Ron

The cylinder barrel is back from my machine guy and I've started to build up the top end and primary side. (awaiting a couple more parts from Hitchcock's which should be here today). I spent quite a bit of time setting up the mag and ignition timing, which is a lot easier without the head fitted. My advice is, if you're setting your timing by the book, always proceed by turning the engine in a forward direction to take up backlash in gears and chains etc, and don't accept your first attempt as being correct without spinning the engine over a couple of times and rechecking it. The mag on this bike has always had a meshing issue with the teeth on the mag pinion and the idler gear. I spent quite a bit of time shimming up the points end of the mag with brass shim stock until I was happy with the mesh factor. I got caught out years ago when I first got this bike and the teeth came out of mesh. There was a rasping noise and of course the engine died. On this sort of occasion the best thing you can have in your tool kit, is your RAC card and mobile phone!! Ron

None taken NOS. No point joining a debate without expecting some flak back. It's like being in the pub, you can have an argument but still enjoy a pint together.......Right now I've got a dead bike on the bench to attend to. Ron

If you mean Sean Spicer? Wasn't he renown for making up facts? I wouldn't want to be compared to him. Ron

I have nothing to do with the running of the show or its PR. I merely voice my own views.

You are quite right Rik, I seem to have unwittingly taken up the batten. I don't really know why? Only probably because I see it first hand from the other side. The complaints on here are only a few and thousands of people always attend and seem to enjoy it or at least are satisfied. However I can't help myself from getting annoyed at the some of the facts, figures and vast profits that are banded about! Obviously those people are privy to the balance sheets. Ron

Don't you start Rik! I can't remember seeing you there? As for the type of toilets on site! At the risk of repeating myself, do you think the organisers purposely ordered loos without the sodding flap. THEY JUST HIRED A FIRM TO SUPPLY AND CLEAN THEM!!!

John confirmed to me today that the quantity of toilets at Folkstone last year was actually fewer than this year at the Hop Farm. (He has the bills to prove it). So maybe it was the type of toilet or their locations that have instigated complaints??? And like John, I have a strong feeling that the complaints will continue whatever happens. Has anyone ever been to the Goodwood Revival that costs you over 50 quid for a day's entry, and not much chance of getting an arm band that gets you into the 'posh loos' unless you are one of the chosen rich!! I exhibited there for 8 years in a row and saw long long queues at the permanent toilet blocks. Ron

I spoke at length to John today who is still quaking and trying to wind down after the show. He's still too busy so far to read any of the comments on here what with cleaning up and repairing the site. He is concerned about the issue of first comers roping of larger areas than they need and will have to find a way to police that. However he's adamant that he provided well over the legal requirements of toilets and hired a local firm to supply them and empty and clean them on a daily basis. He's dumbfounded that a certain few should think that he instigated or was even aware that there would be no 'flap'!! To that end there is always the permanent toilet block with proper porcelain pans. However he's quite prepared to increase the portaloos by a substantial amount for next year. But is quite convinced that the complaints about toilets will persist like they have done since the show was first conceived. My advice is " Take your own F*cking loo" like I do when I go to Normandy and any other rally. The £10 that some are whinging about will just about buy four coffees in most establishments. Ron

These are our French Girls Ferg. I'm just their 'Sugar Grandaddy' Ron

You've absolutely hit the nail on the head there 'Armyphotos' and the £250,000 that I mentioned earlier doesn't even begin to pay for it. I gather it's best part of 400 acres at the Hop Farm which all has to be re-instated with machines, top soil and seed, ready for whatever is the next event, this alone would probably bankrupt most of us. Ron

I think the proverb is "Pride goes before a fall"? I don't know why someone with a spare 250 grand or so doesn't put on their own show for their mates?? Ron

That was the plan Ian, but NO it won't be any faster than my M20. But a lighter bike which I like and with a pillion seat in case I'm forced to carry one of those French girls ...Tut! Ron

Thanks Andy it didn't look right somehow and I've corrected the spelling. Ron

But surely Neil the type of vehicle you choose to own is up to you. Any hotel or campsite costs will remain about the same whether you turn up in a Dodge charger or a moped. I didn't feel at all guilty at the first Armour and Embarkation when I saw Jim Clark putting "ANOTHER" £200 pounds worth of petrol in his Sherman and I'd run the whole weekend on £6 in my BSA M20. This is only a light hearted retort Neil but I haven't worked out the smiley on here!! Ron

I thought is is worth stating a fresh thread. I've always quite like riding my RE WD/CO but the gearbox has never been the nicest box to use and I got spoilt by the slickness of the box in my WD/G. I recently acquire another box from a French friend and I've strip and cleaned it and replaced the drive end bearing with a sealed one (inner seal removed). Whilst I was undoing the the engine sprocket nut, I noticed there was far to much end float on the crankshaft. So I've strip the whole lot and fitted new thrust washers and shims to give the correct end float. I've also had the barrel rebored to accept an oversized 'Bullet' piston which will raise the compression from 6-1 to 7-1. I've got a new gearbox sprocket and clutch plates arriving from Hitchcock's tomorrow. Ron

Points noted. However I didn't mean "Happy Medium" in relation to their cleanliness. One would hope that the firm responsible would do the job that they're hired for. It was to do with the amount of loos and their locations. The ultimate of course would be a loo for every group, which of course is not possible, in that respect there would hopefully be a happy medium. I'm only guessing but I assume that an increase in numbers would still require that they are all still cleaned daily, otherwise someone would have to inspect them all the time and put a cross on the door. Point number 6........Knock it off with those negative waves man!! Ron

Yes I can't disagree that the toilet issue is a valid one. However I gather that whatever authority that monitors such things decided that there should be a given number of toilets for the show and the number on site far exceeded their requirements. I've no idea of their means of calculation? Maybe someone got the sums wrong? I won't mention any of the figures without John's express permission but it's obvious that it's not just the hiring of the portaloos, it's also the daily emptying and cleaning which is extremely expensive. The more loos and the further they are spread around the more the cost rockets. I can see that everyone would like a nice clean toilet close to where they are camped, but in reality on such a vast show it's just not financially possible. Even some of the nice purpose built campsites that I've been to can leave you with quite a hike to the toilet block, depending where you're pitched. I'm sure there is room for compromise and a happy medium. I'll be seeing John very soon when he's started to recover from this years show, and I'm not afraid to tell him what I think or just make suggestions, I've been in business most of my working life and therefore can see it from both sides and if he tells me to bugger off...... I won't fix his bikes anymore.!!! Ron

Yes Ferg I agree that the toilets are a valid criticism along with a couple of other issues. I just spoke briefly to John this morning who is just back from the Hop Farm after break down. He's understandably knackered but I have offered to enter any discussion as an impartial bystander about some of the issues razed. I don't suppose he's had time to read through any of this and I wouldn't blame him for not reading it at all! Ron

I've been reading all the comments with interest. The good and the bad and all are valid. However the 'GREED' thing has got my back up. I hope I'm forgiven if I speak out of turn, but I happen to know that the new organiser made a loss at last years Folkstone (and I don't mean 50 quid) and was predicting to make 'hopefully' less of a loss this year, with a break even prediction for years 3 and 4 and into profit by year 5.........I don't think the previous organisers gave it up because they were making too much money!!! There are bound to be problems and inaccuracies and hopefully most will get sorted out over time, but you will never please everyone ever, let alone from day one. After all they only have the blueprint of the previous organisation to work from, which also always had it's critics. I don't have any vested interest in the show other than a friend of the organiser and a one day visitor (paid my £20 on Wednesday) and really pleased that it's back at the Hop Farm. Ron

I've been searching for a small kit like that Rik and they would be perfect if only they had a 7/8" ID. Ron

Well I've never opened the bottom end until now. The engine was rebuilt by a previous owner who restored MGB's for a living and everything else is just fine. So I guess it's always been like that but has always had more vibration than I'd like. The book says to use thrust washers of different thicknesses to obtain end float of 5-15 thou, but you can only buy them in 63 and 85 thou. Which are the two sizes fitted (one each side and both are worn and I've ordered new ones). But there is no combination to add the 40 thou I need to fill the gap. Darren Wrudd is sending me some 30 thou hard washers and I'll see what shim washers I have if I need any more. Ron

As you say Rik "A nice taught front end" it never had the side check springs before. But the gearbox has always let it down a bit. Quite usable but never the nicest box, especially since I've been spoilt with the slick change and positive selection on my WD/G. I acquired another gearbox from our same French friend, which after cleaning all the rock hard grease from, seems to be in perfect condition, so I thought 'worth a swap' (not the easiest thing on these Royal Enfield's). It was whilst removing the engine sprocket that I discovered there was far too much end float on the crankshaft..........So the job has become a bit more involved!!! Ron

This is the basis for the Humber tourer.....Ask Alec Small! Ron

Fed up waiting for a response from the person who posted a query in post #14, so I thought i'd liven the thread up with the NOS WD/CO forks that a French friend acquired from a scrapyard in France that had a lot of Royal Enfield stuff. My WD/CO had WD/C forks fitted and I've now corrected the situation. Ron

Good sites to visit if I ever intend to put on an event myself, which is unlikely although I have been known to organise stuff. I have no idea of the attendance figures, but I guess the organisers do. I gather also that a lot of individual groups and families either brought their own portaloos or hired them from local firms. These of course would not be included in the count of public loos. To be clear, I'm not fighting anyone's corner! I'm just trying to give an unbiased opinion based on looking at it from both sides (Punter-Organiser) Ron