Got the Comet out for a 40 mile run yesterday, up and down the toll way. Looks like I need to do some additional work (although, we are getting close on this deal). Need some advice as to how to approach the issues below (and yes, I already have Richardson, Stevens, the Rider's Manual, etc., but they are not workshop in nature. From the top:
There is some clutch slippage, I noticed it rather late in the run, around 30 miles when moving from third to fourth and back. Gear shifting is fine, but the clutch slips at 55+ miles per hour. How does one approach a clutch replacement?
When I got home, and let the beast cool down, I went to restart it and the kick starter does not engage. I have noticed previously that it felt "mushy" and am wondering if something has worn out? If I pull the clutch lever and push down on the kick starter, there is no resistance. I would assume that the kick start cover will need to be removed to address this and the clutch problem above. Is there oil or anything spring loaded behind the cover? What should I be looking for/examining as the source of the problem?
I have the Amal 229/L12 carb on the bike. I like the look, although I have a more modern monoblock that I could use. The installation is sound and I am able to tune the carb in accordance with Sid Bieberman's procedure under the carb section of www.thevincent.com. I have a BT-H magneto set at 34 degrees BTDC. I also have an Innovate Motorsports LM-1 air fuel ration gauge on the way and will use it to tune before I get the beast back on the road. My question is really spark plug related in that I am running a KLG FE70 plug because I like stock. It occurred to me that the KLG would have been appropriate for the lower octane (easier burning) motor fuel pool back in the 50s, but, should I be running a different plug for better performance for the 91 octane (harder to burn) California "Gucci" gasoline that I use today?
Thanks in advance for your input.
There is some clutch slippage, I noticed it rather late in the run, around 30 miles when moving from third to fourth and back. Gear shifting is fine, but the clutch slips at 55+ miles per hour. How does one approach a clutch replacement?
When I got home, and let the beast cool down, I went to restart it and the kick starter does not engage. I have noticed previously that it felt "mushy" and am wondering if something has worn out? If I pull the clutch lever and push down on the kick starter, there is no resistance. I would assume that the kick start cover will need to be removed to address this and the clutch problem above. Is there oil or anything spring loaded behind the cover? What should I be looking for/examining as the source of the problem?
I have the Amal 229/L12 carb on the bike. I like the look, although I have a more modern monoblock that I could use. The installation is sound and I am able to tune the carb in accordance with Sid Bieberman's procedure under the carb section of www.thevincent.com. I have a BT-H magneto set at 34 degrees BTDC. I also have an Innovate Motorsports LM-1 air fuel ration gauge on the way and will use it to tune before I get the beast back on the road. My question is really spark plug related in that I am running a KLG FE70 plug because I like stock. It occurred to me that the KLG would have been appropriate for the lower octane (easier burning) motor fuel pool back in the 50s, but, should I be running a different plug for better performance for the 91 octane (harder to burn) California "Gucci" gasoline that I use today?
Thanks in advance for your input.