Electrical stuff, I freely admit, scares me, and not just because in my previous working life – one of them at least – it was not unknown for loud bangs, fizzing and eye-watering flashes to zip around the site as this mystical substance caught out the unwary practitioner of the art.
This possibly explains my nervousness in tackling this area of motorcycle rebuilding. It is unlikely the electrical system of a motorcycle would cause such an incident as described, though I was witness to a traffic light incident when a sidecarist attempted to investigate the misfire, in the rain, and touched the HT lead with wet gloves. I swear the outfit leaped clear off the road.
It doesn’t help I have any number of friends highly skilled in this area, all happily explaining how easy and logical electrical work is; maybe for them, but still I approach with caution and a desperation to find some other part of the bike to work on.
However, as time moves on, there are fewer excuses available and the subject has to be tackled. It doesn’t help the point has also been reached where I am determined to use the bits I have in order to at least make the spark plugs spark. I know that a much quicker and easier way to arrive at this spark would be to use an electronic ignition – something which has to be the most beneficial invention in the old bike world – in fact, even my very patient other half tartly suggested I ‘just go out and buy one’ when I moaned for the umpteenth time how easy fitting electronics would be compared to what I was mucking about with.
Denne historien er fra December 2020-utgaven av The Classic MotorCycle.
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Denne historien er fra December 2020-utgaven av The Classic MotorCycle.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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Runs should be fun
The club run is an integral part of the old motorcycle scene. During 2020, a variation on the usual theme emerged, enabling people to ride in the company of like-minded souls.
Hybrid chicken
BSA Bantams come in many forms, and the ability to interchange parts between different models permits an almost endless number of variants.
Green WITH ENVY
Life aboard a 1950s 350cc British single is perhaps as good and as uncomplicated as it can get.
Worth the wait
Captivated by sight of one as a small boy, finally our man has the chance to try an NSU Max.And a ‘Spezial’ one at that…
The Motorcycle: DESIGN, ART AND DESIRE
The concluding part of a two-part feature, in which the history of motorcycle evolution is examined and a new book’s author interviewed.
Cream rises
There were several ‘star performers’ at Bonhams’ winter sale, as the choice machines achieved huge sums.
The Giant of Provence
With so few events to report from, it’s time to look back over a spectacular French event and look forward to its hopeful resumption.
Store cupboard special
A big box of presents? Must be Christmas! More deliveries keep the project on track.
By 1929, CJP Dodson was a bona fide top level road racer, pretty much unbeatable on the sand, too.
The diminutive Charlie Dodson was the last man to win a TT, the 1928 Senior, on a ‘flat-tank’ machine, then the next year became the first (and only) winner of a TT on a saddle tank Sunbeam, as well as recording the last ever success in the Island for the Marston maker.
Cassandra the Canadian Commando
After landing a new job and with time on his hands, a young man in Vancouver decided to restore a British motorcycle considerably older than him.
