Page 84 - Motorcycle Trader (February 2020)
P. 84
Spannerman
and is $456 plus postage. problem. It would be good
Do you think the if you could test another
CDI is to blame or is CDI module on your bike
there something else before forking out the
I should check? To $456 as I suspect it may
further complicate your be the source of your
diagnosis, the Japanese issues. The good thing
version of the bike about publishing your
doesn’t have a sidestand letter is that there could
switch and the bike will be an MT reader out there
start in gear. with a spare CDI for you
Jason Lawrie, to borrow and now they
jasonlawrie55@gmail.com know how to get in touch
with you.
I’m probably not going to Lastly, where are you While riding, you write for Two Wheels in
be too much help here, located? There is a don’t feel the swingarm the ’70s? His stuff was
Jason, as you’ve covered handful of experts out bottoming out. always a good read and
most of the obvious there and depending on Gordon Lalonde, he was right into touring.
solutions to the problem where you are, I might be kcranch@bigpond.com Ken Cowell,
you’ve identified. able to hook you up with kenbev6@bigpond.com
Going back to basics, an one. Let me know how While I love the lateral
engine needs spark and you get on. thinking behind this, Thanks for this, Ken – the
a combustion mixture to Gordon, I’m not sure CR8E is officially off the
fire and, given it works LOWERING FOR about it as a long-term replacement plug list.
sometimes, you can POOR PEOPLE solution. The length of As a rule of thumb, any
assume the problem isn’t Here’s a simple, easy, the swingarm, coupled alternative plug to the
mechanical. inexpensive, adjustable with the weight of the original equipment item
Has the original and easily reversible rear wheel assembly, should never have a longer
combustion system been bracket that lowers a would put lots of or shorter thread than the
altered in any way? Does bike very effectively. pressure on the bracket original equipment item.
it have the stock exhaust Just back off the rear and the fact that it’s on It’s easy enough to do a
system and air cleaner? preload and bolt on a only one side of the bike visual check.
If these things have been bracket that stops the would put pressure on I didn’t get to meet Dave
changed, the carburettor swingarm dropping to its the swingarm bushes/ Sanders, but I certainly
needs to be retuned to full extension. The bolt- bearings as well. knew of him. He was a
suit. on footpegs are a good Clever, cheap solution, little bit before my time
Are there any air leaks location for the bracket. though. Read the and, as you say, was
in the system? Is the air Reset as much sag as lowering story about Ms a legendary tourer in
filter air-tight where it you want. Spannerman’s bike on Australia and a regular
meets the carb? Is the This works well with page 94. contributor to REVS
inlet manifold air-tight? sliding the fork through PLUGGED and Two Wheels in the
You can check by the triple-clamps to lower mid-to-late ’70s. He was
getting the engine the front as well. In #354, you suggested an part of a gang including
running and spraying You can check NGK CR8E was a suitable Kel Wearne who must
something like Start ya replacement sparkplug have dismayed many
Bastard around the carb by getting the for the Royal Enfield motorcycle distributors
and inlet manifolds. engine running Himalayan. I put one in but putting up huge
If the revs rise, you have my Himalayan and it miles on test bikes
an air leak somewhere and spraying connected with the tip and returning them as
and it doesn’t take much something like of the piston. Maybe you crumpled messes. Dave
of a leak to upset starting. should remove it from and I just missed each
Little-known about Start ya your plug replacement list! other as I started writing
this engine is that the Bastard While I have your for Two Wheels in 1978
stator and rotor need to around attention, do you or and Dave was killed in
be matched but you say Roothy remember a bloke a motorcycle crash in, I
they’re the original items, the carb by the name of Dave think, 1979. They were
so this probably isn’t the Sanders who used to wild years.
82 MOTORCYCLE TRADER
