Decent engineers?

acotrel said:

I don't know where I would take a crank to be ground these days. There used to be a small crankshaft grinding business in North Melbourne called AER Speed Grind. If you ever went there the factory was usually deserted and you had to walk up to the pub on the corner to find the fellas. Their work was always perfection in every way. If you asked for a particular journal size, it would be done within 10ths of a thou.

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hello Alan

they have not dissappeared completly. you just have to track them down. i know 2 very reliable people who do motorcycles engineering. they run their own show and are only one man businesses. both dont advertise as they always have enough work. word of mouth works too well sometimes. both these blokes have over 30 years in business, so are doing something right. one rides a harley, the other a Ducati. They are bike people.

if you want to contact them PM me.
hope this helps>>> Bradley

Call my friends Nick & Andy at FD motorcycles: http://www.fdmotorcycles.co.uk
I went to school with them and we grew up together riding commando's and other 70's bikes- You won't go wrong, they have been in business for over 30 years and have a full shop with all machinery, spray booth etc. Tell them I said to call them and say hello if you call. They are near Stanstead airport in the country side (Dunmow)..

Cheers- Jerry

Wish I would have known that, I flew into Stanstead in June.

Try PistonBroke in Bristol, Steve is a good guy and all the work he has done for me has been fine.

Thanks for all the responses everyone - I've got a few leads to follow up now. I've never heard of that place near Norwich (can't remember the name but two or three posts down from my OP) - I will check him out first.

Xmas good wishes to everyone here!

Hi Tigernut

I live in East Sussex but get Peter Seager in Suffolk to do my regrinds & rebores. Head repairs ie threads go to Steve Maney. Gas flowing I cant afford, there are a few good people out there. This is a good way to find them. I buy from RGM (price) Mick Hemmings for expertise & quality (ie Norton Andover)
Take your time looking at your parts before you put the engine back together.

all the best Chris

Thanks Chris - I guess that's Seager Engineering in Ipswich? If so, I spoke to him on the phone last year about exhaust stubs (Triumph) and he seemd knowledgeable. If this is who you mean, that's a good lead as I'm not too far away.

My problems stem from asking the engineer I used for my Triumph T140 engine (ie: cranks, barrel & head work, plus minor crankcase work), to fit all the new bearings that I spupplied, while ha had the cases. He fitted the gearbox main bearing and oil seal but failed to put the retaining circlip in between (I wouldn't have discovered this if I hadn't by found the circlip among the box of 'leftovers'), and he fitted the layshaft drive side needle roller flush with the housing, when it should be .075" proud. Easily rectifiable by me, but such basic errors shake my confidence. I used this bloke due to a recommendation. I thought I'd found a good engineer who actually understands old British bike engines, he certainly talks the talk. I doubt I'll ever go back, unless he offers a refund.

Hi

Peter is the man for engineering. Never asked him to do any work on building a bike but he builds fast car engines I believe.
Do you ever get to race meetings?
I could introduce you to a couple of guys. One runs a big bore T140 with an 8 valve head & the other built my Commando engine.
I do most of my builds myself now.
Just occurred to me, Heavy weight twins man with the NOC is retiring as a policeman. He built a friends MK3 electric start for him.

Chris

I have used Owlsebury Engineering and Metal Magic with very good results.
I did take a brake disc to be skimmed to another company and had to show the lad how to do it and what side was the datum face to work too, he actually did a good job in the end.
Sadly it seems that the machinery just costs too much to invest in and there is not the repair work to make it viable. The modern vision seems that if can't be CAD, CNC'd or laser cut then it can't be done.
Another problem is the fact we employ the wrong people in the wrong job within the same chain. I placed an order for 30 tallies to be made, they put it out to another department in the company. I got them handed to me, both the manager and the operative failed to spot isolation was mis-spelt - on all 30 taliies!

http://www.d-mengineering.co.uk/ Speak to Dave.

May not be within 100 miles of Norwich, but I visited yesterday from Worthing, (200+ miles) and well worth it.

Don't be fooled by the Honda stuff, a Norton Dominator head on the counter when I walked in to collect my Commando head, and there is a Seeley 920 resident on the premises. Impressed, modest pricing and helpful.

And if you need a custom/race exhaust see Nige next door at NRP, just the same.... http://www.nrpexhausts.co.uk/

We have not only large companies to blame but also ourselves for the lack of engineering knowledge.

I have worked in chain engineering for 40 years and although the base technology has changed little
the material and tolerance has improved vastly.

As general punters we are all too easily swayed by sales talk such a "heavy duty" etc etc. The companies
selling are motivated buy profit margin rather than quality. I could name some real shockers.

I am also plagued by "askholes" who constantly ask advice then ignore it. At my age I dont care but it
does wear you down.

Andy

tigernut ,seek out pete lovell,but don't go through norvil