Member postings for Ian Abbott

For a one off muguard job in alloy, I'd imagine hardwood rollers would be adequate. Many, many years ago when I was at engineering college, we made sheet steel ashtrays for the cafeteria using hardwood blocks and a 20 ton press and they stood up pretty well.

Ian

This is the only photo of the '54 Velo. Boy, did we have fun. Purists will notice that it has a later tank and seat and Ace bars. Done before I bought it. Someone had also modified the innards, so it was a sort of 500cc MAC not 350cc. I'm sure that other stuff had been done and it pissed off a lot of Triumph riders who thought that they had a chance…..

Over here in the Great White North, they used to call Lucas electrics "Prince of the Dark". Wonder what they'd have thought to the Miller 6v electrics on my old '54 Velocette. I once tried to convince a cop in a Z Car that I couldn't know how fast I was going, because the speedo light was so dim….. Took a dim view (ok, that was bad). I think he was a tad miffed because it took him a few miles to catch me around the town streets. I didn't know he was there until I stopped outside the house and turned the engine off. Fortunately this was also in the days before breathalyzers too.

The bit that miffed me was that normally I ran straight up the driveway and into the garage before I lifted the valve to kill the engine, but next door had just had a baby and I'd been threatened by my mother that if the fishtail woke anything or anyone, I was for the high jump.

Ian

Pulled a Vespa engine down one time and someone had used a piece of copper pipe for the little end bushing….

Ian

Y'know, things hadn't changed that much when I was riding a fifties Velo in 1963. Most motorcycle workshops were dingy places with oil and dirt caked wooden floors and benches. I like to think that my current workshop carries on the old traditions, 100 year old lathe, cluttered benches, opaque windows, spilled oil. Had to give up the bikes a couple of years ago though. Now it's only things I can lift with one hand, like copies of old guns - marginally safer than bikes…….

Ian

I still refuse to believe that one-thousand-four-hundred-and-thirty-five-point-one millimetres is easier than four foot eight and a half. And a one-thousand-two-hundred-and-ninteen-point-two by two-thousand-four-hundred-and-thirty-eight-point-four millimetre sheet of plywood is easier than a four by eight. Especially if you need to cut it into four equal widths of shelving.

And how mad is a fifteen-thousand-two-hundred-and-forty-millimetre long room, rather than a nice even fifty feet. I see this on architectural drawings. Can anyone really visualize fifteen-thousand-two-hundred-and-forty-millimetres. Fifty feet is easy. Sixteen and a half yards / fifteen and a quarter metres even.

And don't get me started on Americans and 'millimeters' et al.

Ian

When we lived on the Hucknall approach, we were about 2 ½ miles away. In those days they had the outdoor engine testing duct…… Conversation in the garden was strained, heaven knows what it was like living next door.

Ian

I don't get much opportunity to get close and intimate with reheat nowadays, but while we were over in England, I happened to be standing directly below a Typhoon when it went vertical, looking straight up the jet pipes. It was ear searingly loud and from memory louder than the Lightnings and Phantoms. 'Course my ears are somewhat older now.

On the opposite tack, commercial aircraft (now that Concord(e) is out of the picture) are so quiet. The advent of the fan jet was a huge step and now watching the A380 lift off, it's almost an anticlimax. Visually wow though! Remember the racket that the old 737s made climbing out at a steep angle.

The boss says I must be getting old, 'cos I keep reminiscing……...

Ian

It was said that the women of Nottingham have the best breasts in the country….. When I was in my teens, I tried to check as many pairs as I could…….

In the greater Nottingham area, many people would deny any connection with the city. Both George Brough and I were born in Basford, which is most certainly not Nottingham, no matter how much the city council try to claim George. Me, they're not too bothered about.

Ian

I don't think we have any Spitfires here in Alberta, out on the left hand side of Canada. Last time I looked, there was a none flying Mosquito at the Edmonton museum. Didn't see one at Calgary either. We have the Nanton Lancaster, which is, I think in taxying state; weren't they going to get it flying?

When I was talking to people at the Edmonton museum, they said that the Mosquito could theoretically fly with working engines, but to do everything as per certification was beyond their bank account's capability. That was some time ago and now they've lost their runway,'cos the old city airport is going to be developed. I should call in there and see what's new.

I guess, Calgary's Lancaster has moved under cover since last I was there, but from their web site a lot of stuff seems to be outside.

Ian

Just had a look at Tollerton. I think now that I see it, M1 to Loughborough, across to the old Great Central line, with East Midlands off to the left, then Right at Clifton and across to Tollerton lane, hang a left and pick a runway.

I think I'll go back to bed, I'm rambling...

Ian

Before East Midlands became really busy we used to follow the M1 up to Nottingham. We were based at Tollerton, so, turn right at the railway lines, then left to line up for the circuit, can't remember the landmark now. Anyway, I remember being quite nervous when I could see the East midland runway lights out of the window.

Oxford (Kiddlington) was grass in the sixties, don't know what it is now, but one day the field was a bit wet, so the tower said use the peri track. it was a bit odd taking off on a curved runway and they hadn't mentioned that the track ended in a big earth berm….. I'm sure I felt the wheels run over it. Things get a bit hazy nowadays, but I do remember clearly that bowel loosening moment. I should have a look on Google Earth to see if I can figure out exactly where that was on the airfield.

Ian

Thanks Ian. Not sure when I'll be in England again, international air flights are getting to be a pain (literally) nowadays. Well, I guess the flights are ok, it's the bits at each end that do me in.

Ian

Seeing the Rolls Royce Spitfire reminded me of when I was much younger than now and we lived on the approach to Hucknall. Lots of odd aircraft flying over with strange engines. But best of all, an almost daily Spitfire on finals. Their idea of an executive jet I guess. Later we used to drop in there when we did cross country exercises, but the Royce side of the field was off limits. Anyone know where they keep the spitfire now?

Ian

How fast does it need to turn to get the blower up to speed? Starter motors tend to be high torque, low RPM. You might need to gear it up somewhat.

Remember the old Hucks Starter? Perhaps you could build a scale Model T and fit it with a drive shaft……..

Ian

What's a "two cycle" engine?

Ian

Just watched the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum video of the ten Merlin formation (Lanc, Mozzie, two Spits and two Hurries)… I hate this word, but awesome…… I never could put a link on here, but it's easy enough to find on YouTube. Four beautiful aircraft types. You'd never call the Lancaster pretty, but everything about it is perfectly in proportion, it projects purpose and power. Wonder if the NZ guys have thought of putting a couple of replicas together….

As well, the Vintage Wings of Canada web site is worth keeping an eye on, a piece is added every week or so. Some interesting stories and photos.

Ian

Dunno', Velo chaincases were fine if they were assembled carefully. The only Velo leak I ever had was where some amateure mechanic had stripped out the valve cover mounting threads in the alloy head. I pulled the tank and drilled them out around 5/16" and fitted steel threaded inserts, filed them flush, then drilled them BA for long cheese head Allen bolts. Never a drop leaked, until the railway crossing modified a lot of the engine parts.

Ian

Not too long ago I got stuck behind a bunch of brand new V twins without silencers, spread out all over the road for about ten miles coming out of Plymouth. The racket was so bad, I had to rely on the tach. to know when to change gear though the 500 single wasn't that quiet either. In the end I had to pull over with concussion and a splitting headache from the battering to let them get clear. They all looked like off duty, mid life crisis accountants, dressed for the golf course in shorts and T shirts, waiting for a dose of road rash.

I think my "real motorcyclist' prejudice is showing……. Or maybe it's just jealousy 'cos I can't ride anymore.

Ian

For gaskets like the narrow rocker covers, we used to glue the paper gasket to the cover and let it dry clamped to a flat surface, then give it a light smear of grease before assembly. Never had one leak. 'Course, if you ever wanted to get them off an aluminium cover, you were in for a happy half an hour. Those jobs went to the apprentice. Trying to hold the damn thing down and not take metal off with the glue was an exercise in patience and futility.

Ian