I had to get organised. I was looking at the increasingly messy workbench and thinking that I could see no end to the tunnel into which I have gone, so I had to plan. Perhaps this yearning is as a result of all those years working in engineering. As a callow youth I would have happily gone into the garage and done the first thing that came to hand or that grabbed my attention. This would be why my Tribsa, my Hondumph and my Gruch (Greevse/Puch – made from other peoples chuck outs) came out so odd (don’t ask!).
So what have I done? Firstly I’ve contacted Grove classic motorcycles and got a copy of their excellent catalogue.
This has all sorts of exploded diagrams with Velocette part numbers against them and is worth its weight in gold. Next I joined the (mightily efficient) Velocette Owners Club
The club also has a spares scheme that works on the same system and so the same diagrams work. Incidentally, these are the same as used in the Haynes manual. Then the long boring bit – I wrote up spreadsheets for the engine internals and casings. In these I have left columns to organise the work.
So now I know what areas to work on and where to get the bits. The final part of the puzzle is in knowing what the priorities are. Mostly, I’m ok with engines, but there are areas that I need to consult people with knowledge of specific areas of this vintage one. Luckily, there is a superb technical resource in the Velocette club and its technical forum.
A good example is to decide if I have to change the valve seats in the head in order to run unleaded petrol. I put up my question and within a day had a host of very practical and well considered answers all with the same consensus of opinion. Happily, I don’t. I am changing the valves though since the stems were so badly scored, but I’m holding back until they arrive to check the clearances in the guides before changing them too.
This has been a definite step in the right direction. In fact I was so pleased with myself I spent an hour or two cleaning more parts and checking what I’ve got against my new lists. Just like at work, there’s only so much desk flying that I can stand!
