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Monday 8 June 2015

Headlampius Mantadius part 9

I'm on a roll….....(and a mission.). The juices of mojo could dry as quickly as they started to flowed........what could be worse than end up squeeky and unlubricated mid flow?
Its a case of making hay while the sun shines.....and making groundbreaking technological advances whilst ya Old Uncle Albert still has blood flowing through his Left Anterior Descending Artery. (Blimey, didn't plan on  this small jotting resulting in a biology class that could possibly help all vintabiologicalists pass 'O' level science.)
My Mantadius's have been pushing firmly forward for a very long time. (Painful in the winter when frost settles on the protruding naked thrusters), time to join the dots and make them earn their keep. Their task until the end of time is to hold the 7" Lucas replica headlight that many moons ago I imported specially from India.
Bolts that befit this work of art are not likely to be found at the local engineering stores or even at the best motorcycle emporiums in Delhi...
I, Albert Crackleport would have to use the full facilities of The Old Sidevalve Bar to manufacture threaded eye candy of such magnitude never before seen in the civilised world.
Large knobs always attract interest, (particularly with the younger chicks, so I'm told) so, I was lucky to be offered a couple that had seen plenty of action years ago but were now being retired. Look on it as a career change, no retirement yet I'm afraid.


Gonna rescue those adjustment screws from a couple of old welding gas regulators, rework them to fit their new purpose, time has come to serve mankind in a useful way again.


Knob threads turned and retapped to suit headlight.....



Delhi-delicious firmly fixed to Headlampius Mantadius


It's near enough to beer o'clock as makes no odds...where's Posh?
Do I have to ask every time?
POSH!!!!!!!!!!  Where's mi pop?

Saturday 6 June 2015

So, how good is that?...I'm back grinding in the groove.........After dusting off the cobwebs that have shielded the VBobber from prying eyes over winter the task next on my 'to do list' was to sort out some sort of speedo worm drive mechanism. The front wheel hub that once graced one of BSAs finest roadburners has no means of turning a worm.........not only that but a suitable worm turner started to be troublesome to find in a global internet search.........mine needed to dress on the left, and all the Smiths type were right hangers.
Hey, A leap of faith is not a scary thing to do. Life would stop without risk. After all £8 ain't gonna break the bank and a start had to be made somewhere. I purchased a popular brand of replica on eBay from Willenhall Scooters...a KMC (famous since 1976)


Could the drive be reversed ? Looking at the aluminium housing it's symmetrical shape suggested that the cable drive could exit either end........clever old Smiths.....
The blanking plug was only cheapo plastic and soon popped out with pliers.....followed by 'the worm'.  A drift in the form of a 6mm Allen headed bolt fit perfectly down the worm hole and in no time my KMC (famous since 1976) was in pieces.


And back together as a left hander.....


Now, gotta connect this little gem of India goodness to the piece of treasure that once was produced in the kingdom of BSA. Way back in the '60s....blimey, Wild Thing by the Troggs was blasting out on the wireless when this hub was cast...…phuff...make's ya think...
Here's where good luck takes over from careful planning.....(doesn't really matter how it happens as long as it does....)
The KMC (famous since 1976) seemed to fit perfectly on the near side of the hub.....If I cut a couple of locating slots in the hub then big chance I'd be reading some sort of numericals on my Smiths replica speedo....hey, can't wait..
With a steady hand and triple checking of measurements before proceeding I cut 2 very accurate slots in the BSA hub.....stress was high....what if my low tech grinder slipped.....what if....what if.......
Didn't happen...
Kept focused.....slots cut to super accuracy.
Luck still helping insured that the felt sealing washer for the KMC(famous since 1976) was exactly the same size as the BSA hub bearing housing.....Lucky bastard or what?


Spacer produced on the Myford to allow the Smiths replica KMC (famous since 1976) to fit nice and tight against the wheel bearing......
Chuffin  satisfied with that so far.....

POSH......pour me a scrumpy in the biggest flagon ya can find.....ya know I deserve 1.    or 2.   or 3 even.…