wanted - moto giro bike

Paul Marx said:
Get fuel in it by turning engine over on the decompressor if there is one to get some fuel on top of the piston then 1 earnest kick. The importance of being earnest.
I hope the ride goes well. Not much testing beforehand.

Paul
Click to expand...
Hi Paul

magic advice. kicked the bike over several times with ignition off. Then turned ignition on a gave a healthy kick, started right up, really chuffed, thanks!!!
 
martymoose said:
Start ya bastard in a can, they even make a small can to carry, use it all the time in the workshop
Click to expand...
Hi Marty

I have added a small can of ether to my tool carry bag that is being strapped to the rear of the seat.

Current odd problem/issue... bike will only start and run on antique Magnetti Marelli spark plugs. I bought from NGK Canada a couple of NGK variations supposed ot be equivalent to the Magnetti Marelli, includign a weird looking NGK multi prong/ground NGK plug recomended by VAPE PowerDynamo, bike won't even fart with any of those installed. Not a real problem, I have a couple of Magentti Marelli plugs to run the bike on, just one of life's puzzles I guess
 
Here is hoping all your energy goes to picking corner lines, bloody old bikes. BTW I have indexed drum brakes with chalk on the drum marking high spots and a bastard file attacking the shoe, whatever it takes. No idea about the plugs, maybe it needs an exorcism.
 
Hi Paul,
All the best for the event on the weekend - the bike looks superb and is certainly immaculately prepared, even if not yet 'fully fettled'. At least you know it back to front so you should be able to sort any minor issues should they arise.
Re the starting, I'm discovering the joys of kick start bikes with my Dad's Velocette and I guess you have to do that procedure by default as it requires a bit of faffing about to get it just at the right point to kick it and that usually involves a few revolutions setting it up. It starts first kick most times now I've got the knack of it, I adapted an ignitech to fit and it's working well.
Looking forward to hearing of the successful completion of the event, or in any case having a lot of fun.
Cheers
Steve
 
Paul LeClair said:
Hi Paul

magic advice. kicked the bike over several times with ignition off. Then turned ignition on a gave a healthy kick, started right up, really chuffed, thanks!!!
Click to expand...
That's really good news. I learnt that with my Falcone: flood the float, kick it over 3 or 4 times, then "wham". That when it's been idle for a long while. Hot, just kick it.
Be careful not to stall it until it's fully warmed, it may well be a bastard to start again when lukewarm.

When you have some experience with real motorcycles, we'll get you a Velocette. They have a reputation for being terrible to kick.
A friend who rides nothing else starts his, first kick, every time.

We're off for about 3000 km together on Saturday with a group of like minded friends on mostly British machinery. The only bikes on these jaunts not to have a problem of some sort usually, are the Veloce and my 750 Lav. I was planning to take my 3C for it's first long outing but the bike is too fast for the sort of riding we do. Which doesn't mean the riding is slow, there are a few multi capped classic racers amongst us. (not me)

Paul
 
Paul LeClair said:
Hi Marty

I have added a small can of ether to my tool carry bag that is being strapped to the rear of the seat.

Current odd problem/issue... bike will only start and run on antique Magnetti Marelli spark plugs. I bought from NGK Canada a couple of NGK variations supposed ot be equivalent to the Magnetti Marelli, includign a weird looking NGK multi prong/ground NGK plug recomended by VAPE PowerDynamo, bike won't even fart with any of those installed. Not a real problem, I have a couple of Magentti Marelli plugs to run the bike on, just one of life's puzzles I guess
Click to expand...
From my limited experience, some Marelli plugs have a length between NGK B and E. Make sure that your NGK plugs aren't kissing the piston.

Paul
 
Moto Giro has come and gone. Lots of fun had by all. I am already planning for next year.

The Gilera "failed to proceed" in the 300 km first day. There was a loud bang and the bike quit. Bike was running great until that happened.

Now home, and now diagnosed, the VAPE alternator rotor/ignition pickup came loose from the crank end resulting in ignition failure, and clobbered the engine cover/case in the process. Two other Moto Giro participants, both with similar VAPE systems, both told me they have previously had similar failures, as the rotor is not keyed to the crankshaft. I used LocTitle 680 retaining compound with activator, but I guess It wasn't sufficient.

I had the Kawasaki H2 SX SE with me on the trailer, so hauled it off the trailer to complete the 300 km route and not waste a glorious riding day on great roads. They wouldn't let me run the H2 up the mountain course the next day though...... :rolleyes: :eek:

Thnaks to all who contributed info and advice, especially Cam!!
 
When I fitted a new Motoplate ignition on an old Husky I was told I needed to lap it on its taper with valve grinding paste to ensure it made full contact
 
Rob said:
How very frustrating Paul after all your hard work. Bloody old bikes....!
Click to expand...
Hi Rob and all

had great fun with a group of great and interesting people in wonderful mountain countryside. Several other bikes also "failed to proceed" and were picked up by chase trucks and trailers.

I was "awarded" the "Mechanical Hardship" trophy, with the comment from the event organizer that the Gilera was the prettiest bike to ever receive that particular award, bloody hell.....:rolleyes:

Already looking forward to next years event. I am currently working on resolving the Gilera VAPE rotor issue, then will do final carb jetting dial in on a local dyno at the shop that did the head and the other machining for me. Then considering potentially offering the Gilera for sale to fund a possible Ducati 250 build, we'll see, have not really decided yet. I am not sure if I have another comprehensive bare frame bare engine cases build left in me.

A Ducati 250 was the fastest bike at the Giro, I am not built to be among the slower in the overall pack, while the Gilera runs really well and is truly gorgeous, te Gilera 150 is what it is and 7 hp barely gets my bulk up some of the steeper mountain roads...... The Gilera needs a lighter rider to be competitive, so either I lose a bunch of weight or I figure out how to bolt a supercharger on the Gilera or .......

before anyone jumps to the conclusion I am joking about a supercharger for the Gilera, a supercharger is permitted by the rules. Too bad turbo charging is excluded by the rules, that would be much easier. Challenge to supercharge one of these little singles is where and how to mount and drive the supercharger. I am doing some preliminary research, I think supercharging the Gilera might be more interesting than building a Ducati 250 from scratch,,,, and likely considerably cheaper
 
  • Haha
Reactions: Rob
I recall, but can't confirm, back in the mid-ish 1970s someone ran a Honda step thru at Bonneville, it was supercharged using the compressor from a refrigerator. Can anyone else remember something like that?

cheers,

bazzee
 
The good news is you didn't blow yourself up, just an ignition. Cheaper fix and less painful than when you fell off the trailer last time you were there. Better luck next year.
 
I would say you kicked a few goals getting yourself and the bike to the starting line along with like minded folk. A shame to not finish but you had virtually no time to sort teething problems like that. With a blower it would likely be an even bigger bang! Being an ex Ducati single owner that would be my choice, dead simple and still plenty of parts around, apparently. Kudos to you Paul.
 
as the Gilera is almost finished I spent the day doing a deep clean of the garage and work area, part of my process before moving on to the next projects. Summer is pretty much at an end here, likely only a few more weeks of riding time, days are shorter, colder in the mornings and evenings. Getting the garage ready for whatever this winters project may turn out to be.......

the Laverda's have been sadly neglected, I just put in a Sudco carb parts order of more jets and needles for the upcoming Gilera carb tuning dyno session, so added three new Miukuni RS 36 floats to the order, $22.22 USD per float, plus some other RS 36 bits, going to refit the rack of Mikuni RS 36 flat slides to the 79 1200 after a thorough going through. The RGS needs the Dellorto carbs run through the ultrasonic, the float needles are stuck on 2 of the carbs. The 82 1200 TS needs a heavy duty cleaning and detailing, I took it to Vancouver Island at the beginning of the summer, it got caught in a bunch of rain, needs to be returned to its pristine glory for a serious attempt at finding it a new home. These Laverda's do not deal well with being left sitting for too long with fuel in them. Also going to change oil and brake fluid in all three.

still fiddling with the Gilera, on the advice of the VAPE tech folks I ordered some peculiar NGK plugs that have three ground tabs circled around the center electrode, I test fitted on my spare Gilera head, they were a tad longish, so used three spacer washers to get installed length perfect, fitted to the bike and fired up, oddly enough engine sounds noticeably different to me in a good way.

also for the Gilera, I need some rear brake linkage parts, so scouring eBay Italy.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top