Hi Johnny, I stripped the selector down. It was well greased, no broken springs and not much wear as far as I could tell. I happen to have bits of a spare gearbox, including a selector which I also stripped down and compared with my original. The main springs on my spare are 5mm longer, but that is ...

Hi Johnny, I stripped the selector down. It was well greased, no broken springs and not much wear as far as I could tell. I happen to have bits of a spare gearbox, including a selector which I also stripped down and compared with my original. The main springs on my spare are 5mm longer, but that is ...

Took my w/ng for its 1st ever ride this morning (it was a new bike to me in Sept.). All of the engine, wheels, clutch work I have been able to do with the assistance of the forum has gone well. The engine pulls like a train! However, there is something wrong with the gearbox (or the way I partially ...

I removed the valve today, couldn't see why it would stick! I then spoke to a retired British Aerospace engineer who does lots of work locally on old bikes. He said that due to years of grinding the valve seats, the stem on the valve at the lower end, where it flares out, starts to bind on the end o...

After a few posts on here regarding a mechanical clang, I finally, and by accident discovered today that the exhaust valve occasionally sticks down, after which it rises up and hits the tapper adjuster with some force, resulting in the clang I have been searching for. Clearly, the head has to come o...

Thanks Paul, that is a possibility, but today, I shimmed the gap between rocker box and exhaust lever out to 0.160", put the rockers back on and was turning the engine over very slowly with my finger on the exhaust tappet adjuster - ouch! Every now and then the valve must be sticking as it come...

I don't know Pete. Its a very occasional problem when starting, but a real nasty clang when running.

Hi Pete, your old eyes are functioning perfectly, unlike my Ariel!
There is an additional shim, making the total thickness 0.160", which is correct. The exhaust side is undersized by 0.040", and I am thinking that is the problem.

I just measured the distance collars. On the inlet, the distance collar is 0.120" plus a shim of 0.040", so 0.160". On the exhaust which just has the distance collar, its 0.120". According to Drags site, the distance collars should be 0.160". I wonder if the undersized exhau...

Thanks Will, that is exactly how I have set it up (the picture was just to show the poor indent in the pinion).