Muddy day out

Day out on the lanes on the DRZ. A lot of water, hence a lot of mud.

It started out fine, but......

Ended with poorly Norton ES2.

Heading out out to Hagworthingham to meet the Poachers for a Sunday ride out and I lose compression just outside Wragby.

Onto the phone and MrsG comes with the van and takes me home.

Off with the head and it's a stuck exhaust valve, which has also made a nice clearance for itself on the piston.

Seems I've got a little work to do.

After checking the piston, its o.k. The exhaust valve and guide are changed and seat recut and we're back in business.

Pick up in the guide

Corresponding pick up marks on the valve stem

Matchless lives again

Replacement mag bolted straight on. Only difference was setting the timing up. On my original NR1 competition mag it was pull lever inwards to retard the ignition i.e fully advanced is on a slack cable. But on this replacement N1 mag its pull lever in to advance i.e fully advanced on tight cable. A fairly critical difference to consider when setting the ignition timing up you would agree!!

Started second kick and ticked over ok, however what is that smoke I see - ht lead touching the exhaust and burning through so not exactly a trouble free exercise - next job replacing ht lead and routing it away from hot things!

 

My mag is now with Armoto near Chesterfield who are going to repair and return within 10 days.

It's definitely goosed

Rigged up this Heath Robinson arrangement to confirm what I already know - primary winding and/or capacitor failed open circuit. Good news is that Kev from Boston has a spare N1 mag that he's willing to lend me whilst mine away getting refurbished.

The spark has gone......

.......from the Matchless ignition system.
The magneto is poorly I think. Went to take it out for a spin and it wouldn't start. Fuel checked o.k,
points checked and opening/closing o.k. Spark plug out and no spark. Changed the HT lead then the spark plug and still no spark. Pick up brush checked and o.k but the slip ring and the brush are covered in oil/grease.
Off with the mag for a closer look. Mag drive cover off and its packed with grease - chain o.k etc but you touch anything and you're covered in it. Drive sprocket tight and resorted to small two leg puller.
Then the front mounting bolt is seized in its spacer so patience, WD40 and jiggling instead of battering it with a drift - 45 minutes later its free and the mag is off.

All greased up

 

Off at last

 The magneto is a 1952 Lucas model NR1 42179 - a competition type. Rang around a few repairers and they were all stacked out with work for up to 6 weeks or more!!

 

Decide to strip it down to check what I could - Earth brush, contact breaker assembly, HT winding continuity, LT continuity, bearing insulation, and also to clean everything up whilst its in bits. The condenser which is the favourite culprit for failure is buried in the armature.

No safety gap screw fitted so its simply a matter of undoing the screws securing the contact breaker housing to the magneto body and pulling the armature out.

 

The bearings feel o.k, but the insulating washers on the bearings are totally goosed, plus the presence of oil/grease means the drive end shaft seal is not too good either. The capacitors don't look original - certainly not 1952 vintage plus theres a pair of them instead of one so I reckon its already had  a 'condensectomy' in the past.

 

Brightspark Magnetos has info on checking, troubleshooting and maintaining magnetos . Checked the HT winding continuity between the slip ring and the armature shaft and its 6300 ohms which is acceptable. The LT circuit measured across the contact breaker points with them open was 0.6 ohms, again o.k.

 

The windings appear ok, so I'll change the insulating washers, brushes and oil seal and if it works, it works otherwise its off to Dave Lindsley for him to sort it.

Drive end outer race & insulating washer

Contact breaker end outer race & remains of insulating washer



NR1 magneto in 'kit form'



National Road Rally

Managed an entry for the acu National Rally this year - normally on me hols somewhere hot & sticky when it's on.

Anyway, it was hot & sticky today but mission accomplished for a daytime gold award hopefully.

Daz sorted out a schedule for the 280 mile route around 12 control points, starting as per the rules at 12:00 and finishing before 22:00. it was pretty much spot on. No disasters on route and no getting lost either apart from the last control in Rotherham where the current road works & diversions span us around a bit. We actually knew how to get there but the cones conspired against us but got there in the end.

Its called 'preparation' and Daz was only about 15mins out at the end

 

End result

 

Did a bit of homework and we had sat navs with the control points locations in but used good old maps and old school written directions for chosen routes with a quick conversation between points confirming what route to take. Just as well as Dazs sat nav threw a paddy just after we started and didn't want to partake in the day's activities in any meaningful fashion after that.

Old school, who needs sat nav.

 

No hanging about on this event apart from the 10mins or so at each control point and the scheduled breaks you have to have - ours was at the American Embassy at Accrington (quarter pounder meal and Mcchicken sandwich I think)

Best bits were the road from Elland across to Rochdale on the A58 and then the A680 and the evening ride through the Peak District rom Ashbourne over to Snake Pass at Ladybower via Millers Dale, Tideswell and the B6049 to Hope Valley and Bamford.
Nightmare traffic in Harrogate as usual - note to self avoid going through Harrogate at all costs in future. The bit from Keighley down to Halifax also seemed to take forever - glad it wasn't a week day.
A good day after all, the weather was a major factor and I'll definitely be doing it again.

Squires café at the start

Halifax control point

Accrington just outside the American embassy

A forlorn Warrington at the Lymm services lorry park

Whitchurch at the Raven cafe

 

Best control points are at a pub

Ashbourne in the early evening, free drinks & sweeties

For some reason Daz is asking what I reckon the dimensions of the big orange Halfords sign are!!

Tideswell at the Anchor Inn



We lost each other between Ashbourne & Tideswell but Daz got there first so looks pleased with himself

Rotherham, the last one and they seem to be gearing up for an all night party

 

Wet Dry Wet Dry Wet Dry

As it says, bit of wet, bit of dry and a bit of sun today. Showers & sunny intervals is what the weather man would say.

Leaving the bunkhouse on Skye

Looked promising leaving Skye, top up with fuel at the co-op (refill in Alan's case) and via the bridge heading for Applecross, but just as we're stopping for a cuppa & breakfast bun at the Locharron Golf Club tea room it chucks it down - timing is everything.
After egg baps & coffees all round we're off and up the pass to Applecross - plan is to get to the top then go back down again the  way we came and head over to Torridon and make our way to Ullapool and then Lochinver.

Top of pass towards Applecross

 It was good weather all the way along the road to Shieldaig and on to Torridon. Very clear and you could see for miles, so the scenery was at its best. Stop again for a break and a brew at the café in Torridon village, Al goes further along the road to the Alligin Shuas viewpoint as he's not been along that road before. You can see it snaking up the hillside across the loch from the other viewpoint on the A696 - the other three decide to stay in the café for cream cakes - either no sense of adventure or already know that Loch Torridon looks the same whatever side you look at it from!!


Loch Torridon from the A696 side.......

....and looking back from the other side near Alligin Shuas

After those extra few miles, Al needs a sit down but the others are ready for moving on after gorging on tea & cream cakes at the café in Torridon..

Weather still good & dry so a few more miles and stopped in Poolewe to have another break. Riding round & staring at the scenery is thirsty work and we ended up in this another café, this time at the Bridge Cottage Café. Looked good to sit outside but a shower drives us indoors. Nice little café, but pretty cramped indoors with all our clobber.

 

Just after squeezing out of the Bridge café in Poolewe

 More scenery beckons and the executive decision is made to crack on to Ullapool where we shall partake of an ice cream before heading further north to the B&B at Lochinver.  To be honest it was more like a hostel than a good B&B. Very dated - shower and toilet were shared between at least three rooms, but the owner was a friendly guy, we had a cooked breakfast and no real drama to be fair. Its just that we were expecting a B&B!!! Sometimes when booking on the web you get some good ones and not so good ones.
Couple of pints in the pub down the road and some dinner then to bed wishing for more dri-ish weather in the morning.

Ice cream time in Ullapool



Still Wet in Scotland

Plan is to get over to Skye today via the little 'Man & Two Dogs' ferry from Glenelg, but first over to Fort William for more fuel for Alan as his Ducati only has a 17l tank as opposed to the 25l to 33l of the rest of us - he does have 162bhp though!
After planning the next fuel stop for Alan (80 miles or so to Broadford) its past the Commando Memorial and then along Glen Garry and Glen Shiel, stopping at the Cluanie Inn for a coffee and a bit of a dry out. Not far then to the turn off and the Mam Rattigan road to the ferry, but its still raining and wet so not the best of fun.

Viewpoint overlooking Glenshiel

 

The ferry's just got over to our side when we arrive and we get straight on. The two dogs are running all over the place - if you've been on the ferry you'll know what I mean - they're an entertainment in their own right.

Theres a temptation to chuck something over the side just to see if the dog would go after it

Onto Broadford and Alan not too sure about the single track, wet, gravel etc as his tyres are more suited for smoother tarmac etc. Al couldn't give a toss on tourances.
Pretty much pizza for lunch for everyone at the Cafeasia café in Broadford and then its a tour up the east coast of Skye - Storr, Kilt Rock etc and then over the Quirang in the drizzle with its single track gravel etc. Alan had better get used to it as there's more to come over the next few days.
Stopping at the Waterfront bunkhouse next to the Old Inn in Carbost tonight - bit cramped in the Pirates Cove but its only a dozen steps or so to the pub.

Wet wet wet in Scotland

Four go to Scotland in the rain. Al & Steve on GS's, Alan on Ducati Diavil, Darren on Aprilia Capanord. Absolutely chucking it down . Brekkie at Stainmore café on the way, then next stop Dumfries for fuel and then Mauchline for a comfort stop.

Cottagers caught on camera

Heading for Erskine bridge and then up along Loch Lomond. We get split up going around Glasgow - Al & Daz one way, Alan & Steve another, but manage to rendezvous at Luss and at last a stop for a cuppa and a bit of a dry out at the Green Welly.

A wet Green Welly

Stop for a cuppa at the Green Welly and Al B needs to change his nappy as its wet through - major trouser failure

 

Glencoe goes by somwhere in the mist

Alan & Daz peering at Glencoe

Here it is as the drizzle rolls back

Stopping Corran bunkhouse tonight, so its onto the ferry to the pub, just don't miss the last one back at 21:20

Water taxi to the pub at Ardgour

Off to the pub

The pub