Belgium Honda Speedo Part 1

 Phuffff Phuffff...just blowing the cobwebs off mi keyboard...Last logged on in June '21.. Blimey that's nearly 5 years...bet mi' internet connection has perished but I'll see if I can connect.  tap...tap....tap.....Oh it's alive!! Igor...IT'S ALIVE!!!!

Ok..hands up....who remembers your scribe? You do remember? Well good because Uncle Alberts back in town. I used to comment on how shit the government was and how bumbly Boris was and what about Macrons french sausages...and how hot Von der Leyen was...Fookin doookin mention anything about the government now and least ya can expect is a good rear ending by foreign rent boys.....or falling under a bus....or even out of a window.... Scared, well a bit so I'll just ramble about my latest purchase for the Belgium Honda. That can't be racist now can it...?

As a new version of  The Old Sidevalve Bar continues to take shape my thoughts are with what will be allowed in it. Well near the top of the list is the Belguim Honda. Poor thing...in boxes, then it's out, then back into boxes, then out again.  Anyway if it's going to hit Belgium soil in my lifetime then it better be out of it's box and back in view. What can be considered useful on a motorsickle in EU land? Firstly I'd suggest a strong luggage rack to carry the lovely beers...secondly a speedometer that reads the correct lingo would be good too. So, I need to buy a speedo...a kilometre one is extremely rare UK. In fact a good MPH one is getting on £250....ooooch. Broken one to mend? Sounds good but it's a risk. To add to the task of finding one there are 2 x different styles depending on year of motorsickle. Belgium Honda is a 1965 so requires the first version. ('Contra rotating' its called 'cos the needles travel in opposite directions.... needs the appropriate speedo drive but hey ho will cross that bridge later.)The one I finally bought as you can see from the pictures had a missing rev counter needle...maybe, just maybe I could make an replacement? Chrome looked reasonable and there would be some sov's left in the budget to order a replacement dial that was calibrated in kms. Below are the ebay piccies...I paid the asking price, as it looked the best of the bunch offered for sale.

Close inspection followed when the package arrived. Lady Luck was smiling on your Uncle Albert that's for sure 'cos up through one of the bulb holder holes I spied treasure...yes a thing of extreme value...It was the broken part off the rev counter needle...The smallest jiggle and it was out....how could that important part have survived hidden up inside? Looks a bit worse for wear, maybe it had been in there whilst the donor bike was a runner as there's a circular marking on the inside of the glass to suggest it was running out of position for a while before breaking. The seller never mentioned he'd seen or had it...certainly the speedo is more valuable now. All I've got to do is get inside and maybe a dab of glue will be all it needs to be back where it belongs.. Filled with enthusiasm a new kms dial was ordered from USA via ebay... Arrived safely too despite Trump throwing tariff after tariff on exports and imports. All the way from Indiana. WOW! 

Next job..strip and clean......keep looking in 'cos we're open for exciting news once again. Alb over and out..

A Virtual Anniversary Celebration.

 Covid19 lockdown easing...but big parties still not allowed unless you were a part of the recent world summit in Cornwall, then hey party party...get down to the beach bar-b-que. Rock'n'Surf with Boris...Anyway it has been noticed that today (which is 27/06/21) is exactly 12 years since The Mighty Picklington Precision conquered Park Rash. The date not only etched forever in a tiny corner of all Oilyracers frontal lobes but should we forget then it's also etched on our 'Oilyracer' tankards. A memory jogger for whence we pass to our final years and memories fade...Now what was I writing? Oh yes I remember..

So, a virtual raising of 'Jugglingtons'  No disclosure from either team player regarding beer choice till 8.00p.m sharp.  

Synchronising watches and clocks......Ready?  Yes my lord the church bells hath rung 8 times....The hours ist on us !

In the blue corner we have Basil K. Splutterpipe. Drinking Hobgoblin Ruby Ale... Big frothy head in a highly polished Pewter tankard

Opposing in the red corner yours truly. Tonight I'm 100% supporting 'The Shire'. Starting with a Black Sheep Amber Ale then quoffing a few of 'The Old Sidevalve Bar's specials. All in a somewhat stained and dented tankard. 

Beers poured? Then it's Jugglingtons skywards and I give you cheers to The Picklington Precision. May one day in the future the vibrating beast will again smell of hot brasso and spit nuggets of red hot carbon and the occasional cobweb through it's rear pointing trumpet. Bap Bap Baaaa!

All the above was virtually performed on trust and time punctuality. No Zoom. Proper Old Skool

The Restoration of The Picklington Precision Part 1 By Basil K. Splutterpipe.

 

As fans of this Oilyracer blog page, you will have read - many moons ago - of yours truly, and the Almost Legendary Albert Crackleport’s trip to Belgium, to take part in a bike building competition.

Back in the dark days of 2009, yes, that long ago, before the words “ pandemic “ and Covid were even thought of, we took a sailing ship across to Belgium, to a place routed in legend and also in Balen (somewhere in the middle of Belgium) Here we were plied with much Belgian ale and in a secret place known as “ the arcade”, we undertook the building of a motorcycle - ok pretty basic - within 3 days.

Albert supplied the forks, wheels, engine and gearbox - our Belgian hosts, the steel tubing and welding equipment, sandwiches and pop.

The result was the famed Picklington Precision and again readers of this blog will - after a triumphant return to U.K. shores - mayhap also remember tales of daring do up the slope of Park Rash, in the Yorkshire Dales, back in 2010 - when Albert allowed myself and a couple of fellow gentleman racers, the privilege of riding said machine up said slope. What a day that was - recorded on film, and I believe still available somewhere on the dark web.

That day took a vicious toll on our beloved machine - oil was lost and the gearbox casing broke under the huge stresses and strains of flat out racing - don’t let the formula 1 guys tell you that they know all about g-forces, PAH !!!, they know nothing - it was uphill after all.

The Picklington was brought back to its home - now in Yorkshire - where it’s damage was assessed and remedies commenced, but unfortunately as with all things like this, time passed, it’s glory day almost forgotten, the Picklington ended up under a floor in a cellar in darkest Pudsey - history and time moved on.

Eleven years later - it may have been home brew or over a slice of pork pie and a dripping sandwich - in any case the Picklington once again came up in discussions and memories harking back to those long forgotten days were stirred. Could she be resurrected.

Now, Albert has many fine machines deserving of his huge skills both in preservation and oily racing, and sadly the old lad can only handle so many, thus a suggestion was made - would you like the Picklington to restore as a task in your retirement - which is how we came to be standing in a freezing garden in darkest Pudsey in April 2021 (masked and socially distanced - of course) to retrieve this historical artefact. Thanks Albert, I am truly humbled by your generosity. Pictures are attached hereabouts, which provide evidence of the great day, when the Picklington was brought back into the light.

 

 Awoken from it's slumbers the Picklington is hauled up the cellar steps.

 

 

 

 

 

Cobwebs - and spiders - removed it's time for a swift cuppa out 'o flask. Cheers!

 

 

and the motorcycle began a short trip back to a new home, a comfortable dry garage, where a strip down, clean, paint and re-assembly will begin.

Over the next few months I hope to be able to provide a bit of a story and pictures to accompany my musings on the restoration of my part of oily racing history.

 

Bye for now Splut !!

UK Lockdown2

Oilyracers..keep ya motor running..  Maybe one day we will head out on the highway. Looking for adventure....

Not so fast 'Boy Wonder' the Covid19 still rages in the breath of the 'spreaders'. As yet us mere mortals have no protection against this invisible killer only carbolic soap and Listerine mouthwash. Armpits and breath smell wonderful but UK government still advise Locking Down - Unlocking- Locking Down again. The new normal way of life. Name any country it's all the same yo yo. The whole world is in hiding from a dasterdly uncontrollable germ let loose by an as yet unknown master of evil. The Joker? The Riddler? Nah, some sort of chinese Ernst Stavro Blofeld hiding somewhere in Ying Tong Wuhan City. 

Holy catastrophic bat droppings Robin -  

Only MI6 Special Agent 007(and a bit) Boris Bond can save Blighty now...

Can I suggest we move quickly to the Batcave for safety ....and as a special treat I think Alfred has tea and piping hot buttery crumpets ready.

Deep in the Batcave (The Old Sidevalve Bar) work continues on the Belgium Honda. The crank. Now here's a tale if you have the time. Your Uncle Albert isn't one to fall into believing what's written on facebook forums on the old internettywilly. BUT hang on there's always a first time. - The CB72 Owners forum (of which Belgium Honda is one of) is busting with knowledgeable wafflers and zingy shed trained advisers. Sounds familiar? I don't encourage such strays near 'The Old Sidevalve Bar'  They'll drink ya ale store dry in a flash!!! Only kidding,  the topic of that particular day was discussing the crud caught in the sludge traps of old honda flywheels. Eeek I thought, how very very interesting. Could my own sludge traps be harbouring such nastyness?. Now it's not a case of just undoing a conveniently placed screw to peek inside. No sir! Bungs have to be drilled out.....commitment to really really wanna know is crutial. And the ability to re-bung an educational requirement.

Aluminium bung drilled out and behold...the very much feared blocker of oil ways. I have lots too.

Much pocking and broddling followed with strong wire, squirting of WD40 and high pressure blasting with compressed air. Oilways now appear free. (I think...I hope.....) A crank strip would be the 100% way but.....sometimes a leap of faith is required..

 Never Broddled? You may have....click here to find out. 

Old crud don't half make ya thirsty...POSH!!!  Take the ex 'Elvis' CB72 and see if ya can't fill a bottle or 2 of that local refreshing mountain spring water. Hey, I ain't tea total ! But it's nay but 10 in't morning!

 

It is I!!! Albert Crackleport. Oilyracer blogger, Vintafake Blogger, Locked down and now unlocking slowly. Pocking head out of the door to check no neighbours near..Then run at speed towards the shed. Hoping no nasty germs land on me....The Covid19 has upset the world bias for sure.....nothing is spinning in the same direction. Except of course your scribs in the Oilyracer workshop. Never ever will we change our allegiance to the Vintafake cause. .
Looking through some old vehicle papers I came across correspondance to a certain Horace Tomkinson who lived in Ellesmere Port. South Wirral. UK. Very much doubt the old boy is still with us. He was probably 70 then.!!The year was 1993. Horace was a pensioner then!!!!That would make him over 100 years old !!!!Thank goodness I wrote and procured the treasure.
All transactions by letter, ink on paper, posted in an envelope with a 1st class stamp....(must have taken weeks)
I bought 2 x J.A.P. engines for £50....
Here's the transcript...

One of the engines I built into the almost legendary 'FB J.A.P. Stubble Tracker' The other which I considered the better one of the 2 still awaits awakening....sleeping in a cardboard box in the cellar.
Ain't life brilliant?

Hey, stay safe, out of virus harm and we will meet on the road somewhere, sometime, somehow.

Beer'o'clock. Time Mrs Crackleport fired up the beast and went in search of a flagon or 2.