Going Racing

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But, to test whether or not it is heat how about a thick fibre between exhaust mount and bobbin ?

If it works, it’s your permanent fix...
 
No, and in the ad text they mention not to site them up the front near the manifold as they would melt. I guess any kind of rubber/plastic isn’t ideal around heat.
 
I think they had melted Nigel, both times the break was on the end attached to the exhaust and the rubber was sticky. I have made L brackets for them so that will act as a bit of a heat sink and the rubbers are now under compression not sheer.
I did notice the heat from the exhaust in my leg in the holding area and I have not noticed that before, so I think the cap on the end has something to do with it, anyway we will see tomorrow.
I have thought about a bracket on the silencer but there isn’t a convenient place to fasten one to.
As long as it gets through noise tomorrow hopefully the open cone will sort it.
 
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These days I would never use separate pipes on a big capacity four-stroke racer. My 2 into 1 is too loud, but it gives extremely good torque right through the whole rev range with no bumps in power. It means I can ride the bike extremely fast with no anxiety. I used to have the situation where if my revs dropped below 5,500 the motor fell out of the power band. Getting it back on song was always a problem because the bike would usually rip itself around sideways. When a four-stroke does that, it is much worse than a two-stroke. Going fast in a road race is usually more about being smooth in corners, than it is about horsepower down the straights. Even if you get blitzed, you can usually get back if you are smooth.
 
Thunderfest done and a bit of a disaster really.

But first the good. The open cone and different brackets I made for the exhaust did the trick, the rubbers survived and the noise was down by 1db to 101db, haven't a clue how you can go from a closed end to an open end and make less noise but I will take it.

Now the bad. The changes I made to the bike since the last outing were, reverse cone on the exhaust, used an Avgas/Shell V-power mix, new needles, jets and pilot jets in the carbs. And i used contact lenses because my glasses were steaming up on the start line at Mallory.


Turns out that making that many changes and not having time to test is a really bad idea.

First the engine would not idle below 2500rpm not that it wouldn't run but wouldn't slow down, so not allowed to start the engine before 09:30 and then a call for the first practice was a bit inconvenient , went to the holding area and got held for ever whilst they cleared up a crash. I had to stop the motor as it was getting hot and I sent our lass off to get the stand and starter, then they opened the barrier :mad:*£*%*!*:mad:. Luckily the bike bumped and I was out on track before the wife got back with the starter, lucky because I got out, and didn't have to suffer the wrath of the wife for the wasted and knackering starter push. :D

Not been to Darley before so the first laps were about learning which way the track went. And now the reason for mentioning the contacts, one moved and all of a sudden I had two tracks and I was having to shut an eye to choose the right one, a bit dodgy really and I learned absolutely nothing about the track.

No matter, it was only an un-timed practice.

The Thunderfest is a time trial and the format was practice, timed practice after which you tell the organiser how fast you will be going in the actual event which is 20 mins plus two laps.

This means the next practice is quite important. The high engine idle needed to be addressed because it was running into corners a bit hot and the only thing I could think that was causing it was changing the pilot jets from the 15s that were in the (secondhand bored out carbs) to the standard 25s and as luck would have it I had took the 15s with me.

Oh dear, the engine was now a proper pig, lumpy, no chance at all of a tickover and no chance of adjusting them, the right hand carb seemed to react to the mixture screw as expected but the left was being a real P.I.T.A. screwing the mixture screw all the way in caused the engine to rev very high, do that on the right carb and it stopped.

Anyway no time to mess any more as the call for the timed practice had turned into a nag and I needed to go, got to the line late and was put at the back of the grid, which didn't matter as that was my grid position anyway, the lights went out and,,,,, I stalled it.

Another run back to the van for, by now a bit of a grumpy wife, I pushed the bike back though and met her half way, didn't seem to help her mood though:mad:.

As it was a timed practice for the event the marshal were brilliant and let me join a live track to get some times in.

And now the contacts came into play again, my eyes aren't actually that bad and when I took the right lens out I realised i could see fine so that is how I went out, with one lens in the left, and it was good, right up to the point that one moved, there must be wind getting into the helmet that is blowing across my eyes, it might even be by design because the helmet has cutouts for glasses wearers, anyway it isn't something I was conscious of but the contacts are in the bin and staying there, it is really awkward when there are two tracks.

By this time I had written off the event and had decided to use it as practice for the races that are in two weeks there, so no pressure to do well, a mate said I should put 65mph on my time form which I did and then forgot all about it.

The event, somehow I managed to get to the holding area after they had left on their sighting lap and yet again the excellent marshals let me on to the back of the grid, no worry, like I said that was my position anyway, the bike was still running rough so extra care setting off and, game on.

Contacts in the bin and glasses on I could now see where i was going so I got on with learning the track, passed just about all the field no problem as they were trying to be constant with their lap times and all was going well until the fork yokes (Triple trees) snapped on Frank Mellings Manx Norton and the event was black flagged just 10mins in.

Frank is the organiser of this event and was OK in himself after his off but a bit shocked, the lucky part for Frank was that they snapped just after the corner at the end of the 120mph (on a Manx) back straight, it could have been a whole different story if they had gone on the brakes before the corner. We were all glad he was OK and he did say there will be a Thunderfest next year.

I haven't a clue how they worked out the times but some were unbelievable close to the stated time given, and I was credited with 65.88mph which I don't believe, but on a brighter note my mate who I do these events with managed to get a first place trophy at his first attempt, brilliant.

Anyway for me, an absolute amateur shambles of an event and i will be doing the work needed well before my next race in two weeks and I will be testing the results of that work before I get to the track.
 
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Well, on the positive front, the next outing has TONS of room for improvement!

Sounds like fun anyway.
 
Freat wrote up!

Funny innit... all self inflicted that stress... for a HOBBY !?

Anyways, please do update us as to the running issues with the bike and what you find out Ralph.
 
Freat wrote up!

Funny innit... all self inflicted that stress... for a HOBBY !?

Anyways, please do update us as to the running issues with the bike and what you find out Ralph.

Will do, funny I don't get stressed, my boss at work says I am a carrier.
 
Re; “Contacts in the bin and glasses on I could now see where i was going so I got on with learning the track, passed just about all the field no problem as they were trying to be constant with their lap times and all was going well until the fork yokes (Triple trees) snapped on Frank Mellings Manx Norton and the event was black flagged just 10mins in.”

Crikey !

Re;” there must be wind getting into the helmet that is blowing across my eyes” there used to be a helmet pelmet that was held on by a stuck on the helmet Velcro strip, not sure if this is any use to you. As for the Glasses misting up, Bob Heath anti visor mist would work.
 
Re; “Contacts in the bin and glasses on I could now see where i was going so I got on with learning the track, passed just about all the field no problem as they were trying to be constant with their lap times and all was going well until the fork yokes (Triple trees) snapped on Frank Mellings Manx Norton and the event was black flagged just 10mins in.”

Crikey !

Re;” there must be wind getting into the helmet that is blowing across my eyes” there used to be a helmet pelmet that was held on by a stuck on the helmet Velcro strip, not sure if this is any use to you. As for the Glasses misting up, Bob Heath anti visor mist would work.

They do it in all my helmets when stood still, the optician told me it has something to do with the anti scratch coating on them. The helmet I use for racing has a nose guard that fits in the front, I am going to try that next. I am fairly new to glasses and I hate them, not a fan of contacts now either, If i cannot sort it I will not bother with them.

Sorry that should have been red flagged.
 
Excellent write-up, that's the kind of stuff that gets new folks interested in trying it.

"storm42", what is your "street" name?
 
Thunderfest done and a bit of a disaster really.

But first the good. The open cone and different brackets I made for the exhaust did the trick, the rubbers survived and the noise was down by 1db to 101db, haven't a clue how you can go from a closed end to an open end and make less noise but I will take it.

Now the bad. The changes I made to the bike since the last outing were, reverse cone on the exhaust, used an Avgas/Shell V-power mix, new needles, jets and pilot jets in the carbs. And i used contact lenses because my glasses were steaming up on the start line at Mallory.


Turns out that making that many changes and not having time to test is a really bad idea.

First the engine would not idle below 2500rpm not that it wouldn't run but wouldn't slow down, so not allowed to start the engine before 09:30 and then a call for the first practice was a bit inconvenient , went to the holding area and got held for ever whilst they cleared up a crash. I had to stop the motor as it was getting hot and I sent our lass off to get the stand and starter, then they opened the barrier :mad:*£*%*!*:mad:. Luckily the bike bumped and I was out on track before the wife got back with the starter, lucky because I got out, and didn't have to suffer the wrath of the wife for the wasted and knackering starter push. :D

Not been to Darley before so the first laps were about learning which way the track went. And now the reason for mentioning the contacts, one moved and all of a sudden I had two tracks and I was having to shut an eye to choose the right one, a bit dodgy really and I learned absolutely nothing about the track.

No matter, it was only an un-timed practice.

The Thunderfest is a time trial and the format was practice, timed practice after which you tell the organiser how fast you will be going in the actual event which is 20 mins plus two laps.

This means the next practice is quite important. The high engine idle needed to be addressed because it was running into corners a bit hot and the only thing I could think that was causing it was changing the pilot jets from the 15s that were in the (secondhand bored out carbs) to the standard 25s and as luck would have it I had took the 15s with me.

Oh dear, the engine was now a proper pig, lumpy, no chance at all of a tickover and no chance of adjusting them, the right hand carb seemed to react to the mixture screw as expected but the left was being a real P.I.T.A. screwing the mixture screw all the way in caused the engine to rev very high, do that on the right carb and it stopped.

Anyway no time to mess any more as the call for the timed practice had turned into a nag and I needed to go, got to the line late and was put at the back of the grid, which didn't matter as that was my grid position anyway, the lights went out and,,,,, I stalled it.

Another run back to the van for, by now a bit of a grumpy wife, I pushed the bike back though and met her half way, didn't seem to help her mood though:mad:.

As it was a timed practice for the event the marshal were brilliant and let me join a live track to get some times in.

And now the contacts came into play again, my eyes aren't actually that bad and when I took the right lens out I realised i could see fine so that is how I went out, with one lens in the left, and it was good, right up to the point that one moved, there must be wind getting into the helmet that is blowing across my eyes, it might even be by design because the helmet has cutouts for glasses wearers, anyway it isn't something I was conscious of but the contacts are in the bin and staying there, it is really awkward when there are two tracks.

By this time I had written off the event and had decided to use it as practice for the races that are in two weeks there, so no pressure to do well, a mate said I should put 65mph on my time form which I did and then forgot all about it.

The event, somehow I managed to get to the holding area after they had left on their sighting lap and yet again the excellent marshals let me on to the back of the grid, no worry, like I said that was my position anyway, the bike was still running rough so extra care setting off and, game on.

Contacts in the bin and glasses on I could now see where i was going so I got on with learning the track, passed just about all the field no problem as they were trying to be constant with their lap times and all was going well until the fork yokes (Triple trees) snapped on Frank Mellings Manx Norton and the event was black flagged just 10mins in.

Frank is the organiser of this event and was OK in himself after his off but a bit shocked, the lucky part for Frank was that they snapped just after the corner at the end of the 120mph (on a Manx) back straight, it could have been a whole different story if they had gone on the brakes before the corner. We were all glad he was OK and he did say there will be a Thunderfest next year.

I haven't a clue how they worked out the times but some were unbelievable close to the stated time given, and I was credited with 65.88mph which I don't believe, but on a brighter note my mate who I do these events with managed to get a first place trophy at his first attempt, brilliant.

Anyway for me, an absolute amateur shambles of an event and i will be doing the work needed well before my next race in two weeks and I will be testing the results of that work before I get to the track.


BEEN THERE, DONE THAT ! - Makes me feel good that other people are like I was. I used to feel bad when I had a disastrous meeting. But the good thing is that if you don't make mistakes you never learn. The danger is that as you get older, you enter your second childhood.
 
BEEN THERE, DONE THAT ! - Makes me feel good that other people are like I was. I used to feel bad when I had a disastrous meeting. But the good thing is that if you don't make mistakes you never learn. The danger is that as you get older, you enter your second childhood.

I haven't left my first one yet :D
 
1 db on noise testing is just a normal variation due to humidity and location and doesn't actually mean you made any real change at all!
 
Will be leaving for Darley Moor tomorrow for the Thunderfest on Monday, just finishing a couple of jobs, how about this for a blast from the past.
View attachment 10030

She hasn't smelt it yet. :)

Can't be doing with that these days, back in the day I even did it with a triplex chain that I used to run otherwise dry...and drible some into the rear of the clutch drum!.....

These days I do have my own small gas stove so I could avoid the marital strife....but just too easy to tip it all over!
 
Hi Ralph

I run a Steve Maney exhaust But swapped the reverse cone on the megga for the supertrapp silencer set he sells.
The standard system would pass testing but you had to have the carbs perfectly set up. The engine nice & hot & pick it up smoothly on the revs. Too fraught.
With the big engine it passes but the 750 is much more raucous & just dam loud.
Have a great Darley.
Chris
Ps never had a bobbin fail. Run cheap Indian ones from Namrick our local nut & bolt shop


Genuine AN ones are harder than standard mini ones and I am using them on the headsteady on the Rickman! After vibration breakages of the standard rigid type....

Not normally had any real problems with bobbins either.....but on the Fury....I have had a bobbin catch fire!
 
I wear glasses.....but they really aren't for distance....they help a bit with reading instruments, but I have a solution there, tacho is mounted so that at 'max power rpm' the needle is straight up!....so I happily leave them in the van when I put my race helmet on!

(Actually I put them alongside my hearing aids....just why is it when I take my hearing aids out, put in ear plugs and put on a helmet...somebody wants to talk to me?)

(And why does anybody think an old racer with a broken motorcycle will respond to a whistle blown by a race marshall? (corner worker) )

The pinlock visor insert is about the only thing that seems to work fully to stop visor misting, other than a velcro'd in neoprene face mask, which is really good,, better than your breath deflector and I suspect would solve the problem with the contacts...but more recently I found it becoming a bit claustrophobic and dicovered the pinlock....

I did use Bob Heath visor spray years ago, it does work better than nothing, but so does Fairly Liquid! Probably these two are the best idea for your glasses if you feel you have to wear them!

I am also enjoying the thread Ralph, but you are labouring under an illusion.....that things will ever become more relaxed! Every meeting has a hectic moment...every meeting uncovers something mechanical or logistical you never had before.....every meeting will get you at least one grumpy look from a lady who is only trying to be dutiful and helpful.....

Consider enlisting a helper that you don't habitually go home with after the event!
 
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