Re: What did you do to or for or with your Laverda today?

Nice one Cam! You might have to put a damper on the flue pipe to slow the combustion down!
Made my own version once for our workshop in WA out of pipe fittings - it burnt so fiercely without a damper we had flames shooting out of the flue and we could burn a log in world record time.

If you want to make the heat output more efficient you could weld some fins on the vessel and blow the hot air around with a fan? A bit like an air-cooled engine.
 
don't damp the flue, but instead restrict the available combustion air
Also wrap the oil line around the base of the flue about two or three turns, it will get pre-warmed and will vaporise in the combustion chamber much more efficiently and cause less acrid black (polluting) smoke. To regulate the oil drip you need a "needle valve" available from messers Crane or Hattersley.
Gate valves or ball valves will not give you the close control at almost closed positions whereas a need valve will.
CLEM
 
Thanks Clem and Simon.

I agree with Clem that flue dampers are not a good idea. I've tried that with other combustion stove experiments in years past, and they cause too much back-pressure which can make the thing belch smoke into the occupied space. The canister isn't completely air-tight so needs to stay under the negative pressure induced by the draught of the flue. I can regulate the air intake quite well, so can control combustion that way once I figure out how it responds to various air intake configurations.

I have some ideas in mind to make some kind of metering valve for the oil feed - possibly a needle valve or something else of my own invention. Too much oil and it belches black smoke from the flue like a Diesel truck with bad injectors. When I dial the oil back to a fine trickle the exhaust is pretty much smokeless, but it's a bit hit-and-miss with the ball valve I'm using to regulate flow at present.

The supposed wisdom with burning dirty old sump oil is to avoid any significant pre-heating of the oil line because heat causes carbon deposits to form inside the copper pipe which could eventually clog it, a bit like hardening of arteries. It flows well enough when cold and flashes to vapour as soon as it hits the combustion chamber, so doesn't really need pre-heating.

I had thought of welding fins on the inside and outside surfaces of the heat exchange vessel, but it's chucking out enough heat as it is so that's not an immediate priority. As for air distribution, I have an old fan that's driven by a Stirling engine that I might be able to incorporate into the plumbing. The idea being to divert waste heat from the flue to power the Stirling engine.

While the intention is to heat the shed, it's also a source of amusement for me to cobble together a crazy bit of apparatus that actually has a practical application.
 
Drove to Work on the RGS for the first time this year after refurbishing the sprag clutch and fixing other minor issues - nice  8). And the summer has finally come to Denmark  :D - it has been a cold May and june here.

Arne
 
Been riding the SF2 daily as usual.
For some strange reason, it's working better than it has done in a very long time. It iddles very steadily around 1000 rpm, will pull from iddle, revs out nicely with minimum vibration. Clutch is perfect since using an unlubed teflon lined cable.
Maybe the change of valve seat additive has something to do with it?

Only annoying point is the spot of oil coming from the primary tensionner.

Paul
 
rode SeFFie, my SF2, over to the local branch club meeting of the historic motorcycle club (HMCCQ)
a clear, still, cool (12?) winter's night with a full moon, & she's running sweet as.
but, just had to return via the highway bypass to blow out any residual cobwebs.
ya gotta luv ya Lav.  8)
 
markQLD said:
rode SeFFie, my SF2, over to the local branch club meeting of the historic motorcycle club (HMCCQ)
a clear, still, cool (12?) winter's night with a full moon, & she's running sweet as.
but, just had to return via the highway bypass to blow out any residual cobwebs.
ya gotta luv ya Lav.  8)
Click to expand...

You didn't invite me! First day of unemployment today!
 
Intended to take the RGS to work this morning, but it wouldn't start - buffer  :'( >:(. Only some puffs in the exhaust - did I drown it with too much choke? Probably need some new plugs and a timing check.

Arne
 
37?c here.
After a day in the parking at work, the SF2 started without choke, just a little squirt of neat fuel down the bores.

Off to Francorchamps tomorrow. Need to load the car with all the necessary equipment for the race bike, ie rollers and batteries, paddock stand and camping gear plus riding gear.
Will try to put 3 bikes on the trailer: 600TT2, 100 Turismo, 125 Sport.
If all goes well, will do the parade with the TT2 and my girlfriend with the 100 which hasn't run in 6 years since my divorce has been going. The oil was new and the carbs drained so should work out.

See some of you there.
Drop in on the Amicale 750 Laverda stand in the club area in the evening.

Paul
 
Finally got the andychain cam chain fitted, changed then oil to Amsoil after reading through PLC's  oil thread re Castrol vs Castrol. Took her for a spin and ran rather well with the exception I have lost my Idle when it warms up. Idles with the choke then dies when I close the choke (enricher). Time to check the idle circuit, idle air inlet me thinks. Never have O/H the carbs in 37 yrs, always ran fine , although not much usage in the last few years, so maybe its time.

Stu
 
Those idle passages don't like sitting around with fuel dissolving in them over time,especially the fuel around these days.
 
Havent got one to do owt with...but Andy brought his lovely Monty to Guzziclub......
 

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Tis indeed a cheeky wee bike Phil....but these days am premier sponsor of number 1 son...ENDURO...now those boys can really dig a hole in yer pocket.....and tis every flippin weekend !
 
Always found it strange that quite a number of parts of my Enduro bike only lasted for a day or part thereof.
As you improved it didn't get any cheaper as you were going quicker when it was time to bail.

Budgeted about ?100 an event all in, back in the late eighties, pre-kids, never regretted a penny.

You should give it a try, what could possibly go wrong, after all earth is softer than tarmac. :o

 
good night at the guzzi club also a new face who was on a mirage that he has had for 25 years and is name was Richard from mac.
packed the old 3ce for Italy today and its pissing down oh what a surprise.
if you look at katies pic you will see a 1970 bonnie 1 owner and restored by katie,s other halve guy what a peach
regards andy
 
Braved the icy start and took the Cico out for it first real outing, along with a new helmet, Nolan N104 ( was on sale ) .... a hell of a lot quieter than the Shark and warmer...............so went up the Putty to Grey Gums,  they had some fires going so that was welcome.
Well the engine in the Cico pulls like a bloody train............was going to stop and get a photo of a fern or two but was having too much fun

Outstanding day apart from the cold still next time will use winter gloves and a scarf..

 

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