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I changed my fork oil, washed and waxed and took the old girl to a car and motorcycle show. It was literally a couple of blocks from my house, so I had the wife follow me and take me back to the house so I could get a classic car I had cleaned up/waxed about three weeks prior. The Tiger puked fork oil on me and all over the gas tank on the way to the show, so I wiped everything off the tank, but my shirt didn't look too good. It was very hot but found a little shade to get out of the sun.

The Tiger won first in class, and my '55 Chevy got the top show award. All in all a good day. Now I need to drain and refill my forks and tighten things a little better, although the top nuts feel pretty tight. Guess I'll use a bigger wrench.
 

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Discussion Starter · #482 ·
Yeah, I echo those sentiments. Those roads in Scotland look like going back in time. No cars either. Makes me want to go there. Maybe we should plan a Vintage Rat trip to the IoM someday. We can all rent Gold Stars and Manxs, borrow puddin basins from our UK members and have a go at some of those old paths.

They do rent Gold Stars and Manxs over there, right?

regards,
Rob
Rob, you're correct it is just like going back in time, quiet country roads, little traffic, tidy villages. Beautiful part of the world. Incidentally the land in the far distance out to sea in the third pic is in fact the Isle of Man!
If someone wants to arrange a get together let me know ..I'm in
 

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I had the old girl over to my buddies shop, changed the oil and adjusted the chain... On the way home I drove on roads right after it had just finished raining near my neighborhood....Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr I guess tomorrow I will be cleaning her up a bit.

Bob
 

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I picked up the bike with new Avon Roadriders on Friday, since then I have almost 300 miles on it, some highway usage too. This is probably equivalent mileage to the first 5 years I've owned it. Soldered up an oil leak in the connection between the tank oil lines and the manifold that bolts to the engine, I also took the oil tank off to clean it and now that's leaking from the vent, must have been plugged with trash before. Only other oil seems to be from possibly the crankcase breather. I also added the missing torque stays on the head, way less vibes, very happy at high speed!

Unfortunately no mountains or english countryside background for me, this is the best I could come up with. I am really jealous of all of you that have twisties to ride!
 

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Had to deliver something small to a place nearby, so I thought...I'll take the Bonnie!

A guy almost knocked me off the bike at a set of lights as he squeezed up the inside lane to admire her!
 

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Discussion Starter · #491 ·
Changed the gearbox oil, always feels good pouring new oil into any part of an engine doesn't it? :)

Heading to Co Donegal for an overnighter tomorrow with my Norton buddy, round trip of about 250 miles, hoping it stays dry, forecast is for occasional showers...
 

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Maybe we should plan a Vintage Rat trip to the IoM someday. We can all rent Gold Stars and Manxs, borrow puddin basins from our UK members and have a go at some of those old paths.

They do rent Gold Stars and Manxs over there, right?

regards,
Rob
Now wouldn't that be something!! RR
 

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I replaced the front brake shoe's and will be taking it out for a ride later.

silverfsih
 

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Broke it

Went for a spirited ride on my Bitsa with a few stops to eat and visit. It was running great. I stopped at a turn-around to head back to the house and when I accelerated away, the speedometer didn't register. I checked the connections and they were tight. Seems the speedo gear box has died.
On the trip home I was on the freeway most of the way. I got off an exit ramp and stopped at a traffic light. The engine died and wouldn't restart. Lights were bright, horn honked, electricity must be available. When I turned the key off it popped once so seemed to be getting power to the E/I. After sitting on the side of the road a few minutes, I tickled it. Fuel came out of the ticklers but I got nothing for a few kicks. Thinking I may have flooded it, I held the throttle WFO and it fired up. I rode the rest of the way home and it died at a stop sign but fired up again. It died again in the drive. Guess I'll be working on some trouble shooting. Gas tank vent? Plugged petcocks? Sparx E/I overheated?
 

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tried to fix it

Re: Broke it!
Checked the plugs, good fire, good color. Turned on the gas, tickled the carbs, one kick start up and idle. HMMMM! Can't fix it if it ain't broke so I attacked the speedo problem. The cable had sheared off just inside the little square part of the pinion in the speedo gearbox. I took the pinion out to check its condition as it seemed to have a lot of play in the bushing. It looked good so I greased the G/B internals and put the G/B back together. While I had the rear wheel out, I made some alignment corrections on the rear caliper hanger caused by thick powder coating on mating surfaces and installed a set of new brake pads I bought awhile back. I found a new inner speedo cable in my stash and installed it in the old outer cable. It turned freely by hand so I put everything back together, adjusted and lubed the chain and fired it up. Dropped it in gear and when the wheel rolled, the speedo jumped one time and went still again. I pulled the new cable out and it was sheared in the same place as the old one. As my 7 year old grandson says, "Barnacles"!
 

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Riding on Trail Ridge Road, Rocky Mountain N'tl Park

I dodged the daily thundershowers riding into Rocky Mountain National Park by getting an early morning start. The pavement was excellent on Trail Ridge road. I kept the revs up for smoother running at 12,000 ft+ in 20 mph weekend traffic. It was not difficult to find gaps in the traffic by timing my picture stops, then ride the '73 Trident at cruising speed until the next tourist. No hail, no snow, and no rain made a pleasant but cool ride. The old T150 started 1st kick at every stop at high altitude. I lost the other riders in Estes Park. They did not want to ride up into the rain clouds. The only wet pavement was from the waterfalls of snow melt running down to and across the road in a few spots by the old ski area. There's still a ribbon of snow to make it worth hiking up for one more ski run. RMNP has the most snow in 30 years but much has melted and wild flowers are all in bloom. The elk are up high, with herds of 30+ to be seen on the tundra- COOL! The bulls' antlers are still in velvet. Bob
 

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