Dickyboy wrote: Mon Jul 14, 2025 7:49 am
Tried sorting the flat spot at 3k by replacing plugs & going down a size or two on the pilot jets, seemed to improve things a wee bit and went out for a spin around the countryside, popped some flowers on an old mates resting spot, then sadly something went rattle rattle ha ha clonk as I dashed up Old Dashwood Hill & I had to call the AA out to get myself home, haven't investigated yet as been on my hols en France, starter spins but doesn't engaged and still got good compression on the kickstarter, so fingers crossed it's just a starter problem - Morinis have a weird centrifugal clutch type starter...
At last had a chance to get the spanners out, luckily it looks like a pretty easy fix, the magnetic rotor had come loose & sheered off the woodruff(?) key, just need to find out what size key is required & if any special tools are required to hold in place whilst I torque it back on, fingers crossed I'll be able to sort it our this weekend.
Just have to hope the key channel isn't chewed up. Woodruff keys were the bane of my life. Well, one particular key was, once.
(It sheared, as they're supposed to in certain situations I imagine. What wasn't supposed to happen was it chewed the edges of the slot when it did. I suspect the flywheel had loosened on the taper which was what, ultimately, led to the failure and the damage).
Apparently I need to be meticulous with the fitting of the taper mating surfaces to make sure it all stays in place, a bit of fine valve paste and spinny spinny for a while should do the trick.
Dickyboy wrote: Wed Jul 23, 2025 1:30 pm
Apparently I need to be meticulous with the fitting of the taper mating surfaces to make sure it all stays in place, a bit of fine valve paste and spinny spinny for a while should do the trick.
I've been advised to do the same with the ignition timing gears for the JAPton : there's no Woodruff key on them at all, so it's just friction and a tight nut holding them in place. (which explains why my Dad's other JAP engined bike kept having issues with the timing slipping.....)
Finally got around to fixing the Morini, having it entered for Kophill Climb in a couple of weeks focused my mind, but now the electric petrol tap has gone AWOL, luckily it has a manual reserve tap I can use in the meantime, just need to remember I don't have anything in reserve any more...
Dickyboy wrote: Sun Sep 07, 2025 2:04 pm
Finally got around to fixing the Morini, having it entered for Kophill Climb in a couple of weeks focused my mind, but now the electric petrol tap has gone AWOL, luckily it has a manual reserve tap I can use in the meantime, just need to remember I don't have anything in reserve any more...
I should be going to Kop Hill again this year so will try and find you
Well that was an eventful afternoon, first got to meet Supermofo albeit only briefly before my first ride up Kop Hill, then managed to escape being squashed by a driverless Bugatti as it reversed over the GSX1100 parked next to us (owner had started it outside of the cab but it was still in gear) then to cap it all my Morini got stage fright & no amount of coaxing would get it off the start line, just died each time - got a round of applause from the grandstand as I took the return to paddock ride of shame then rode home with no issue, so eff knows what was going on.
That's a shame ( I would have cheered too ), but glad it got home OK- Kop Hill is only 5 mins down the lane from where we live, unfortunately we're not at home at the moment so missed it this year
Nice to meet you Dicky albeit very briefly, how much of a small world that you know Ben! I wondered back that way a bit later but couldn't see you, shame about that 2nd run but better you got home. I seem to recall that GSX11 was pretty nice, bet he was happy!!
I really enjoyed Kop Hill again, the weather held against the forecast and there was the usual mix of old and new/rare to humdrum. Food was eye-wateringly expensive as always but beer was cold. As we went in my bros Mustang they parked us in the 'Cherished vehicles' car park
In for a penny in for a pound, I appear to have recently bought another Morini 500 in about as many pieces as it is possible to dismantle a motorbike. In my defence there is at least £500 worth of parts I was on the lookout to buy anyway & it's giving me an interesting winter project to keep me from vegetating in front of the telly, although I'm already in Mrs DBs bad books for missing supermarket delivery whilst tinkering in the garage.
Apart from some supposedly unobtainable bearings the engine looks sound & is currently with a Morini guy in Bristol to check over and rebuild for me if all is okay. Big problem is that unbeknown to me the rear end of the frame has been messed around with but I've already got first dibs on an unregistered frame to sort that out. So I'll rumble on & get the rolling chassis sorted while the engine gets done, difficult bit will probably be sourcing various small missing parts & working out the ignition system.
Plan is to build this one up in a more "classic bike style" and then get the other one sold on as it's too original to mess about with.
Dickyboy wrote: Thu Dec 04, 2025 10:38 am
Plan is to build this one up in a more "classic bike style" and then get the other one sold on as it's too original to mess about with.
Yeah, yeah. You'll be one of those old geezers with 15 Morini's in the shed by the time you're 80
Dickyboy wrote: Thu Dec 04, 2025 10:38 am
Plan is to build this one up in a more "classic bike style" and then get the other one sold on as it's too original to mess about with.
Yeah, yeah. You'll be one of those old geezers with 15 Morini's in the shed by the time you're 80
That's less than one a year and I'm already on two in just over 8 months, so.....
Dickyboy wrote: Thu Dec 04, 2025 10:38 am
Plan is to build this one up in a more "classic bike style" and then get the other one sold on as it's too original to mess about with.
Yeah, yeah. You'll be one of those old geezers with 15 Morini's in the shed by the time you're 80
I suspect the flywheel had loosened on the taper which was what, ultimately, led to the failure and the damage).
then rode home with no issue, so eff knows what was going on.
), but glad it got home OK- Kop Hill is only 5 mins down the lane from where we live, unfortunately we're not at home at the moment so missed it this year
