RICK’S FIXES
Spannering supremo Rick Parkington cogitates on your (and his) motorcycle maladies classicbike.workshop@bauermedia.co.uk
Dealing with wet sumping BSAS, carb set up – and how to get the horn working
I’ve realised I have something of a problem. I simply don’t have enough space. Motorcycles take up a lot of it, so I have evolved this set of rules to help me address the situation. 1) Use the thrill of buying a new project to get it built ASAP. Don’t gather projects for ‘when you retire’, as you may no longer have the energy.
2) Sell bikes you no longer use or enjoy. Regrets come when you’re forced to sell, not when you choose to.
3) Avoid having too many bikes that fulfil the same purpose. I used to have more café racers than local cafes to race to…
4) Every bike must have a purpose – even if it only gets used once a year but keep them all ‘ready to go’. After buying my Rudge project, I tore straight into it and got it finished in a few months. Rule 1: Tick. I don’t have anything I no longer enjoy riding. Rule 2: Tick. This is easy... but hang on, the Rudge is a mid-’30s sports single, like my Norton and Sunbeam. Not doing so well with Rule 3 are we? Maybe we should revisit Rule 2... Well, I can’t justify all three; the Rudge is great fun and the Norton is irreplaceable... but what about the Sunbeam – the rear stand is irritatingly awkward and I can’t get a side stand to fit the bike. Hmmmm... Rule 4 saw me go through the bikes that needed jobs done for this year – and when the Sunbeam went on the bench, I honestly believed I was doing a pre-sale spruce up. Looks nice with a polish, lovely original paint... we’ve done a lot of miles together, haven’t we old girl? Actually, while it’s on the bench, maybe I could make a sidestand... The stand’s a great success – apart from giving me the excuse to keep the Sunbeam, along with all the others. Rules are all very well, but when they concern matters of the heart maybe it’s better to consider them as ‘guidelines’. Oh well, better do some tidying up; it’s the only way I’ll get any more space.
‘WHEN THE SUNBEAM WENT ON THE BENCH, I HONESTLY BELIEVED I WAS DOING A PRE-SALE SPRUCE UP’