Just joined

Hi All, A little about myself

When I left school back in the early 70s I went straight to work as a watch and clock repairer in Derby. I was always interested in motorcycles particularly British bikes. Much to my Dads dismay my garage at the weekend was the meeting place for all my mates to fix their bikes. You could follow the oil trails to and from the garage for miles. I always wanted to be a bike mechanic but lacked knowledge of the ever growing popular Japanese bikes so despite trying never got a chance. As this turned out was probably a good thing as I found my self a apprenticeship at Silk Engineering in Darley Abbey. This was a small outfit run and owned by George Silk that at the time of me joining overhauled Scott motor cycles, carried out sub contract work for the local mining industry and was just starting out manufacturing a hand built two stroke twin, the Silk 700s. We made most of the bike engine there along with jigs and fixtures. After the bikes finished in 1979 the company moved into portable machine tools used in power stations, oil rigs and ships. The company relocated in 1998 where upon I took redundancy.

Now living near Leek Staffordshire I soon missed not having machines to make stuff and over the years have purchased Myford super 7, Colchester student and an ex school Harrison milling machine. Motorcycles are still my first hobby and I still do full restorations of the Silk 700s. I have just purchased a garage clearance with many engineering tools and a Harrison L5 with loads of tooling. I hope to advertise the parts on this web site when allowed.

I have one or two bikes on the go at the moment and will try to put a bit of a write up and some photos when I get into it.

Thats all for now. Looking forward to chatting with like minded people.

Cheers Staffs

Hi welcome to the forum plenty of bike enthusiasts on here what bikes are you working on. If you need any info you only have to ask.

David

Welcome Clive, although many of us are model steam engine builders there are many other interests represented including many bikers.

As David says, if you need any answers, just ask the questions.

Brian

Welcome along from another bike restorer/repairer. Mainly pre war stuff for me, a local VMCC member has a Silk.

I am not to far from you in between Lichfield and Burton.

Chris.

.

What a great CV, Clive

I'm sure you will be very welcome here.

MichaelG.

Welcome to the forum Clive.

Neil

Hello Clive, just up the road from you in Buxton, with a small selection of bikes, Marlin kit car and a Landrover.

Would have been at Leek market yesterday, had the weather forecast been more amenable.

Any good material suppliers down your way, I get most of my metal stock from Sheffield.

Bill

Edited By peak4 on 16/12/2018 10:56:23

Welcome to the forum. Plenty of old bike nuts here. I remember reading about the Silk in the motorcycle press in the '70s but never saw one in the flesh. Certainly would have been an interesting place to work.

Welcome Clive, nice background. There are plenty of bike, car, engine, steam geeks ( we're all nutters on here ) on this forum so you won't be short on any answers you ask.

George.

I remember that garage - no, it was another in Buckinghamshire! The oil trails were likely because your dad had a bulk supply of oil for them to top up enough for a week? Likely added a little ‘extra’, as it was free, and so leaked even more?

I didn’t need to repair often and it didn’t leak - it was a Honda!

Anyhow, welcome to the madhouse (at times).

Welcome Clive, I beat all those "I'm close" posters, I'm in Werrington.

Well thank you all for the kind replies and welcome.

Thanks Neil.

Chris I think I know the Silk owner? Richard. Nice bloke have a lot of time for him.

David, Some of the bikes I am playing with are a whole story in them selves, mostly BSAs and a couple of Norton

twins some for selling on some to keep and play with. All need work as they were in a garage collection for 30 plus years.

I have a Triumph Trident T150v that has come back from the States. Of course it has been chopped a little so it is a great opportunity to save it and try and create something a bit more Classic British out of it. So far I have some Laverda Jota forks to try and make fit then I hope to take it from there, Wheels, discs, swinging arm etc. This I hope is my next project to get my teeth and lathe into.

Peak4, I use Mellards in Stoke for new stuff and I am also a hoarder as unfortunately I see some use for all bits of scrap I find.

Have a good Christmas and make sure you get some shed time over the Festive period.

Staffs

Yes Clive you know the Silk rider. He sets a brisk pace when leading a club run.

I mess around with a T150 at times, it had been "Tuned" in the states. That much skimmed off the head it is a wonder it ran, I am going to make an electronic ignition for it one day using three hall effect sensors each adjustable to enable each cylinder to be strobed and only one magnet for the pick up. All on the "roundtoit" list.