Goodwood members meeting Rickman 8 valve rebuild

Chris

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Hi
Been invited to take part in the April Goodyear members meeting.
I will be taking part in the Barry Sheene f750 race. Unfortunately they have enough Seeley Commandos So, I have been asked to bring my Jim Lee framed Rickman 8 valve Bonnie, this is the original 686cc. Unfortunately I did a lot of damage to myself & the bike when it siezed coming out of Chessons Drift at Lydden. Crank rods liners cases forks etc etc etc. So loosely popped together over many years. It needs a strip & clean & rebuild. I nicked the complete front end for another project. It's a garden shed special with no bling & it's in a state after resting for so long & living next to the sea.
I will post some photos tomorrow.
All the best Chris.
 
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A couple of photos
Goodwood members meeting Rickman 8 valve rebuild
Goodwood members meeting Rickman 8 valve rebuild
List number one what's missing?
List number two work to be done.
Look for the tank & seat. Think about the silencers cos they were cut up & welded to down pipes for use on the mk4 Seeley !
But more work than I thought! Including the snapped of fairing mount.
Chris
 
Strewth Chris, yer got yer hands full there matey!

How long have you got?

I had a more who raced a Jim Lee Velo, it went and handled very well indeed.

As GP says... sounds like you’re in for some fun!

But first... the work...!
 
The "work" is half the FUN.

...for me, anyway...

Depends how much other work you have on GP... Chris is already flat out trying to prepare and run a race fleet, this job is just a little extra for him... to stop him getting bored...
 
Hi
Nige like you, Paul used to race, like me, cant really afford it. Also like me, he's started thinning out the collection of parts. Ive' never been good at letting projects go. You are the only person I know who can move them on. I have now reached the age where I want to do a bit more while I can. I have only ever done a couple of meetings a year. Always thought I would spend my retirement fettling my projects & using them to top up my pension. As Paul says working on them is part of the pleasure, the joy is racing them.
So keep the cream! Sort those we can let go! Keep the best bits sell the rest & have some fun. One Commando gone. One k4 soon to go.
Witness asking Goodwood about the f750 race & them inviting me!
North is ready for parading. Seeley is ready to race. Others slowly getting there.
Jim Lee to do by 7th April . I need it done by March for bhr practise.
All the best Chris
 
Well engine out.
Frame was originally nickeled. However the frame was altered in the day to fit the 8 valve for f750. It was built for a Suzuki 500 Cobra engine. When I had Pat French at MRD Metisse check the frame he said the front tubes had been changed & he sleeved & pinned them. Plenty of scratches chips & nickel frame showing plus a bit of surface rust but I an not going to 're blast it & powder coat it again. Maybe another time.
Goodwood members meeting Rickman 8 valve rebuild
 
Hi Nige
It's small, always handled well. Bit of a mini featherbed small tube diameter, bit like the Dresda frame but with braced down tubes. Need to think about the gearchange as at lunar curves? at Three Sisters it used to change out of gear as I pushed it in to gear. Reversed lever. Cant quite believe it but seem to remember it coming out of gear as I changed up! Race pattern 1 up 4 down. Never seen a photo with my knee down let alone my gear lever! Did do my boots in there though!
Just been reading my old notes. All very basic kit. The original front end had cut down stansions & damper rods. Shorter than a Manx! Only thing I did was remove the alcohol needles!! from the carbs & the 360 jets & put a 5 speed in as I scarred myself shitless first time out going back down the 4 speed box & locking up the rear wheel. lol Looking forward to seeing what it's like.
Chris
 
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Hi
Started listing what was missing & work required. Memory has played a few tricks! It's been a few years since my big crash when the engine went bang. I brought a very low mileage crank & rods from Mark (mcn) at Kempton. The resleeve of the barrels , new pistons, bearings, gaskets etc Came from Dave Nourish. This took nearly four years to achieve.
The main job with the engine is a) file the piston rings to get the correct gap.
b) build the engine!
c) get the bent & broken fins welded up.
Surprise number one! I raced at Pembrey with Bob Hollen on his proddie triple. He strapped the bikes in his van & managed to bend & break fins on the barrel & head of the Rickman top end. My surprise was I had had the barrel & head repaired by the late Nigel Hall Smith, who built the engine for me when I first got the bike. Nigel raced an 8 valve Featherbed T140 Bonnie, & had a wealth of experience.
Surprise number 2 was the spec sheet. I remember the bike running alcohol needles & these engines having up to 14 to 1 compression ratios! Wow mine is mild! Even more with 10.5 to 1 compression.

Chris
 
Funny what old memories come back into our aging noggins when we start to document the past...

This is a great build thread.
 
Thanks Paul

My notes from Nigel say it's a 68 to 71 Rickman kit with 73mm bore plus 20", 82mm stroke. Ie 686cc.
1971, 4 speed cases, English mains, standard 650 cams & conrods. With the bonus of a 72 crank.
According to Dave Nourish it should make 6 to 8bhp more than a standard engine along with an increase in torque & flexibility.
I always found it a joy to ride. Never did take Dave up on the racing x cams as the bottom end was standard. Always found it hard to stop it shooting through 8,500 in first & second gears.
Best thing I did was buy new Mk1 carbs which sorted out the starting issues.
Funny but I brought a special rare & expensive set of points & Bob weights for this engine only for the club to allow electronic ignition! Dave said the ports & hemispheres were set up for 34mm mk2 Amals. They were not allowed at the time iether!

Chris
 
Hi
Fun today. When I built this bike I fitted new wheel bearings. I got them from an old bearing shop near Hammersmith. I brought some nuts & bolts with me to replace & he laughed & gave me some old taps & dies. Well the bearings he gave me, were just as old!!
Rear wheel has Hoffman L9 PP V3
Front wheel has R &M LJ25WR
WM1 Borrani on the front & WM2 Borrani rear both on Avon 110/100. Re spoked with stainless spokes. (Didnt remember that)
New stantions & bushes etc ordered. Plenty of cleaning required.

Chris
 
Hi
Eddie a few photos
Found the wheel bearings front is imperial. Rear is metric there coming Thursday. Which will give me time to clean up the spindles & the stepped spacers.
If you know what the front hub is let me know. Disc is 10 1/4 inches diameter. Spacing is bigger than a Triumph disc just.
Goodwood members meeting Rickman 8 valve rebuild
 

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Rear wheel I am told is a Norton model 7 rear hub & the sprocket fitted to the opposite side
Goodwood members meeting Rickman 8 valve rebuild
 
Brakes. Well been raiding the old parts boxes! 3 fin caliper. First small reservoir ap lockheed mastercylinder & cap.

My wonderful home made brazed caliper mounting bracket. Drum fork legs 7inch yokes
Goodwood members meeting Rickman 8 valve rebuild
.all the best Chris
 

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