[weestrom05]

I just about have the Benley ready for the road. It has new tires(thanks Clem), new rear brake shoes, new sprockets, new chain, and a new battery. All it need now is a new set of pipes which are on order. I would ride it now but the left pipe had to come off to remove the countershaft sprocket cover, and I dont want to take it apart twice. It seems tiny now sitting next to the Strom but seemed so huge when I made the change from the Honda Cub in 1966.
Curt

 

[Keith Falkner]

But will it be ready for C-to-C in October?

I hope to come and admire your vintage Honda, Curt.
Appropriately enough, I will ride my vintage Honda,
which is about half the age of your Benly.

I look forward to joining you for the Coast-to-Coast ride this fall.

Keith

 

[ironmorph]

Curt are we ready to take that new bike out yet?

 

[weestrom05]

new bike

Its off the bench and running. I rode it about a half an hour Monday morning. I found that it drained the battery, and the clutch pull was extremely hard. Im going to DMV tomorrow to register it and maybe on the road this weekend. The motor ran great, tranny was good, suspension ok. I think the only problems left are electrics and the pull force on the clutch. Clem, I didnt get a call insisting that I buy your new Sargent seat, so it must have served fairly well?
Curt

 

[ironmorph]

Curt, glad to hear you have it up and running.

The sargent, hmmm, yes it is certainly better than the stock no question about it. It is certainly worth 350.00, thats after 3000 miles on it. Paul was at Ironhorse with "his" Russell. I begged, pleaded, bribed, tried in all ways I knew how to trade the sargent, but he would have no part of it. Some friend... Overall a good improvement.

 

[Keith Falkner]

Grease is the word!

Curt, I suggest you take the clutch cable completely out of the bike,
then fashion a funnel out of stiff plastic, held with a zap-strap, at the
top of the cable, then fill the funnel with oil. Work the cable up and
down a few dozen times, and the oil will gradually run into the cable.

While the mechanism is apart, you can grease everything.
I am guessing you will find some gizmo is jammed with congealed
old grease, and the clutch will work smoothly when you are done.

If the pull remains stiff, then I change my guess: perhaps the
previous owner put in a Barnett clutch, with its stiff springs.

I am very busy getting ready for the northern trek.
So I will look forward to seeing your Benly in a couple of months.
I have loaded and unloaded my Wee-Strom onto my trailer ten times,
and I am not going to do it again. I'll ride my little bikes in Canada.

Keith