revtothelimit - motorbike forum

Horse wrote: Sun Jul 30, 2023 5:01 pm

dern wrote: Wed Jul 26, 2023 3:04 pm Why not make it mid engined?

The opposite of the 'bicephale' ?

https://www.lanemotormuseum.org/collect ... lica-1952/

More confusingly, the 2cv centre in Cotteridge (Brum) had one with the body on backwards.

Went to a classic car show and saw some nice stuff at the weekend but arrived home to find that I had a pretty flat tyre and a dead battery. Turns out one of the valves that the tyres place fitted had a very slow leak so that was very easy to fix. The battery was caused by the alternator not charging. I don't know for sure what is causing this but it's either that the exciter connection was dirty and/or the bushes are worn. Taking the bush holder out to clean the exciter connector and reinstalling it got it charging again but the bushes are very worn so I have a new set on their way to me...

The bushes should be the same length and be 2-3 times as long as they are so they might be right at the end of their service life.

Also fitted a tacho because I wanted one...

It's a bit heath robinson at the moment but I'll tidy it all up at some point. Interesting to see what the engine is doing though. It's routine to take the engine all the way to 6k before changing up and cruising flat out is at 5-6k. Earplugs are needed for long journeys.

dern wrote: Sun Aug 06, 2023 1:33 pm I like this overland version with a bmw engine fitted that was at the local car show today…


IMG_4489.jpeg

IMG_4490.jpeg

Feck - that's a 259 series engine: R1100 or 1150 - the "oil-head" engine. That's 80 bhp at least, what the output of the standard engine?

Rockburner wrote: Mon Aug 07, 2023 11:33 am

dern wrote: Sun Aug 06, 2023 1:33 pm I like this overland version with a bmw engine fitted that was at the local car show today…


IMG_4489.jpeg

IMG_4490.jpeg

Feck - that's a 259 series engine: R1100 or 1150 - the "oil-head" engine. That's 80 bhp at least, what the output of the standard engine?

It was an 1100 I think. Standard is 29bhp.

dern wrote: Mon Aug 07, 2023 11:35 am

Rockburner wrote: Mon Aug 07, 2023 11:33 am

dern wrote: Sun Aug 06, 2023 1:33 pm I like this overland version with a bmw engine fitted that was at the local car show today…


IMG_4489.jpeg

IMG_4490.jpeg

Feck - that's a 259 series engine: R1100 or 1150 - the "oil-head" engine. That's 80 bhp at least, what the output of the standard engine?

It was an 1100 I think. Standard is 29bhp.

That'll give the bugger a bit of pep!

Rockburner wrote: Mon Aug 07, 2023 11:37 am That'll give the bugger a bit of pep!

Yeah, its not going to be something I can resist doing at some point...

Those ain't the standard stoppers either?

I've done a lot of laps at Mallory, it threw me out when they didn't go through the bus stop, I guess it would be a bit tight for cars

KungFooBob wrote: Mon Aug 07, 2023 11:49 am Those ain't the standard stoppers either?

Says it is at the start of the video but the tyres look more track oriented which would help. It's definitely got lower and stiffer suspension to reduce the weight transfer.

A 2cv is pretty over braked to be honest. The tyres seem to be the limiting factor, not the brakes.

dern wrote: Mon Aug 07, 2023 11:41 am

Rockburner wrote: Mon Aug 07, 2023 11:37 am That'll give the bugger a bit of pep!

Yeah, its not going to be something I can resist doing at some point...

That's fecking hilarious!

Do it, Do it, Do it, Do it, Do it, Do it, Do it, (and gissa go!)

dern wrote: Mon Aug 07, 2023 11:51 am

KungFooBob wrote: Mon Aug 07, 2023 11:49 am Those ain't the standard stoppers either?

Says it is at the start of the video but the tyres look more track oriented which would help. It's definitely got lower and stiffer suspension to reduce the weight transfer.

A 2cv is pretty over braked to be honest. The tyres seem to be the limiting factor, not the brakes.

Yeah - I thought it looked lowered and a lot stiffer than standard. As standard it would have been close to rolling over...

The job for this lunchtime to make the most of the unseasonably dry weather was to replace the bushes in the alternator. The battery wasn’t charging reliably and everything else looked ok so pulled the bush holder out and found they were very worn indeed. New bushes installed and the battery is charging again.

Bush comparison…

Bit of a service today. Oil and filter and checking the points and valve clearances. Oil was pretty mucky but it doesn’t stay good long in these engines. Points gap was fine but the valves needed adjusting. No pattern to it really, just small adjustments and the engine is running more quietly now and both sides of the engine sound the same.

It’s very easy to take the bodywork off to get to the valves and generally makes working on the engine a lot easier.

I think that's the best designed car I've ever seen.

Mussels wrote: Sat Aug 19, 2023 7:41 pm I think that's the best designed car I've ever seen.

All* the triumph sporty motors of the 60s/70s had flip front bonnets where you could sit on the front wheel whilst balancing the carbs/points/valves etc



*Tr7, sprint and stag excluded

Love the simplicity of the 2CV; it makes a mockery of the overcomplicated nightmare that cars have become. Now if you could either turbocharge the original motor or fit a modern oil-cooled GS motor and still get sensible insurance that would be a winner...

mangocrazy wrote: Wed Aug 23, 2023 10:02 pm Love the simplicity of the 2CV; it makes a mockery of the overcomplicated nightmare that cars have become. Now if you could either turbocharge the original motor or fit a modern oil-cooled GS motor and still get sensible insurance that would be a winner...

Just don't crash it into anything, I don't think it would get a good Euro NCAP rating.

The sat nav is shit too!

Decided to replace some parts to increase reliability and improve starting.

First job was to take the bonnet off and reinforce the leading edge that the catch bolts to with fibreglass. This flexed too much for my liking.

Next job was the fuel pump. I'd noticed that there were some air bubbles in the fuel line just before the carb so bought a new one. It's a mechanical pump that runs off a cam on the camshaft that pushes a rod which actuates the fuel pump. I fitted a version that has a priming lever which is kind of neat I think but probably not needed. Does make priming easier and the fuel can drain back to the tank if left for a while.

Next job was to replace the old contact box with an electronic ignition system. It does away with the contacts and the centrifugal advance system and instead has a couple of magnets and a hall sensor to detect engine rotation and handles all the ignition and advance. You can also pair a phone to it and through their app you can see a tacho, voltage, current drain, unit temp and the state of the advance. You can also edit the advance graph if you want. The last thing it does is that you can put a pin code in the app so that the car is immobilised until you put your pin in.

I also replaced the coil and the HT leads for good measure. Starts immediately now whereas before it wasn't that keen.

That ignition is cool....it's like the Boyer boxes fitted to a million old bikes, but more advanced. Maybe I should get one