Expert texpert choking smokers

Opinion are like arseholes, everyone has one and they often stink. It's been a frustrating week with self proclaimed experts offering 'advice' which basically comes down to sucking their teeth and saying 'you've got that all wrong mate'. Oddly they all contradict each other but there are plenty of nuggets of gold in there - these guys have had lots of business and racing success so they know their stuff but they forget that they don't know it all ..

anyway, back to Bub.

Took a drive to a local specialist about 25 miles away. Ear plugs in and still, damn that is LOUD!!! Bu's running but not very well, stalling but going quite well on an open throttle. Smelling horribly rich but impossible to lean out. As I get to John's place the charging warning light start playing up - very odd.

A good hour spent with John as he tells me what I should've done while admiring the oil cooler, showing me the right oil thermostat and giving me a few pointers on good electronic ignition and describing what I should be seeing in the carb. I will definitely be going back to him for final checking.

The run home was full of panic; no charging, no indicators and not sure brake lights were working .... they were but no dash lights?????

WTF!!! long story short - the ignition warning light fuse was loose! A simple clean and tighten of the brass fittings and all sorted - phew.

Next, that damn exhaust. I'd ordered dual cannon exhausts, like side mounted cherry bombs, they have a very loud, low bass rumble and sound like nothing else. Got them fitted and they look odd after the stinger and now mean I need to make a cover for the pulleys. This  also let me sort another Joe Blow fuck up; the misaligned pulley wheels. I'd had to get a 5mm spacer made to move the bottom pulley wheel out. I drilled the holes, bolted it back up and complete

Dual cannons like I wanted originally

It's a Manx Beetle

I tried to get the engine running but no dice. Hmmm, what had I last changed? Ah, the fuel pressure! Okay, easy 1 minute job to turn the regulator up by 1/2 a turn ..... ignition on, wait 10 seconds, pump 5 times and FIRE .... rumble, growl, blast - the sounds of success. Let it warm for a minute while I watch all my bits of paper fly around the garage then into an uneasy idle. And off.

Next, I checked the dizzy - hmm, seems a bit worn which won't be helping (new magnaspark replacement dizzy electronic ignition is en route), turned up the tickover speed and fired up the barby once more. Idle timing backed off to 10deg BTDC from ~7deg and the engine note rises, smooths and settles without any hunting - aha!

Next its Main jets: standard is meant to be 160 (1.6mm) but it came with 150s. So 160s fitted and  ...HORRIBLE ... back to 145s and start her up ... nice, far better, so next I started leaning out the idle (tickover) mixture screws ... 1.25 turns out rather than 2.5 turns ... revving much cleaner .... almost no black smoke. Time for a test drive.

Out I go and left up the steep hill and BLOODY HELL that is quick!!! So much better, clean from tickover up to 3k revs (not going higher yet) when it starts to pop a bit.  Back down the road and the sound is very nice.

As I come back home I keep the revs up  then kill the ignition as I sweep into the driveway for a classic plug chop ..... out come a couple of plugs and they're starting to look brown (as they should) ... I'm a happier bunny. Get the 'lec ignition fitted and the oil thermostat so I know its coming fully up to temperature then final tuning and running in.

Yeah, its filthy still, but look at the hint of brown ...

List of jobs after that

• Fit secondary fuse box for accessories
• install CB
• install intercom
• make up fly lead to connect CB to the intercom
• fit the horn properly to a dash switch
• make a pulley cover
• new wipers
• make seat pads (ouchy bum)
• fit the mhmhmttmtm
• and the shstsmmmm
• not forgetting fkfkfkfkfkf