Still Leaking?

You might recall that my oil tank cap has been pissistently leaking for the last few weeks, mainly due to the fact that there has never been a gasket in it. Having made a  gasket with a bit of dense polyurethane foam, and partially (80%) cured the leak, I needed something better.

29 mm O Ring to the rescue:

2018 Classic Car and Bike Show

Last weekend saw some dry weather and the annual Sheringham Carnival Classic Car and Bike Show. We've attended a few of these before:

• 2017 Classic Car and Bike Show
• 2015 Classic Car and Bike Show
• 2014 Classic Car and Bike Show
• 2013 Classic Car and Bike Show

I'm quite surprised putting this post together that this is the 5th show we've attended - how time flies. This year was a good event - it didn't rain, and I had a chance to meet few enthusiasts I hadn't met before.

Here are this year's pictures:

One of the Ariels at this year's show!

Proudly made in Britain

One of my favourite cars - Sunbeam Alpine

Badged as a Lotus? Didn't know there was a Lotus Anglia

Another favourite - Fiat 500

1928 BSA single SV

Norton Big Four

Norton Big Four

Saab V4

Two Ladies in Carnival Spirit

Two Chevrolet Pick Ups

Nice Series 1

Ford Model B?

Volvo PV544

Just like my first car - Mk2 Mini Cooper

Possibly my all-time favourite - Lotus Elan

BSA SS80

Excuse the ignorance - I know it's a Harley but any more???

Little cluster of bikes

Cluster of old bikes in soft focus!

BSA again

Riley RM

Amazon

Prefect

Aero Morgan Flight Deck

Sophistication - enclosed pushrods!

Maintenance-friendly

Fantastic

How can I buy one?

More Cake

Another cake run today, this time out on the SQ4. The chain guard is not sorted and is going to need to come off again for some serious adjustment!

The weather was great though and the trip to Cley and back was uneventful, save to remind me what a lovely part of the world we live in. Here's the SQ4 enjoying a break at Glandford:

After a 24 mile round trip with no misfire, but rather slow (there is a lot of traffic around here in the summer) we have these results, taken with the engine running in the yard and measured immediately upon arrival:

• 210°C on the fins near No.2 spark plug
• 151°C on the inlet manifold flange - near the offside carburetter stud
• 109°C on the carburetter flange, 1/2" from the 151°C measuring point but on the other side of the phenolic spacer. That's a 42°C differential across the spacer.
• 87°C on the float bowl. This is much higher than usual and I think reflects the fact that the day was not windy and I was travelling rather slowly. There's more convected energy than I thought and I've decided that a heat shield may be in order

Whilst there was no misfire,  I think I could detect that the engine was not running as happily as before.

Ambient was around 23°C for most of the trip. I measured the other cylinder head temperatures as well and added them to my chart with some previous tests:

When I returned, I noticed a small leak from the oil tank cap. I'd given it an extra twist before I left in an attempt to seal it, so I'm sure the seal is not thick enough.

A few little jobs

Sunday dawns, with yet another day of misty coastal weather. Everyone is in need of a slow day after a couple of weddings and a party, not to mention a busy week at work and a visit to the dentist, which left me lighter in the wallet and in the quantity of molars residing in my mouth.

So, all in all a good chance to get some quality garage time starting with a good clean for the Bantam, and the beginning of a clean for the SQ4, alongside a new rack for the TIG welder and some other workshop developments.

There's not too much to be done on the SQ4 now. I had a few transfers from Draganfly during the week, which I fitted today with some Halfords petrol resistant lacquer:

Toolbox and Oil Tank dry transfers

Waterslide transfer on the rear number plate holder

I noticed while out and about that I am not using the whole clutch lever and that sometimes I cause the clutch to drag by not pulling it in completely. I decided to move the lever up the handlebar, to the other side of the dip switch, so I could use the whole lever:

This is actually the correct position, according to the Owners Guide:

And here is the reality. Do I have the wrong handlebars?: