Newsletter: Rockingham Forest IAM Motorcycle Maintenance Evening

Rockingham Forest Group of Advanced Motorcyclists
Report on "Motorcycle Maintenance Evening"

February's second associate training evening was given over to a motorcycle maintenance class, presented by special guest speaker, Nick Davies of "Nick's Hot Wheels and Tuning Laboratory" of Corby.

The session began with an introduction covering the basic construction of the motorcycle including frame construction, suspension, steering geometry and engines.

Routine maintenance was next, including checking tyre pressures, chain tension and lubrication, brake adjustments, oil level, battery electrolyte and lighting checks. The points were illustrated using Nick's own excellently-preserved vintage Honda.

Following a brief refreshment break in the bar, the attendees were divided into teams of three for the practical tasks.

Removing a wheel.

Team A started with the front wheel of the Honda. Removing the split pin and lock nut were straightforward. After several heavy blows had failed to shift the spindle Nick had to step in to point out that the clamp at the fork-bottom also had to be released. This was done using an allen key of nearly the right size. The spindle had then to be carefully filed back to shape prior to removal, due to the mushroom effect at one end resulting from the hammer blows.

As the wheel was removed, the necessity for propping up the rest of the bike became apparent. The need to do this without trapping one's fingers was also underlined when some over-enthusiastic pumping of trolley-jack handle trapped Nick's finger against the frame. The damage turned out to not as bad as was feared at the time. Nick tells me the nail will soon grow back.

Putting the wheel back on is, of course, the reverse of the above. The allen-headed bolts securing the fork-end clamp were damaged either during removal or replacement and could not be tightened properly. The locknut was tightened properly but the split pin could not be found. Nick showed how a length of wire could be employed as a "get-you-home" measure. (I am sure he will enjoy a wry smile reading this use of his own words!)

Chain Tension

With the front wheel back on and the bike on the centrestand chain tension may be checked and adjusted. Team B needed no help to locate the locknut assembly and commence the tension check. It was while Nick was pointing out likely signs of rear sprocket wear that the rear wheel was accidentally set in motion, trapping another finger of his already-injured right hand. Fortunately it appears that no bones were broken and no skin-graft will be required. As with Nick's misfortune concerning the trolleyjack, it appears that this nail too will soon grow back. (Just out of interest, can anyone remember re-tightening the lock nut? I fear that in the excitement this may have been overlooked, and might account for the events which followed.)

Checking Fuses

The fuses on this model of the Honda are located under a panel close to the headstock and secured by two allen bolts. Team C located the fuses and removed the panel. The various sized fuses are colour-coded, so there was really no excuse for getting three of them back into their wrong sockets and blowing them when the ignition was turned on. When Nick returned from having first-aid applied to his injured hand, he was able to demonstrate how a makeshift fuse can be fashioned using the metal foil from a cigarette packet.

Without naming names, it was while removing the foil from the cigarette packet that one of our associates dropped some cigarettes on the floor. And it was while bending to retrieve the cigarettes that this individual grasped the handlebars of Nick machine causing them to swing to one side, trapping one of Nick's un-injured fingers in the headstock assembly. This really was a freak accident for which nobody should held responsible but which sadly caused the loss of yet another fingernail for Nick.

Changing Headlamp Bulb

It was Team A's turn once again. With Nick standing well out of the way on the other side of the room, the headlamp bezel was removed, the lens detached and the bulb removed from its socket. We were all reminded of the dangers of the workshop when the still-hot bulb scorched the fingers of the associate handling it causing it to fall to the floor and shatter. During this minor confusion someone accidentally stood on the headlamp lens assembly, causing it to break The retaining bezel was also bent out of shape. This was regrettable, as it turned out that Nick was not equipped with a spare bulb, lens or bezel but as he had not far to go, he would ride home using the sidelights.

Changing Engine Oil

As time was running out, Team B were excused the actual task of changing the oil and had to be content with a verbal run through of warming up the engine, draining the oil, refitting the drain plug and refilling via the filler cap.

Minor bodywork repairs

Nick explained that due to the impracticality of applying filler and paint outside of a workshop environment, this would not be attempted during this session. Anyone interested in techniques would be welcome to book a visit to the Hot Wheels workshop for a conducted tour. Samples of Wet and Dry abrasive, fibreglass filler, paint and thinners were on hand and passed around. The flammability of the latter was inadvertently demonstrated when a cigarette was brought too close to the opened container. Happily the damage to the bike's upholstery and paintwork was only cosmetic and Nick escaped this incident completely uninjured.

Footnote

As I am sure most of the group are aware, Nick was involved in accident on the way home from the group meeting. It appears that a combination of mechanical failure and Nicks injuries combined to cause him to lose control of his machine. In the resulting spill he sustained further injuries involving his remaining good hand and both knees. His motorcycle was damaged beyond economic repair and has been written off by his insurance company. This is a salutary warning to all of us that motorcycling is a hazardous past-time demanding total concentration. Even Nick's extensive experience of track and road riding failed to protect him on this occasion.

I have been in touch with Nick who assures me he will be up and about soon. I was able to express my thanks and those of the group for the success of the motorcycle maintenance evening and extend our invitation for a repeat session later in the year. Sadly, it seems that Nick's existing commitments to family and business affairs mean that he will be unable to make any extra pledges of time for the foreseeable future.

Courteny Fish
Associate Training Officer