Racing 2021

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Back to my detonation problem.

Today I have picked up some more AvGas and rigged up a rig to test the flow rates of the different fuels I have.

I have AvGas, Shell VPower, a 50/50 mix of the two and I have bought some Classic fuels 105 octane race fuel.

The test rig consists of a plastic jug fastened to a support, i have another container fastened just above the jug and a calibrated container underneath them both to catch and time the results.

I fitted a 270 jet in the jug and the container above, I filled the jug to the 1 pint mark and as I was timing how long it took to pass 200ml, I also put 200ml in the container above, this was to keep the jug at the 1 pint mark to keep the flow constant.

Sorry for mixing measurement standards. :)

The results. Minute, seconds, 10ths.

AvGas
1:40.00

VPower
1:40.85

50/50/ mix of the two.
1:40.36

Classic fuels, which is blue and looks like AvGas to me.
1:40.44

Obviously there is no difference in the viscosity of the fuels and therefor the detonation wasn't down to a weak mixture caused by thicker fuel. Must be the lead content that keeps the detonation away.

Anyway, I have AvGas again so the problem should go away, must be more organised and not run out again, the above was just curiosity.

The rig.
Racing 2021
 
storm42 said:
Back to my detonation problem.

Today I have picked up some more AvGas and rigged up a rig to test the flow rates of the different fuels I have.

I have AvGas, Shell VPower, a 50/50 mix of the two and I have bought some Classic fuels 105 octane race fuel.

The test rig consists of a plastic jug fastened to a support, i have another container fastened just above the jug and a calibrated container underneath them both to catch and time the results.

I fitted a 270 jet in the jug and the container above, I filled the jug to the 1 pint mark and as I was timing how long it took to pass 200ml, I also put 200ml in the container above, this was to keep the jug at the 1 pint mark to keep the flow constant.

Sorry for mixing measurement standards. :)

The results. Minute, seconds, 10ths.

AvGas
1:40.00

VPower
1:40.85

50/50/ mix of the two.
1:40.36

Classic fuels, which is blue and looks like AvGas to me.
1:40.44

Obviously there is no difference in the viscosity of the fuels and therefor the detonation wasn't down to a weak mixture caused by thicker fuel. Must be the lead content that keeps the detonation away.

Anyway, I have AvGas again so the problem should go away, must be more organised and not run out again, the above was just curiosity.

The rig.View attachment 81058
Click to expand...
Your a queer lot oop North, thats an old fashioned use of the word without the ++ after it, way too much time on your hands. So front end just about sorted, shims arrived today for setting the calipers, the steering races were loose also, been sorted, oil tank changed and AN fittings fitted, just waiting on a 120 deg union. Head steady fixed, breather system modified, various loose stuff retightened, ordered some JB weld to fix a hole in the exhaust, need to fire it up and check then ready.
By my calculations, the money I have spent plus my time will be equal to 3 seconds a lap, so has got to be worth it, right? I am in your race at Donnie Ralph so watch out, just don't use top gear on the straights and maybe go easy on the bendy bits. On the reserve list F750 but not holding out much hope.
 
Steves said:
Your a queer lot oop North, thats an old fashioned use of the word without the ++ after it, way too much time on your hands. So front end just about sorted, shims arrived today for setting the calipers, the steering races were loose also, been sorted, oil tank changed and AN fittings fitted, just waiting on a 120 deg union. Head steady fixed, breather system modified, various loose stuff retightened, ordered some JB weld to fix a hole in the exhaust, need to fire it up and check then ready.
By my calculations, the money I have spent plus my time will be equal to 3 seconds a lap, so has got to be worth it, right? I am in your race at Donnie Ralph so watch out, just don't use top gear on the straights and maybe go easy on the bendy bits. On the reserve list F750 but not holding out much hope.
Click to expand...
Average 40 hours in the workshop for an hour of track time was what I used to reckon back in the days of only one day race meetings, but normally 4 races, 2 off 501 to 1000, Unlimited heat and final, 10 minutes practice session for each class entered.

I think it still works with the French VMA, because they have 20 minutes qualifying and 2 off 20 minutes races!

With the CRMC you are probably getting less!

Time counts. Money? Best not to count it!
 
Well done Steve's! That's a lot of stuff to work through.
Donington is the first meeting to get off the ground for me for sometime.
I'm having problems with the website saying I'm not a member! Anj has given me a temporary log in but I cant find any details. The only confirmation I have is my son is out in the parades!
Hopefully I will be out.
 
SteveA said:
Average 40 hours in the workshop for an hour of track time was what I used to reckon back in the days of only one day race meetings, but normally 4 races, 2 off 501 to 1000, Unlimited heat and final, 10 minutes practice session for each class entered.

I think it still works with the French VMA, because they have 20 minutes qualifying and 2 off 20 minutes races!

With the CRMC you are probably getting less!

Time counts. Money? Best not to count it!
Click to expand...
I do count the money but if our lass ever finds out the cost of racing !!!!!
 
Steves said:
Your a queer lot oop North, thats an old fashioned use of the word without the ++ after it, way too much time on your hands. So front end just about sorted, shims arrived today for setting the calipers, the steering races were loose also, been sorted, oil tank changed and AN fittings fitted, just waiting on a 120 deg union. Head steady fixed, breather system modified, various loose stuff retightened, ordered some JB weld to fix a hole in the exhaust, need to fire it up and check then ready.
By my calculations, the money I have spent plus my time will be equal to 3 seconds a lap, so has got to be worth it, right? I am in your race at Donnie Ralph so watch out, just don't use top gear on the straights and maybe go easy on the bendy bits. On the reserve list F750 but not holding out much hope.
Click to expand...
What word would that be Steve? :)

I have new pads to fit in the front and will change the brake fluid whilst I am at it. I will change the gearbox oil as well.

The kicker for me is, Jim has emailed me with a tracking number for my pistons, if they get here before the race, I may pull the motor and fit them, that will put the cat in with the pigeons.
 
storm42 said:
What word would that be Steve? :)

I have new pads to fit in the front and will change the brake fluid whilst I am at it. I will change the gearbox oil as well.

The kicker for me is, Jim has emailed me with a tracking number for my pistons, if they get here before the race, I may pull the motor and fit them, that will put the cat in with the pigeons.
Click to expand...
Sometimes....things are best put off till later! Honestly!
 
Hi Steve
Peter William's memorial race sponsored by the Norton Owners club is for the 500s.
 
Only the original! Lol
Remember club rules Steve, no copys of a one off machine!!! Everything else goes!
 
SteveA said:
Sometimes....things are best put off till later! Honestly!
Click to expand...
Agreed, but.

I got my hands on the pistons on Monday and they wouldn't stop looking at me, I mean, it is only a Norton engine, won't take long, I have until Friday, what could possibly go wrong?

So, Monday night, engine on the bench and the head and barrels are off. Plenty of time so I put off the cleanup and rebuild until Tuesday. The first problem that occurred was the 2 front nuts that are on the studs that are in the barrel were loose, this was confusing as I do go round and round checking the tightness of all the nuts and bolts and my torque wrench is a newish Snap-on, plus I do have a feel for this sort of thing, oh well onwards!

Tuesday, cleaned the barrels and gave them a quick hone, then I decided to remove the 2 front studs so I could give the top surface a light going over on the surface plate with some wet and dry on it. The time is 15:45, and watching the threads in the barrel follow the studs out was a bit annoying, although it did explain the loose nuts. Finding 5/16 BSW Helicoils locally on a Tuesday afternoon was never going to happen. I could hear Steve's voice in my head.

There is now an entry in my notes for the engine that the front studs are now an 8mm thread and need a 13mm socket.

Wednesday, I use an anaerobic sealer as a base gasket, this stuff is very good and I have never had a base leak since I started using it. Unfortunately another property of the sealer is its ability to totally disappear when it is needed most. There is Steve's voice again.

Again finding this stuff locally wasn't going to happen and now there is no time to order it and have it delivered. Anyway after much searching I was given the number of a fairly local engine builder, who gifted me some and the build was back on. The racing community is the best.

Anyway the engine is back together and back in the frame, I am going in the garage now to connect things up and heat cycle it a couple of times and re-check the torque settings.

Removing the engine did find a couple more faults, the brackets that hold the exhaust to the frame had broken on both sides so I have to weld them up. So along with the pulled threads etc, I guess it was the right decision to replace the pistons, it could have cost the weekend if the problems hadn't been addressed.

Chris and Steve, there is a car track day at Donington on Friday and the CRMC are saying we are unlikely to get in the track before 17:00, early arrivers are to be held on the tarmac behind Redgate.
 
Will be there at 6 with luck. Look forward to catching up Ralph Steve's & anyone else.
 
Hi Chris , A noise filled Donnington ? how does that work when apparently they have the same on track race noise testing as Mallory park...as Kirby would say " but thats different " ;)
 
Looking forward to hearing the ups and down of the race weekend, and any encounters you had with Dave Croxford and Norman White and any of the Peter Williams family you may have had over the weekend!

So far I have seen that Ralph, Steve and Chris all finished at least some of their races, got to be a good start!
 
Hi all
Ups & downs of the weekend!
I finally got to meet Ralph & what a lovely guy he is.
I saw another stunning Seeley Commando but never caught up with the owner Steve's?
I got to ride around one of my favorite circuits.
We had a great weekend with my wife, son, daughter in law & both granddaughters.
Little one is under two & her first words on waking up on Sunday morning were "grandad bike!"

Greatest disappointment was the toll the last two years have taken on me!
Sorting, packing & loading the van & then collecting the caravan made for a too long day.
Seven & a half hours driving in *pissing rain* finished me off before we even got there &
we missed signing on. I didnt even bother unloading the van & we couldn't remember how to pop up the pop up caravan!
A couple of pints on an empty stomach had me smiling again along with some ham sandwiches back in the caravan as the restaurant was shut!
I never got near practise as by the time we had signed in. Got the bike scrutineered & then my leathers, I had missed my slot. Running down on the bike later to ask if I could join the last session, I was told to come back once I'd visited the race office & asked permission! & no he wasnt going to ask them on the headset.
As to racing? First race was after lunch, no call so I was late, I got to start from pit lane. No warm up lap, no practise, two years since I was last out. I had a blast! All over the place, ragged doesn't do it justice.
Unfortunately we were grouped with people who kept throwing thier bikes at the scenery lol.
Second race the bike was cutting out, when shutting off, I managed to get it restarted yep you guessed it!
I started from pit lane again! Made a better start & got all the way to McLean's.
Probably forgot to charge my very old knackered Interspan. Nice ride of shame in the recovery van. Found the neck of the oil tank had broken, not sure of the bead of weld there.
Tyre inner tube, lagging & a bit of bracing & we were ready for Sunday.
Had a nice first race after I'd made the warm up lap just to have the engine cut out before the flag dropped. Start marshal gave me a bump star. I thing I'd have been better of starting from pit lane. Then the scenery merchants started again, even found a bike spinning in the middle of the track, on a straight!!, couldn't restart the bike after the red flag.
Second race was fun until I had one make the fence behind me at Redgate, one make the fence at the old hairpin & saw the marshals pick up a bike that had gone down at Hollywood. Everything fell off it as they picked it up. Couldn't restart the bike for the restart & met my friend with the recovery van!
Loved being out
Cant wait to do it again. However if wont be on the big girl. I'm going to strip & rebuild it " with a new ignition"
Nice to catch up with everyone.
By the way, spent today reversing step one. Caravan gone van unloaded.
Looking forward to a long soak in the bath & then bed.
 
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