Hi experts!
My vh was clearly running out of puff on large throttle openings. It was noticeable that closing down the throttle a bit certainly didn't reduce power and may have increased it a little.
I put an air filter on and saw a small improvement.
Changing the main jet from 200 to 220 improved it ...

One little point I learned recently after putting 12v field coil and armature in my dynamo.

After motoring a dynamo it seems sensible to test it with a drill.
In the 70s drills weren't so convenient, I used to wind a bootstrap round the pinion and pull. This would easily blow a 6v bulb.
My battery ...

SUCCESS!
I used an 11mm / 7/16 bolt grip (ebauer, screwfix, £18) and after one pull with a bar there was so little drama I thought it was slipping.
And the trap was clear.
New trap in now.
Timing pinion nut I used to spin crank was little more than finger tight though, typical for this bike so it's ...

Thank you for all the ideas.
I wonder if there's clearance for the irwin. My local screwfix has a set in so I may be able to measure before I buy.
If that's no good I think the crank has to come out.

Well I thought it would be a good idea to check the sludge trap on a vh I bought a few months ago.
The bolt head has been chewed up too badly for any of the suggested methods to work so I think the crank has to come out so I can try other ways, and the fact that someone has tried and failed makes me ...

Yes, full width hubs and much as I like sidevalves (my main means of transport for years was an M21 outfit. Lorries were slower in the late 70s and on the M62 going up the Pennines I sometimes even overtook some of them!) mine is definitely VH not VB.
Thanks, I'll count teeth on the back sprocket.

I'm sorting a VH out and for me capability to achieve over 80 would mean I've got it right.
Engine sprocket is 23 tooth. It doesn't really like over 55mph but I have singe track roads and hills and in first gear it can't do a hill start,. I've tried a bit of retard, didn't help.
So, I need to find ...