Member postings for John MC

Thanks for the replies. I've cut a thread with the die. Not as straight forward as I hoped, the OD of the die is 24mm. A clue to its use?

I checked the thread with a gauge, definitely not 3/16 BSF, although a nut will screw on. Same for 2BA, closer than the BSF though.

I don't think its a spoke thread, as Clive F. says they are rolled, having said that I have a few dies for spoke threads, I assumed for cleaning up as Clive says.

Still a mystery, the die has gone in the "odd taps and Dies" box along with and a 1/4" x 25 tap, amongst others.

John

While looking through my box of spare metric taps and dies I came across this die. I assumed it was metric, M4 x 0.7, standard coarse metric. Its not, the only thread that will screw in to it is 3/16" BSF. It fits the screw nicely, seems an odd way to annotate a die.

Any thoughts?

John

I've done it with an angle grinder with a very thin cutting disc graded for Aluminium. Worked fine. The scale I shortened had plenty of length so I was able to make a "practice" cut. I also left the scale as long as possible so if there was any damage to it it wasn't in the measuring length .

John

Many years ago I worked on an "SIP" jig borer that was made in the 1930's. The guy who did the maintenance reckoned the the iron castings were left for 7 years to season before being machined. I initially thought this was a sign of quality. I've no idea how true this is, I'm now sceptical. The castings were, no doubt, of the highest quality, perhaps not needing much seasoning? Surely in the 7 years wait improvements and upgrades to the machine would happen rendering the castings unsuitable? Even back then heat treatments to stress relieve the casting were available.

I would guess a good way to season an iron casting would be to rough machine, take the "skin" off, then heat treat to stress relieve.

John

Nice looking job! Did you mean EN19? I think that EN9 (55 carbon steel) isn't really up to the job, not known for its toughness which is what a connecting rod needs.

My post is coming in batches, post franked in the period 9th-17th of this month arrived on the 18th, the postie reckons it will continue like that for the foreseeable future because they are down about 20% of the workforce in our local depot.

Chatting to a friend (on Zoom) who runs the shop floor of a tool making business reinforces the point S.O.D. is making about heroes and cowards. He thinks the return to "normality" is going to take some careful management with regard to the individuals who think the firm should have furloughed the entire workforce and have not turned up for work. These guys will not be popular!

The firm has been able to carry on working within the recommendations, most machines are housed in their own temperature controlled areas, groups of machines are well spaced and working hours have been staggered. Lots of sanitising happening, everyone well at the moment.

Having said "everyone well", there was a scare, someone turned up looking terrible, turns out it was just a hangover!

John

Eicher Goodearth began acquiring Enfield, as it was then in 1990, full control by 1993. Thats when the modernisation of the Bullet range began. Eicher have been in control for nearly 30 years.

John

While different styles of motorcycle may vary in weight, sports vs. touring for instance, genre is no excuse for an overweight motorcycle.

As for sales, not disputing RE's sell well, probably because of their low price (don't like to use "cheap", good luck to them and long may it continue.

Back in the mid 1990's they were struggling to sell ~20,000 a year, in recent years they have been selling something like 40 times that amount.

Back in the 90's I was working with the factory on various projects, it gives me immense satisfaction that the work I did helped build the foundations that have lead RE to the position they are in now.

John

The "combi" boiler seems to be the most common type fitted these days. On big advantage is that there is always hot water, unlike the stored hot water system.

So, when the combi boiler fails there is no immersion heater in the hot water tank as a stand by. How do people cope with that?

John

Apples and oranges, really? Just because the Re is a mid-range motorcycle of relatively modest performance doesn't mean its OK to ignore weight. The RE is over weight, not massively so, a bit like me really, could do with losing a bit! I really hope that RE refine the design, get a good few kilo's off it but leave the engines performance alone, that would be a nice motorcycle.

John

If Triumph can build a 675cc 100+bhp bike that meets all the regulatory requirements and has all the features motorcyclist demand in a modern motorcycle that weighs 33Kg ( 72lbs) less then the RE is somewhat overweight. KTM Duke similar spec to the Triumph also reinforces my point. Even an MT-09 Yamaha is lighter.

And the BMW's S1000 makes 4 time the power of the RE and is a few Kg lighter.

You may well think they are "revvy" engines, yes they are but thanks to electronics they also have good bottom and mid-range "grunt".

If the RE could shed 25 - 30Kg then it would be an excellent motorcycle.

If it wasn't for C-19 crisis one of the above would be in my garage now , had a test ride booked on a KTM the day after the lock down restrictions were imposed on us. Also considering a 1960's Norton, soon as we can travel I'm going to have a look.

John

The current version of the Bullet, aka Thunderbird, Classic and probably other names.

As for acceptable weight, a good bench mark I believe is the Meriden Triumph T140 (750) ~50bhp, 194Kg with some fluids. Series 2 (British) Interceptor slightly lighter. No balance shaft, electric start and other modern features. Technology moves on and it would be reasonable to expect a modern 50bhp bike to weigh very similar. Triumph street triple, 675cc, double the power of the above, plenty of modern features, 175Kg ready to ride.

RE Interceptor 48 bhp, 208Kg ready to ride. I've got an RE sales blurb, starts off "A ton of fun", made me smile!

John

Nigel B.

I had forgotten about the Himalayan, bit of a disaster that one and a good example of an overweight motorcycle, I stand corrected.

I'm told there is a European company making big bore conversions for the twin (and Himalayan), RE are sure to know about. Still think 650 to 850 is a step to far.

The "problem" if it can be called that, with the early Hinckley Triumphs was that the engines were designed by guys whose experience was with car engines. They did not realise just how compact a motorcycle engine is and it showed. They soon realised and set about correcting along with the mechanical noise problem. The overbuilt reputation was probably nurtured to cover this up.

On the subject of weight saving and the new unitised RE Bullet engine. The RE stylists decided to take their styling Cues from an existing popular brand of motorcycle. In doing this the cylinder head gained some 1.5kg in weight just to make it look like they wanted. Other parts suffered the same. Attempts were made to dissuade them from doing this. Unsuccessfully as it turns out.

John

Surely just a poor choice of words? Did they mean they are going to sedate the patient so as to put them on a ventilator?

John

The price quoted to the OP is in ground source heat pump territory, price seems to be dropping steadily as the system becomes more popular. Although not in the market for a replacement at the moment it will be my next heating system, probably won't get a choice!

I presently use solid fuel, fed up with unreliable gas boilers.

John

If the rumour is true (I would doubt it) about the engine, that it is capable of being stretched to 850cc and double the power then no wonder its so heavy!

There is always scope to reduce weight. The Interceptor is the RE companies first effort at designing a bike from scratch. A good effort I think that bodes well for the future. Triumph's (Hinkley) first efforts were some rather heavy and mechanically noisy bikes, they worked steadily to address these problems to become successful.

John

The main reason was to reduce the load induced by the chain pull on the gearbox bearings. The Japanese used the indirect type so they could use a forward rotating engine and geared primary drive. Ducati, on their early V-twins (1970's-80's) with a backward rotating engine, gear primary drive, used a combination of the two, bit of a mess really, still used 6 "dog" (3 full height/3 half height) gears when the Brits had given up on that idea in the 1950's.

As for modern bikes being heavier and the excuses for that, electric starting, higher power outputs, balance shafts, ABS and so, the design challenge with a motorcycle is to keep the weight down. Technology has moved on since the last mass produced British motorcycle (Triumph accepted). The aim should be to include all the modern stuff in a package no heavier than the equivalent bike of, say, 50 years ago. Clearly a point missed by Triumph (Hinkley) with the present Bonneville model that I found disappointing. Having said that, they have done a pretty good job weight wise with the Street Triple. In fact many manufacturers have done remarkable things with bikes, Bikes that weigh similar to a 1970's Norton with 3 times the power

Suzuki Burgman scooters, I bought a 400cc model last year. two reasons, one being curiosity as to how well the CVT system works. And work it does, very well for what is a very unsophisticated system by modern standards.

The other reason for buying it was to get Mrs MC back on a bike, as a passenger. not got around to doing that yet and not in the immediate future due to C-19.

John

I considered buying one of these. First impression was that its a triumph of styling over design, not a good starting point! Having said that reports at that time suggested it did a good job on the ends of the cutter. But what about the sides of the cutter? This machine only does half a job. I was hoping it would replace my Clarkson T&C grinder but, as I mentioned, it doesn't do the complete job.

I've stuck with the Clarkson, its a real pain to use, probably because I have a sharpening session once or twice a year and need to re-learn the machine each time.

John

I was rather disappointed by the new RE Interceptor. My local RE dealer was most insistent that I ride their demo bike knowing my connection with the Indian RE company. My impression was exactly the same as it was and is for the (Hinckley) Triumph Bonneville, a very average motorcycle. The one thing that stood out is the weight, much too heavy for what it is. I really hope that future development of the Interceptor involves some significant weight reduction, it has been mentioned....

John

You have that the wrong way around, Mg is lighter than Al.

John