Previous owners...
Posted: Tue May 08, 2018 8:59 pm
Some of you may be aware of my M18S "Bess" as it, and the problems a previous owner had caused me, were featured in the 'Jampot' a few months ago. Well I've just found another one (problem, that is). When I had the engine and gearbox out to repair the oil pump, I failed to notice that the cover plates on the end of the swinging arm pivot had been put back on the wrong side. Earlier today I changed all the oils and filled the oil can with Castrol D140 to top up/refill the swinging arm reservoir. It was only then that I noticed that the filler screw was hidden behind the primary chain case and totally inaccessible.
Don't you just hate it when that happens?
As it happens, I already had plans to strip off the primary drive. I recently carried out the revised cam timing and shorter inlet pushrod rocker modifications that were discussed in an earlier thread and I'm well impressed with the way Bess is running. She's pulling strongly up to 75mph but at that speed the engine was sounding very 'busy' indeed so I didn't push it any further. As first gear is quite low; pulling away in second is not difficult, I thought I'd change the gearbox sprocket for a larger one. Currently, there's 17 tooth sprocket fitted but I'm getting increasingly confused about what is 'standard'. The '55 parts list says it's part number G-31-1 at 16 teeth. F Neils manual says that 21 teeth is the 'standard' for '45 to '56 M18S and the '57 model had 22 teeth.
Could someone enlighten me as to what sprocket is normally used on a touring 500... please?
Thanks
John
[EDIT....] I should perhaps add that it has an 18 tooth engine sprocket fitted.
Don't you just hate it when that happens?
As it happens, I already had plans to strip off the primary drive. I recently carried out the revised cam timing and shorter inlet pushrod rocker modifications that were discussed in an earlier thread and I'm well impressed with the way Bess is running. She's pulling strongly up to 75mph but at that speed the engine was sounding very 'busy' indeed so I didn't push it any further. As first gear is quite low; pulling away in second is not difficult, I thought I'd change the gearbox sprocket for a larger one. Currently, there's 17 tooth sprocket fitted but I'm getting increasingly confused about what is 'standard'. The '55 parts list says it's part number G-31-1 at 16 teeth. F Neils manual says that 21 teeth is the 'standard' for '45 to '56 M18S and the '57 model had 22 teeth.
Could someone enlighten me as to what sprocket is normally used on a touring 500... please?
Thanks
John
[EDIT....] I should perhaps add that it has an 18 tooth engine sprocket fitted.