Work in progress

[Ralph]

Have decided to get the wee beastie back on the road, I have owned it for about 15 years back with 5000 miles on the clock as a non runner, sorted it out and ran it for 7 years and 7000 miles "I had other bikes on the road at the same time" I fitted new silencers but when one rotted through after 2 years I trough it against the garage wall and said bugger it. 8 years later I have sold all the bikes except the Strada and bought a big scooter, this left me with nothing to do with my feet so drag it into the middle of the garage turn on the taps squirt some oil into the rockers "hate the oiling system to the top end but semi synth stops you having to adjust things as often"
3 kicks and the beast lives, a bit of buggering about with the carbs and it sits there at 12/1300 rev's burbling like a small block Chevy on open pipes.
It's now been cleaned up, one new silencer a battery strap, got a cam belt that hopefully if its not to cold I will fit next week and it could do with 2 new indicators, I think I have tracked some down but if not they will do, then in the new year a MOT and at the first sign of spring on the road.











]

[EVguru]

The top end oiling is only a problem if you don't use the bike and the oil has drained down. Synthetic oils, or blends do help with that, but regular use is the best solution. Anybody who's had a poor rocker box seal at the track day knows just how much oil makes it to the top end! My clearances never seem to change much, but the rockers were re-bushed and the tips reprofiled with a diamond hone. If you have worn rocker tips, then measuring the clearances can only really be done with feeler wires (rather than the usual blades) or you tend to get inconsistent results.

[Ralph]

It's good to know plenty of oil gets up there, I have not had to reset the valves for about 5k miles since going semi synth, only oil leak I have had was one from the camshaft on the left soon fixed and as been oil tight since,
just the cam belt to do now then on the road, the most amazing thing about it after the Jap stuff is how light it is, followed by the noise and how good the brakes are, not rode it for so long I had forgotten how good it is.

[Ralph]

Not the best clip in the world but gives a idea how it runs, it will idle slower but don't trust it.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=idjQxefLu2s

[Ralph]

New cam belt fitted just a few nuts to tighten and ignition timing to check, biggest problem I
seem to have was putting the flywheel back, I used to be a engineer on industrial engines so have
worked on literally thousands of flywheel mags and generators but the one on my Strada as
the strongest magnets I can remember coming across, makes it quite difficult to line the
key way up as they tend to pull it all over the place, maybe that's why it as such a good spark at
low revs, so don't look a gift horse n all that.

[adrian650]

Looks good, idle seems pretty solid to me. I agree it can be hard to line up the rotor, I tend to look and try to align very well before offering it onto the taper. I suspect my magnets aren't great either!

You've been braver than me with regard to going into the garage; I need to do just the same job to my Strada.

Adrian

[Ralph]

Yes it's cold all right keep going in and doing a bit and then in the house for a brew to warm up,
the belt was showing signs of it's age so just as well it's been changed

[EVguru]

Get yourself a pair of mechanic's gloves, they can make all the difference when working in cold conditions.

I use Ringers 'Autentic' gloves. Aftera bit of practice, I can pick washers off the floor whilst wearing them and assemble M4 nuts and bolts.

You can sometimes pick them up at show prices, but I bought my last couple of pairs from;

http://www.nimbusmotorsport.com/ProdSho ... &CATID=264

[Ralph]

The gloves look good, think I have stopped work till after Christmas, would like to be taking it for the MOT in Jan only needs tax then at first sign of good WX we are on the road, picked up a set of indicators CEV new old
stock only thing is they are black not chrome but £32 the set not bad and hopefully will look ok,
the bike is running and sounds fine, just going to check the timeing with a strobe and then it's mot time.

One thing disconnect the battery before working on the alternator there is battery power down there.



All the best to you all over Christmas.

[Ralph]

+3c today surprising how hot that feels after -10c so out to the Strada, strobe the ignition timing, absolutely dead on did not even have to move the pickup, all back together and running well, so as soon as we get a dryish road and the MOT man is back from is hols it's off for the dreaded MOT and it's on the road.

[John Bunting]

+3c today surprising how hot that feels after -10c so out to the Strada, strobe the ignition timing, absolutely dead on did not even have to move the pickup, all back together and running well, so as soon as we get a dryish road and the MOT man is back from is hols it's off for the dreaded MOT and it's on the road.

Ralph full marks for enthusiasm!! +3c feels surprisingly hot?? we are in our chilly season here in north Nigeria, early mornings are usually around 14-15c but over Xmas one morning got down to 8c; that's when I wore my Cordura bike jacket when I went for my holiday ride, normally it's just a T shirt with MotoX armor on top.
I hot you sail through the MOT and have some sunny riding days soon.
Regards
John

[Ralph]

Ralph full marks for enthusiasm!! +3c feels surprisingly hot?? we are in our chilly season here in north Nigeria, early mornings are usually around 14-15c but over Xmas one morning got down to 8c; that's when I wore my Cordura bike jacket when I went for my holiday ride, normally it's just a T shirt with MotoX armor on top.
I hot you sail through the MOT and have some sunny riding days soon.
Regards
John[/quote]


I wish

All the best

[Ralph]

The beast now as a MOT pass with flying colours, as a slight flat spot but it needs new fuel and a good run then if it's not sorted its self out I will have another play with the carbs.
Most likely Tax it first of Feb then it's all a go.

[Ralph]

Now on the road, flat spot seems to be disappearing can hardly feel it now
it as a bit more acceleration than I remember, but the tyres seem to have
gone hard, they don't feel to have a lot of grip, the bike as a quality feel
about it compared to bikes of it's age, and is very flexible, it will accelerate
away non snatch from 2000 rpm in top, that's less than 30mph in 6th,

[Ralph]

Fog ice n rain as led to going about at 50/60 MPH and 102 MPG. I never got that from
my Honda 90 and that would not even reach 50 MPH, after about 150 miles the rock steady tick over
as gone to pot, it's now a rather rough 1500 RPM, so off with the float bowls and all looks as
new except the little O ring so new ones are in order.
More as the miles build.