I'm bald...

I have no hair left because I am tearing it out.

The Peril has once again decided to be contrary and when it decides to be contrary it's with a capital C.

So, it's been going really well, starting first kick and all.

But it developed several oil leaks and they are getting worse rapidly. I decide to give the top end a new gasket set while I still have a garage and can do it in the dry.

Pull the engine, strip it, new gaskets and button it all up again.

You got it, the bastard won't run right. Starts OK but dies as soon as you open the throttle. With a tiny bit of throttle it will rev slightly higher (about 3000) but is farting and coughing and missing and is generally unhappy.

I've pulled it apart and rechecked the valve timing 3 times and it seems to be perfect. The points are new, cleaned, gapped according to the manual. Ignition timing has been set using a multi meter and is as close to spot on as you can get it.

I didn't touch the carb, but since the little fecker decided to go on holiday I pulled it apart and cleaned the jets. They looked OK but I did it anyway. They are all new from the pre-Christmas rebuild.

It's getting plenty of fuel, I threw in a new plug and that made no difference (although I did revert to the old one.) The spark appears good.

The exhaust is not blocked like last time. The advance retard mechanism is in the right way round and is lubed and working OK.

The battery is holding 12.75 volts. The connections are all good, rechecked, any dodgy ones cleaned up and CRCed.

The gas is fresh, it has an inline filter and it's not blocked.

I'm lost - does anyone have any further suggestions, apart from putting it on trademe because that's where I've got to I'm so bloody frustrated.

Dodgy - this is why people go 'fuck the classics, I'm getting a W650, more fun riding than getting oily on a lovely weeked.'

Bender, sounds fuel related to me. Are you still running an air box/filter? If not it will be running lean. Are you sure that you don't have an air leak on the inlet.?

What caused the sudden oil leaks?

Help is only a mouse clik away....
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Mo...-361534680.htm

Bender, sounds fuel related to me. Are you still running an air box/filter? If not it will be running lean. Are you sure that you don't have an air leak on the inlet.?

Yes I'm running the standard airbox and filter. They are clean, I thought it might be a clogged filter. I never touched the inlet and it's all O-rings so I don't expect that's the problem. The plug shows black soot and richness.

It does sound fuel related to me too, but I don't know where to look. I've exhausted all the obvious and usual things.

What caused the sudden oil leaks?

Old age, then use - the bike sat for years and as I used it more they got worse - or maybe they were always there and showed up as I used the bike more. A run to my Mum's place at Orewa would have oil dripping everywhere - from the cylinder base gasket, head O-rings, clutch actuator arm O-ring, abd right hand side cover gasket.

Volty - that's a cheap Vstom.

Bender
Dodgy - this is why people go 'fuck the classics, I'm getting a W650, more fun riding than getting oily on a lovely weeked

Only the coft cocks Bender.
Have you disturbed the cam timing? You say valve timing.. TDC on compression stroke..valves closed..timing lines up with crank markings..of course you have. How about the points wire where it runs through the cases- not pinched during reassembly? Get it runnignand gently move the points plate around, wind up the idle so it does not stall on you- make any difference? If not it is fuel or I dunno then, how about you fix my Norton from farting at 4000rpm and I will fix the peril.

If points ign, what about the humble old Condenser? As I keep reminding myself, 95% of carb problems are ign....

And in the same vein, "If you can't fix it with a hammer, it's electrical . . . "

Flux capaciter...................

Everything is perfect,so it must run perfectly right? It doesn't? So something is not right....and it was right before.That means it's something you've done.If you were one of my mechanics I'd be pissed off and you'd be worried about your job.We had a motto at our Tech - Check,Recheck,double check your recheck.It works.

Motu ('A' Grade Mechanic with 28 yrs experience)
So something is not right....and it was right before.That means it's something you've done.

Mate! Is that the best you've got?

If you were one of my mechanics I'd be pissed off and you'd be worried about your job

You should hear what those guys say about that grumpy old c*nt behind your back

Jase (the other mechanic)
Flux capaciter...................

Yep Bender, never ask a mechanic. See ya learned something

Everything is perfect,so it must run perfectly right? It doesn't? So something is not right....and it was right before.That means it's something you've done.If you were one of my mechanics I'd be pissed off and you'd be worried about your job.We had a motto at our Tech - Check,Recheck,double check your recheck.It works.

Yep you're right. It's definitely something I've done but:-

These are essentially very simple engines and I've rebuilt heaps of others and never had a problem like this.

Check recheck etc - I've pulled the side cover & redone the cam/valve timing four times. It's a simple process - line up the crank marks so the piston is at TDC (cross-check by feeling valves and sticking screwdriver down the plug hole to make sure the piston is at the top), then line up the cam (can only go in one way) and bolt the sprocket and chain with the 'O' at the top adjacent to the V mark on the cylinder head. That's all there is to it. Add advance/retard unit (can only go in one way) then place points plate and points on top. Time points to open on F mark on rotor.


Condenser is new and checks out. Coil was tested before Christmas and was fine- was still OK when I used the bike Friday.

Yes I've done something, but it's hard to figure it out and I don't have the stomach to deal with Lloyd May again, nor the money.

No, my experimenting with old bikes is over, I think. It's time for trademe and to get the modern bike off the stands - the one that I only have to push the button to make it go.

Jase (the other mechanic)
Flux capaciter...................

Ex mechanic...................I spent 10 liking the trade and 11 wanting to be a ex mechanic

Is it possible to time it 180 out? I vaguely remember something from someones cousins brothers ex aunty having a problem with a Honda Bucket like that

I've gleaned these tips off the Norton Site:

Could be the Ignition, try another carb.
Bigger jets can often sort out timing issues.
Top Dead Centre is not a popular cemetery in Glendene.
Its easier to syncronize one carb.

It's 41 years on the floor with no promotion - why would I want to do anything else? Best thing to do is walk away,and come back with a clear head.Sleeping on it really works - I often do a bit of an affirmation that the solution will come to me over night.In that 41 years I've had hundreds and hundreds of problems I couldn't figure out....I sorted most of them,and it was never anything complicated,nearly always just basics.