had to do a crankcase change on one, it fell over in car park and landed on points cover, cracked a small section from case and insurance company said change them. I was fit enough and strong enough to pick up a 212lb engine those days .

I would have helped if shop foreman had a clue what he was doing though (forgot to disconnect clutch cable and starter cable, 'my fault' for not checking his work?

Standing there with engine in arms while he 'fixed'  my problem wasn't fun but Mike had some fantastic BS..

Do you mean Honda or Norton sold for £13,000?

Neither is worth half of that so there must be some dumb people out there?

Edited By Peter Jones 20 on 28/12/2020 23:01:03