Dick's BMW Outfit

Just a few days to go!

by askewrd ^Pro @ Tuesday, 20. May, 2008 – 22:44:17

003
Nearly ready for Spain

I have so preoccupied preparing the bike lately, that it is only in last few days that the reality of the trip itself has had a chance to attract my attention.

Just as I managed to tick bike related 'things to do' off the list, more appeared to take their place. The ignition light decided to play up by not going out properly after the hard run back from Bristol last month. The next day it seemed to working fine so I tried to ignore it in the hope that it must have been just a poor contact at the brushes. There are plenty of cautionary tales about the folly of believing electrics have the ability to self-repair, so when it occasionally returned over the next couple of weeks I decided I really must have a look inside.

Any self-respecting BMW owner would be appalled at my reticence, as it a simple job to get at the brushes - just whip off the front engine cover and there they are. However, when you have your way impeded by a sidecar mounting designed by Heath Robinson in collaboration with the local scaffolding contractor, it does put you off a bit.

When I got to the brushes they looked fine, - a bit near to the end of their wear limits, but still ok. The mounting they sit in wasn't quite square on its fixing, so a good clean up and re-alignment seems to have done the trick.

The next trip was to North Devon over the Mayday weekend. A great trip to an area that I bypass too often on leaving the West Country. I do love the A39, even the naff touristy bits go through some of the most beautiful places.

Another little glitch with the electrics when it refused to turn over on the starter button - just went clackeddy-clack - had me worried for a moment. It bump-started easily and there hasn't been another hint of a problem since. I have bought a back-up battery for the trip just in case. I think it may a problem with the alternator over-charging, which may explain the problem in France when the previous battery boiled dry. It's something to sort out when I do the timing chain, methinks. In the meantime I shall drive with the lights on, to hopefully pull some of the excess charge off. No doubt someone who knows about these things will tell me that that is a pointless measure, - I look forward to receiving any wisdom on the subject!

In barnstaple a man came up to me outside a pub that he managed in a little street just outside the town centre. I am often approached like this, and I always enjoy sharing a few moments of bike-and-sidecar chat, apart from the ones who can only manage "WHERE'S GROMMIT THEN!!??" - I don't particularly mind the comment if it really makes their day, but somehow it just doesn't show any effort on their part at making conversation...
Anyway, this time, I was amazed to be told that he used to own the sidecar, and had sold it to the person I bought it off. We spent a very happy half hour exchanging information and stories about the old Palma. It was he who had fitted the mini hydraulic brake, the rack, rollbar, and towbar, and who had also had the 15" car rim made up that was now on the rear of the bike, - although it had a different bike in his time.

I had previously heard what I thought was a legendary tale of someone once managing to turn a sidecar over at speed, - and it was him. He recounted the details to me which involved a high speed tyre blow-out on a motorway with his friend in the chair, sending himself clear of the bike, but trapping his friend between the bike and the chair as it hurtled along the road wheels pointing to the sky. Luckily they both survived with only minor injuries. A real sidecar enthusiast!

The final weekend preparations included
- fitting the new front tyre - which has made a fantastic difference to the steering and general handling
- re-aligning the front calipers - they went out of alignment when I took the wheel out to fit the tyre
- putting a new sidelight housing on the front of the sidecar - identical to the original which was held on with glue which made changing the bulb a bit of a hassle
- re-aligning the sidecar (again) - I think I'm getting the hang of it now
- and of course the tappets - 0.0005" down on both exhausts, so I'm happy with that
- oil change - not quite due, but better to do too soon than leave it too late
- refixing the rear indicator (again) - this time with a new nut and bolt that won't budge.

So that brings me up to date... All ready to go; new tank bag; new maps; a tank full of petrol and, ohh yes - and a Spanish phrase book...

Will let you know when I'm back - hopefully with a few pics...

...asta luego!

How about Spain?

by askewrd ^Pro @ Saturday, 26. Apr, 2008 – 22:40:13

Last Sunday I was belting down the A30 on the homeward run after a weekend in Bristol, pondering what the effect of catastrophic disintegration of bevel box internals might be at a tad and a half over 70. It may not have been wise to put the broken bits back in, but it seemed to work ok, - so far. I eased off the throttle for a while, but soon the other little voice comes on the internal intercom "Oh sod it, just get home and worry about it later"

So this week the evenings have been mainly working myself up to fitting the reconditioned box that arrived from Motorworks the day I left for Bristol. I'm sure that all the bits that matter - inside, are all perfectly good, but for over £200 I wasn't expecting such a grimy grotty housing, still with the previous owner's road grit, grease, and instant gasket remnants hanging round the mounting studs.

In between scothbrite and WD40 sessions, I have been gathering thoughts of where to take the bike at the end of May - if I can everything sorted by then. Spain won't go away from my mind, so a few searches around on the Internet, and conversations with friends have led me to The Decision.

It's going to be... Spain, to Santander on the ferry, then, well, Spain, - returning through France and back via Roscoff. Two weeks.
That's as far the plans have got - except I have booked the tickets, which has made it real.

It's a good feeling. However, all those little niggly things that have occurred as needing to be sorted 'sometime' and then get forgotten, now all reappear as a long checklist, with lots of unticked boxes. Front tyre is getting close to needing replacing - will it last 2500 miles ( I expect to cover at least that) - so have ordered a new Avon SM Mk2. Deliberated over pros and cons of replacing the current SM with an Avon Triple Duty Sidecar tyre - the classic choice for sidecarists (if that is what we are). No-one around to advise me, except a salesperson telling me the difference between them (apart from the price) is the long wearing qualities of the Triple Duty. That made my mind up to go for the SM, - on the grounds that it will probably be more sticky, and I could do with all the grip I currently have. Spike recommended the SM originally and it has lasted about 5 years, so enough deliberation...

Today I put the 'new' box in, and it all seemed to line up etc. No reason why it shouldn't, but you never know. Frighteningly, when I emptied the oil ot of the old one, chunks of metal (I mean big bits, not just fragments ) fell out. The magnetic plug looked liked a miniature Christmas tree with iron filings clinging in a conical pattern and larger fragments of metal interspersed like decorations.

It took me back to last Sunday's thoughts on the Bodmin bypass, - if I had known then what I saw now, I think I would have stuck to a quarter of the speed I was doing.

The next task of the day didn't go so well. I knew I was taking a bit of a chance renewing the wheel bearings as the received wisdom seems to be to leave it to specialists on account of accurate shimming required to set the correct preload on the taper rollers. However, since I came back from my Spring trip, the play in the back wheel is worryingly large, so needs to be sorted before the trip. Motorworks reckoned that the new ones go straight in most times, as they should be the same thickness as the old ones.

It was the first time I've had a go at this, and it took ages to figure out how to get the old ones out safely and cleanly (despite consulting Haynes, and Snowbum), - and making sure I know the exact position of the countless, collars, spacers, sleeves, washers... and God knows what.

That was as far as I got when I had to pack up for the day. More tomorrow....
On that note, I hear rain falling!

Dicks 1000cc BMW gets going - again

by askewrd ^Pro @ Sunday, 06. Apr, 2008 – 21:44:08

My last entry left the bike still in bits in the shed in the dark days just before Christmas. Since then it has come back to life, and succesfully did a 1200 mile trip 3 weeks ago to see family and friends.

It was an adventure of discovery and rediscovery of places and people I love. There were also adventures of the mechanical kind that give me the sense of journey that define my relationship with this hunk of metal.

By the time I took it for it's first run after the engine rebuild, it had a much smoother and resilient engine, with a new starter motor to get all the new bits spinning. The old one tried but just didn't seem to have the motivation any longer. Hardly surprising when I took it out. I say 'took' it out, but it was more like 'pick' it out, as it was literally cracking up, poor thing.

The first time I drove the outfit up the track to try it out, I did so without the body on the sidecar. I can't remember if there was a rational reason for omiting this rather vital component, other than impatience to get the feel of my new engine. Just to the end of the track, I told myself - until, of course, I got to the end of the track. It sounded lovely and there was no way I was going to turn round and come back. Suddenly it seemed important to at least put it through all the gears, so off we went down the road, minus the body. It felt light and rearing to go. At the first roundabout, I hesitated for only a moment before taking off up the bypass which goes up a fairly gentle but sustained hill for about half a mile to the next roundabout. It flew up, and my heart soared with it.

By the time I got to the top, and recovered my senses, I had completely re-entered that feeling of being on it and part of it. Only a very small part of me was keeping an eye on all the things you should watch for after a re-build. Momentarily I had the sense to focus on the newness of everything as I exitted the roundabout to bomb back down the hill to home. I made a sweeping inspection of the bike before my planned triumphant blast homeward. Oops, the battery, normally held on a rack braced against the sidecar body, was hanging perilously on the edge, about to drop off. I slowed but not soon enough to stop it toppling on to the road, bouncing, and sliding to a halt, dragged along by the cables that held fast.

"Bloody good wiring" I thought to myself as I sheepishly restrapped it to its holder, and made my way gingerly home, reminding myself that there was a lesson to be learnt here...

By the time it came to go way everything seemed to have settled down nicely, and I set off on the weekend that the storms were forecast for most of the country. I had new oil, and full set of tools, clothing and camping equipment, - but not much fuel. First stop for petrol, and I remembered my cautionary tale about checking everything. What else could possibly need checking, - aha, tyres I thought. They were fine, but I am so glad I did, for the sidecar wheel was a bit wobbly. A bit wobbly?! This sounds like an ingredient for a scene from 'Wallace and Grommit meets Buster Keaton'. Images of flying wheels, spinning outfit, - and hospital beds, filled my mind for a few self-admonishing moments, although the potential for humour didn't escape my slightly warped mind.

So half an hour later, I set off, with a properly adjusted wheel bearing, and 130 miles to my next destination. At traffic lights in Taunton I became aware that the back brake was not functioning as well it should. Nothing was visible, so I decided to carry on with a promise to inspect it properly at the next opportunity, which turned out to be the next day, when I discovered a small amount of oily grease leaking from the brake housing.

I holed up the next day and took it all apart to find the oil seal in the bevel box had failed. It was the day of the storms, so it was a good time to take it apart. I cleaned it all up, and decided to carry on but run the bevel box low on oil to reduce the chance of it leaking, until I could replace the seal when I got home. It worked, well almost, and didn't give me any more trouble until the last few days, when I got used using the sidecar brake for routine stopping rather than only for getting round left handers in a hurry.

The trip took me round Dorset, and Wiltshire and to Oxford, then to the Cotswolds by a cicuitous route, and up to the Peak District, returning to Cornwall on the A39 from Glastonbury. I love that road, romantically called The Altantic Highway as it follws the North Devon coast down to Cornwall and on to Falmouth. On the last day, I found myself exploring Exmoor in fabulous weather after camping on the edge of the Quantock Hills.

The day before I had got extremely cold. By the time I had got to Glastonbury I realised that, although I knew I was cold, I had stopped feeling it. In fact I didn't feel very much at all apart from a fearsome headache, so I stopped for hot soup and tea. Half an hour later I realised I was starting to feel cold again, and reckoned I must have been experiencing signs of hypothermia. So I spent a happy hour or more walking around Clarks village and felt myself coming back to life, bought a lovely tent (to replace the completely useless the one I foolishly bought recently from a well known motor accessories chain store) and a set of ludicrous thermals! But boy, was I glad to have them!

The trip was marked by some great riding experiences, not least of which was the A361 down to Avebury and on to Devizes. It was one of those rare occasions where just everything comes together, - the road, the weather, the bike, and the other traffic (or lack of it!), so that it was sublime.

Since coming back, I took apart the bevel box to discover the horror of a sheared off shaft on the crown wheel. It seems it has been like this for a while, the jagged irregular faces of the the surfaces being held in place by the housing. What with half worn splines, and the difficulty in fitting new parts to these boxes, it has come time for a replacement unit. I new it would happen one day, but didn't expect it so soon. Perhaps I really should stop taking it round corners on two wheels.

I have ordered a renovated box from Motorworks, together with new timing chain (I can hear it rattle a bit), which I am now waiting for. In the meantime, I found the rear wheel bearings need replacing, and the front brake light switch has failed.

And I'm still waiting for Spike to let me know when he is ready to take it in to sort out the front sidecar mounting.

So, plenty to keep me going, and guessing whether it will get me round the next trip...

Before I go and post this on the blog, here, as snow and sleet fall all over England, is a reminder of what is just around the corner. No, I don't mean I'm just round the corner, it's the song, or at least the tune that goes with the song, - oh never mind... it's just me and my new tenor uke, ok?:

Bye for now...

Dick's BMW Christmas 2007

by askewrd ^Pro @ Monday, 24. Dec, 2007 – 01:47:05

Well, as always it has come round faster than we ever thought possible. The winter equinox and Christmas is upon us, and it’s way past time to update my year on the outfit.

After I got back from France at the beginning of June, I had become so used to being on the outfit that I missed it terribly the few times I had to use the car instead. There was something about riding/driving the bike and sidecar all day, nearly everyday, for those 2 weeks in Francethat had taken me to a new way of experiencing it. It had become a bit of an addiction.

The sound of the engine burbling along and the physical sensations combined to act like a switch whereby I entered effortlessly into a state of concentration that I can only describe as blissful alertness. This is the particular joy that outfit riding, for me, is all about; - complete focus of attention (to keep it going where you intend it to go), and feedback through all the senses (letting you know whether you’re managing it).

Womad (or Womud as it turned out) was the highlight of high summer. I raced up to Malmesbury after work on the Thursday, arriving at the end of the queue of traffic to get into the ground at about 10.30 that evening. Not bad going, - but it took another 2 hours to get into the ground and meet my friends. The pictures give a clue as to why!

Womad 2007
Rain and sun, the summer of 2007 On the way to Womad
Dusk at Womad 07

Womud 07 Moremud

The bike was badly overheating after the final thrash along the M4, and smoking so badly that the cars behind in the queue kept their distance – I think wisely!Next day it started fine, and no sign of damage.... hmmm... let it go and just enjoy the ride... see what happens. Not always the best philosophy perhaps but it was the lazy hazy days of summer, and I couldn’t be fussed to get anxious about it.

Me and the outfit were inseparable over the rest of the summer, going to Holifair at Gweek just a few miles away in August, and camping one weekend with my grandson.

Then at the end of August I took an awesome trip to Wales, taking the mountain road to Aberystwyth, up to North Wales around Snowdonia, across to friends in Derbyshire, and back to the Brecon Beacons for the bank holiday weekend.

I will let the pictures tell the story...

Holifair, Gweek. Aug 2007
Holifair Aug 2007 Holifair 2007 2

Wales trip. Aug 2007
Mountain road to Aberystwyth Welsh Mountains

Brecon Beacons - Aug 2007
Brecon Beacons 2007 A rare one of the bike (and me!)

Throughout the whole summer the bike performed brilliantly.

A few niggles started to play on my mind. The heads have never been completely right since their rebuild a couple of years ago; the tappets still closing at the rate of about 2 thou every 1000 miles or so... how long can that go on?! Then there was the problem of the loose spark plug sleeve insert that I discovered just before France. I had ignored it all summer, but I would have to deal with it sooner or later, - like the next time I wanted to change the plugs. Also the overheating meant I probably tend to overwork the engine on a long trip.

I kept reminding myself that this is an old bike and I really should treat it with a bit more respect for its age, but sometimes... well you know what it’s like... The final biggie, was the front sidecar mounting (see previous entries for the whole saga). Though the temporary repair was sound, it looks fairly Heath Robinsonesque, and the sidecar setup isn’t right (though it rides in a straight line it has a slight tow-out, which is, strictly speaking, verboten – not something you want to be on a BMW!). Spike said he could get it sorted out over the winter.

So...Oct – Decided to take the bike off the roadInitial plans to get the above sorted, sort of grew and grew until it is now in a state of being reassembled with refurbished heads – done by Motorworks this time, new rocker gear (the quiet post ’85 ones), a 1000cc conversion kit, new little and big ends. So that should be the business end of the power unit sorted as I want it. If it still rattles after that lot I shall have to do the timing chain next.

And on it goes!

Work in progress Dec07 New cylinders in situ Happy times in the shed Dec07

For a slideshow-movie of my summer go to uTube and watch me there (you even get to hear my ukulele – but don’t let that put you off!!)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZKSmPXYdKOo

So that’s me up to date, - with a few chapters missing but enough is here to give me a brief warm glow of self satisfaction, and to say...

Merry Christmas to You All!

Dicks BMW ... goes to France Slideshow

by askewrd ^Pro @ Wednesday, 01. Aug, 2007 – 23:02:27

Just to say, for those whose patience has run out waiting for the slideshow to buffer, that you can view my slideshow on YouTube at:

http://www.youtube.com/user/DickAskew

If you like it let me know!

Dix pix - France May 2007

by askewrd ^Pro @ Tuesday, 17. Jul, 2007 – 23:19:47

Hope you enjoy the show....

My route through France

by askewrd ^Pro @ Tuesday, 17. Jul, 2007 – 22:26:10

This is my route through France, - the orange text shows the places that I stopped ovenight - each place just one night except Seillans where I stayed 3 nights.

I'm back!

by askewrd ^Pro @ Tuesday, 17. Jul, 2007 – 22:20:17

Well actually I've been back for over 6 weeks, so I'm sorry this is a little...well, shall we say... late, ..so to speak. Never mind. I thought I'd start with the picture I took to celebrate arrival at the mediterannean near Sete on Day 4 - nearly 1000 miles from Maenporth beach where I took the pre-trip pics at Easter. The contrasts are striking...

I'm off!

by askewrd ^Pro @ Sunday, 20. May, 2007 – 18:08:47

Yes, it's good news! Zoar Tyres in Helston were brilliant, and repaired the inner tube for me. It suddenly all seemed very easy, after yesterday's despair.

This is going to be very short (makes a nice I hear everyone say!) as my target time for leaving is 6pm, - I have plenty of time for the ferry, but the weather is so perfect for a gentle ride up to Plymouth it will be great to do while the sun is still shining.

I feel like I should, at this point, be making some kind of speech, where I thank my Agent, my Friends and Family, without whose support etc etc etc. It would be a bit OTT though so I won't, and it's 5 past 6 now,...so I will say cheers to All, and leave you with the image I started with...

Au revoir...!

Disaster strikes!

by askewrd ^Pro @ Saturday, 19. May, 2007 – 21:14:04

This was to be the last entry before I leave tomorrow.

I have been confident the bike was ready for a week now, and have kept going over it in my mind throught the week trying to think of anything I have missed, but there has been nothing. I checked it on Wednesday and everything seemed fine. So I planned to get the last few things I need today (including tent pegs!), bring the bike over from it's residence, pack, and spend a leisurely day tomorrow chilling out and making my way to Plymouth for the night ferry early in the evening.

You will have guessed by now something isn't right (there's a clue in the title). I went to collect the bike this afternoon and the rear tyre was flat. Now so disastrous you might think but it isn't entirely straightforward to fix. By the time I had the wheel off, and took it to the nearest tyre place,everywhere was closing for the day, and few will be open tomorrow. So here I am with part a day left and minus a wheel. I could see the whole of my trip, my dream dissolving before me. Both places I went to basically told me I'm stuffed. The tyres (same as 2CV car tyres) have become rarities, and no one can even start sourcing one until Monday. I may be able to get away with just an inner tube, but that may be as difficult to get hold of on a Sunday in Cornwall.

I pumped the tyre up and air hisses out 3 small incisions roughly equally spaced on the outside wall, each about the size of the tip of an electricians screwdriver. I can't help but be suspicious of foul play...

Right now I am absolutely gutted, almost too much to write this.

So..I have to look at some options.

It is not impossible that, with determination and a lucky break or two, I might just find someone who can fix it tomorrow and still be on my way by the evening. Even if it takes until Monday or Tuesday I can change the ferry ticket and go a bit later. Or I give in gracefully and take the car to France instead of the bike, so at least I get away in time to meet up with my friends next weekend.

I will give it my best shot.

If no more blog entries appear over the next couple of days, assume I just made it by the skin of my teeth, and had no time to tell the outcome, or that I didn't and I am in a complete state of utter dejection!

On that happy note I shall go.

If anyone knows of a source of 2CV tyres/inner tubes within easy reach of Truro Falmouth tomorrow, - do let me know...