Stormin

The C-125 has not started right since I did the rebuild. Needed plenty of winding up and juggling of controls. Ran ok when started and I've been living with it. Today I decided enough was enough and set too to get it sorted. First I checked the points. They were a little wide so I adjusted the gap. Didn't help. So removed the air filter and squirted some fuel into the carb. Open the throttle, turn the key and it fired right up. Fuel pump? OK! I'll change that. Got a spare and tested it. Length of pipe on the inlet and end in some petrol. Worked the lever as fast as I could, and a nice jet of fuel shot out. So that was fitted. Still no joy. Decided to change the reconditioned carb I'd fitted, that a friend had rebuilt. Fitted the original carb and that has done the trick. Must be something in the recon' carb not just right. I'll strip it someday and see what I can find. Maybe the float wants re-setting. Definitely not getting enough fuel through. BTW. I'd remove float bowl the other week and that was spotless. The hand over the carb mouth trick didn't help either. So dirt in the carb ruled out.

Sorry to hear your going to have to part with your Gems. Gareth. Put an add in the for sale section.

Last day on Dunc's carport for now. It's now got both sides and cable end clad. Bit of trimming on the gable end and barge board to fit, but Dunc will do that. Dunc's C-125 got put to work hauling sand up to the yard, for the men doing the paving between house and yard. I can have a rest now till sometime next week.

Happy Birthday, Frank. I hope those boys of yours have a good treat or two instore.

I think it's about 13ft x 32ft, Angus. Got the first row of boards on the gable end yesterday, but hit a snag this morning. You fit the boards over length then trim to suit the roof angle. Problem was Dunc's hand held circular saw packed up. I'm taking mine with me tomorrow and we'll finish the gable end cladding. While Dunc treated some of the paving flags ready for the builders tomorrow, I took the sag out of the side batons. Then it was down to the field for more boards. We got one section finished on the other side and first row of boards on the middle section. We should have sides and gable end finished tomorrow. Dunc can manage the front gable by himself. The partition at the back for the store room will be done sometime in the near future.

Back over the Border yesterday and today. First though a pile of dirt to move from the yard. While Dunc got the tractor and trailer, I drove the digger up to the yard. Never operated a digger since I sold mine about 15yrs ago. 1-1/2 loads and the yard was cleared and levelled. Took the digger back down to the soon to be main workshop, then trailer was loaded with boards and taken up to the carport. Third bay was finished by lunch time. Photo' was taken before we started. After lunch we started on the back gable end. Hopefully get that finished tomorrow and make a start on the other side. It's a grand way to spend a Bank Holiday weekend.

Wheels ready to be cleaned up. Which will be fun. Brake plates etc finished.

That's a flooded quarry behind the trees, Jonathan. Supposedly going to be a nature reserve in a couple of years. Though there is still extraction going on in another part. They're applying to extend, but it will not effect Dunc.

Wasn't me.

Looks OK, Tom. Good to hear from you again. You'll have to tell us all about it.

All the Best, Andrew. Have a good day.

I don't know. They'll look even better when we get the cladding on. Carport is bigger than my workshop and the main workshop is slightly bigger than my bungalow.

Been at my mate Dunc's over in Scotland today. Lending a hand to build his carport and workshop. This is the carport. Room for two cars and will have store room/workshop at the far end. This will be his workshop and garage for his tractors, digger etc. This is a rather steep decent down to the main workshop. This is the result of a tractor and loaded trailer, running away from the top of that slope, when the handbrake failed. There was no brush at the corner at the time and tractor and trailer came straight down. It stopped when it hit the digger's bucket which was parked at the bottom. Digger ended up leaning against a tree and only suffered broken widows in the cab door.. Tractor didn't fare so well.

What held the pulley on the spindle? Maybe a circlip. Take the spindle of and photo' the end of the spindle. If the bearings in the pulley are ok, then a new circlip and some Loctite bearing fit should see you right. Welcome to MoM BTW. And where are you located. Maybe someone near you who can help.

Spent the weekend painting bits and bobs. Couldn't decide whether to paint the frame or get it powder coated. Monday morning I made the decision and took the frame and swinging arm to be powder coated after lunch. Get it back in about a week. In the mean time I'll see where I can get new fork stanchions and seals, plus rear shocks. To days been a real washout. None stop rain. So it's been a workshop day. These parts are now finished and will be wrapped up and put away. Started on the wheels today. First the rear. Removed the brake plate and then the shoes. Cleaning the old paint off the brake plate took a while. Much scraping and wire brushing. Then it was primed. Later it got a first and second coat of top coat. Getting the tyre off was a right fight. It still had air in. Not bad for standing for 20yrs. My valve removal tool seems to have gone awol, so I got as much air out as I could by pushing the valve down. Next broke the beads with the use of a G clamp. Then the struggle started. The tyre side wall goes well down in the rim. About an inch. With the use of one long lever and two short ones, plus a big screw driver, the tyre succumbed. Pulling the tube out with some air still in it, was a struggle as well. Gave the wheel a bit of a clean up, then put it on one side. Next, the turn of the front wheel. Brake plate got the same treatment as the rear one. That and the brake arm are now awaiting a second top coat. That's it for today. Seven and a half hours is enough. Wheel will get the tyre removed another day.

Don't know yet, Nigel. Depends on cost. Primer is to stop any rust forming after blasting.

Well the frame fitted in the cabinet. Just! Made my poor old back ache though, having to stoop a bit and moving the thing round. Got it done though. Plus some other parts. Tomorrow I'll give everything a rub down and get things primed.

Stripped the fork legs down yesterday. I'll need new seals and stanchions. The stanchions are well pitted and wont re-chrome. The lower legs will be sand blasted. I met a chap yesterday who's going to let me use his blasting cabinet. It's bigger than mine and the frame should just fit in, if my measurements are right. I'll find out later in the week.

Took a trip down to South Wales to take SWMBO to meet her long lost sister and family. While there exploring their farm and buildings, I stumbled on a trials motorcycle covered in 20yrs of dust and grime. After a pressure wash it looked a little better. 1982 SWM 125 TL. Italian built with Bombadier 2 stroke Rotax engine made in Austria. Very popular in their day and ridden by some of the top riders. Before we left, minus front wheel and handlebars, it fitted nicely in the back of my car. It's now at it's new home. Engine turns over but no spark. Think it's a wiring problem but could be ignition. CDI set up. I'll investigate that later when I've done some research. Started the strip down this morning, so some photo's of progress. First post was Fridays work. This post is Saturday. Bit more done today. Things will slow down now. Cleaning up. Seeing what needs replacing and sourcing the money. Just hope I can remember where everything goes.

While mowing the green and verges yesterday, I sensed some vibration, more than usual. I've replaced the anti vibration spacers between engine and wobble plate. After fitting them there was just a trace of vibration. When I'd finished mowing I decided to investigate. I found two broken bolts. One LH rear and one RH front. No wonder there was more vibration. I'd no spare bolts, but I do have a quantity of 10mm cap head Alan bolts. They'll do thinks I. I'll remove the cross bars that the wobble plate sits on and re-thread the holes. The rear bar came of easily. The front was a different kettle of fish. The bolts were inaccessible due to the front axle. So the tractor was jacked up, wheels removed,tie bars disconnected and axle lowered. I could then get at the bolts with a socket and short extension bar. Re-drilling the holes was fun, as I don't have any Vee blocks. Carefully fit in the hand vice and level up with a spirit level. Then tapped them out and re-fitted. Engine of course was still in place, but with a big tyre bar levering the engine up, I got the bars in place. Replace axle, tie bars and wheels. Let the tractor down and then the fun started. Using the same method I replaced the spacers and bolts. But would the bolts line up with the holes.. I must have fought on for an hour and wishing I had four hands. Had a coffee, sit down and a think. Back to the tractor and then it hit me. Wazack! I'd got the rear cross bar in the wrong holes in the chassis/frame. There's two sets about an inch apart and I'd used the rear ones. The rear bar was to far back. Got the bolts started and then another problem showed up. An Alan key/wrench would not fit due to the close proximity of the heads to engine. That was solved by cutting off about 3/8" off the end of a key. That and a 8mm ratchet ring spanner did the job. Got a nice smooth tractor again.

Bit more done today. Now starts the real work. Cleaning things up. Seeing what needs replacing. Sourcing parts. Not to mention the money. Do I paint or powder coat?

Rotax engine. 2 stroke, Nigel. Non runner. Engines free but no spark. I'm going to leave the engine for later. Long way to go yet.

Had a trip down to South Wales the last few days, to see Carol's new found sister and family. They are farmers and while being nosey looking through the buildings, I came across this 38yr old SWM 125 TL trials bike, where it had been for 20yrs. After a pressure wash it looked a lot better, but in desperate need of a LOT of T.L.C. Minus front wheel and handlebars it fitted nicely in the back of the car, so found it's way north to a new home.

Hi Colin. Try Iain (Slf-uk) He's in Norfolk. He and his son Joseph are a handy pair.

Nice looking cars. Got any photo's and info on your fathers car? Put in a new topic if you have.