Bezzer

Balancer looks OK for the money. You doing them at work and using their tools ?? reason being if you didn't already know is the bead breaker would work but you'd need a bike rim base for the changer otherwise you'll bugger the bike wheel. Neighbour owns a garage with a tyre changer and wrecked his mates bike wheel when he tried to do it .

Believe you can do it online now as well without sending the old one off.....as long as you've got one of the new style passports, they take the picture off the passport records. Shows how much different departments swop information

Should be fine with a bike semi oil as you say but it's strange it's happened with both sets of plates. Only things you've got the same is the oil and the diaphragm spring then ??. Wouldn't have thought the spring is the problem if it goes away when warmed up, it really does point to the oil which is the only thing really changing as it warms up but seems very strange. The only problem with changing it is you'd have to decontaminate the plates as well to make sure they were rid of it as well before you used new, also make sure they get a good soaking in the new stuff before you fit, overnight is best.

Depends what helmet you've got as they are specific fit for each one so you don't pull one and lose the rest. Be expensive if you used them regularly as well. Dunno if you can get general fit ones but wouldn't think they'd be much use.Got a mate who clingfilms his and just rips it off when shitty , you only get the one chance though of course. I always carry a tiny plastic bottle of water and a couple of pieces of kitchen roll to clean it as and when.

Nice you riding it back?? be able to go via all the biker haunts - Squires - Snake Pass - Matlock - Cat and Fiddle etc

,it's good that, is it 'shopped or a programme??

Figures don't seem too bad, fairly together so there's no obvious pointer to one being particulalrly suspect. You can't say "definite" but it is pointing towards the stem seals. Couldn't remember for the life of me what the XR3 head looked like so had to look at the tool instructions to jolt my memory It had rockerarms from the "hidden" cam so you just removed them, put 1&4 to TDC so the valves wouldn't drop right into the bore then used the tool to compress the valve spring, remove the collets undo to slacken and remove the spring then you could get straight at the stem seals,put new one in, use the tool again to replace the spring, repeat for the other 3 then put 2&3 to TDC and do the same for the other 4. You didn't have to take any special precautions to keep the valve up tight in it's seat or anything just make sure the pistons were up to stop it dropping all the way inside. There is a general tool that fits various engines you can buy to do them without removing the head but it goes on about using compressed air to keep the valves up, the rope trick would also work just depends what configuration your head is I suppose as to how hard, simple rocker arm removal to give access or or will you have to remove cams etc. http://www.sealey.co.uk/PLPageBuilder.asp?id=20&method=mViewProduct&productid=8807

Always worth keeping an eye on forums for sale sections as well to save egay hassle. e.g. http://forum.oldskoolsuzuki.info/cgi-bin/Yabb/YaBB.pl?num=1303415800. I realise it's top end of your budget but depends how good a haggler you are, cash usually talks.

The old bits don't look too bad,bit of blueing will soon come off as long as theyy're still flat. You changed the covers recently did you change the oil then as well?? what did you use if you did?

Renal = Kidneys, so Dialysis and Kidney patient care I would think.

That seems more rings/valves than stem seals. Stem seals don't usually get that bad as you first notice the problem only when you start up because oil has gradually seeped past the seals while the bike has been standing and burns off when you start up. Not that much gets through as you're running so you wouldn't notice it every time you roll off. You need a leakdown test to see whats what.

£20 a couple of weeks ago Bike full price is £29 odd and £55 for cars For Rob -Staffs Test Centre next door to Bikerz in Hanley, £20 for bikes, £30 for Cars

Sounds very much like stem seals, I did the stem seals on an XR3I Escort some years back witohut removing the head, it was that common on the CVH engine you could buy a cheap aftermarket "special tool" that held and compressed the valve and spring and let you do it no problem. Dunno if there might be something similar available for the Rover but it's a common enough engine for there to be one. I've still got the Escort tool but wouldn't think it will be of use on any other engine,with the size of thread, slotting and reach etc.

Fugly , yep but it should be a streetscrambler type bike, wouldn't take much to get it back to as it should be and look 10 times better.

Delkevic is at least part owned by DK, Derek and Kevin Neesan are the owners hence the company names. Dunno about the end bit unless some called Vic is a partner in the Delkevic cpmpany.

Ta , I'll have a look at the Graphite, I'll pass on RS they want £8 each for just 25ml of touch up and for lacquer plus VAT and delivery god knows how much for a decent quantity .

Has anyone come up with a good match for the very dark grey Bandit 1200 engine colour off the shelf?. I've touched the odd mark in with Hammerite smooth satin black before now but I want to do all the covers with windows I've made, got the forks rubbed down ready to repaint as well as a pair of headlights I've also made. Before someone says it NO I ain't polishing them up , hate polishing just wan't the covers with their window casings and headlight casings coloured but I will leave the rims polished. Tried satin black, didn't look right, thought I'd cracked it with Halfrauds Anthracite wheel paint but that turned out 2-3 shades too light. Suppose if worst comes to the worst and there is no good match that anyone knows of I'll do them in Anthracite as that looks better than black and a bit of a contrast. Anthracite Black

86,000 is nothing for a 'bird, just run in and £1400 or less is a bargain, they're bulletproof and as long as it looks well looked after there should be no problem, as mentioned above the only thing you've got to worry about is it the right colour? . Just think what you want it for, they are a ballistic big heavy comfy sports tourer that takes a bit of hustling to just pootle about on, great if you're into doing a lot of touring miles if not they aren't really an everyday bike. Had one for 3 years but had to get rid because of duff knees, one thing you have to check is has it had the loom mod done, FI birds have a crappy test connector hidden in the loom that can cause all kinds of problem. My bike had it and I was the first brave/stupid enough to hack the loom and sort it, turned out to be easy really and my "loom fix" post has been copied all over the 'bird forums. Give me a shout if you get it and want it checking. http://www.bikersoracle.com/blackbird/forum/showthread.php?t=16438 edit - just noticed your age, I'd check what the insurance is going to be first dude before you go too far into it, you may get a nasty shock

Got mine always worth getting an advance ticket to save joining the half mile queue to pay at the gate

Top day, top weather, great to meet everyone. As smart as Rob and Dave's red 'uns are they couldn't hold a candle to the 5mpg V8 monster or my own faourite the touring Royal Oilfield complete with towbar and electrics, fag holder and wired in cigarette lighter hopefully some decent pics of it will be posted for those that didn't see it.

Happy Burpday dude, couldn't have picked a better one, only the best are on this day

Measure your battery voltage when it's settled down as you were going to. Stick it back on the bike, start it then measure the voltage across the terminals while it's running that'll give you an indication if it's something to do with charging. Should be 7-8 volts running I'd hae thought.

OK Rough time? and is that DK or Hein Gericke (which way you coming along the A34 ?)

Werrington dude, where're you meeting up?