[Keith.Maven@ntlworld.com]

There was a link to the Sussexmotorcyles website in the previous post, no idea what happened to it but it’s easy enough to find using Thorspark & Sussex Motorcycles

Sussex Motorcycles
Brighton (01273) 913181
Kent (01273) 913181
email: sussexmotorcycles@yahoo.co

[Keith.Maven@ntlworld.com]

Hi Mike

My 1946 Flying Squirrel has a Thorspark ignition fitted, unfortunately the wasn’t running when I bought it and I haven’t been able to get it running yet, however I’m pretty sure it’s not the electronic ignition that’s the problem, I’ve got good sparks and I’ve scribed the flywheel  so I know they are in the right place, I’ve had to sort the wiring out as it was rather a botch job and I thought I’d killed the ignition so I bought another trigger unit which was only £30 and probably the only part that would ever fail, turns out my problem was only a loose earth wire by the previous owner.
You keep the manual advance and retard, the magnetic trigger is a fiddly little bit but probably no more so than a set of points. The coil on mine is hidden under the front of the tank on the front down tubes, you hardly see it.
its not a massively expensive kit at about £150 which includes the coil, would I recommend it, I don’t know until I get it running which won’t be until spring at the earliest, I’ve got to repair a cracked rear mounting lug on the cases first ?

https://www.sussexmotorcycles.com/thorspark-magneto-igniton-faq.html

no idea where you are located but if anywhere near Leeds you are welcome to have a look if passing ?

[Keith.Maven@ntlworld.com]

Kev, that’s the correct 1947 model front brake set up though isn’t it ?

Dave, I’ve not tested it with a magnet but I suspect that it’s simply a tough aluminium paint on the brake plate, ll find out when I take the wheel out as I’ve a little knock from play in the brake anchor plate to sort out.

Douglas, I’ve given up hoping it would just burst into life so it’s onto the methodical approach, I must admit it’s a whole different ball game to working on my other bikes ?

 

 

[Keith.Maven@ntlworld.com]

Hi Kevin, I’ve been provisionally told my bike was built in November 1946 and I know it was registered in March 1947, it obviously doesn’t have the double sided front brake, I’m not even sure if it’s a Scott front brake as it has what looks like an aluminium cover plate over it but then so does the rear one

[Keith.Maven@ntlworld.com]

Richard, sorry wasn’t meaning to sound grumpy at all, I’ve had another look at it tonight and still getting nowhere, I’m going to pull the engine to bits, check everything and sort out a damaged engine mount then go from there, there’s something a bit odd going on so a fresh set of gaskets and check the crank and glands will be a good place to start I think. Problem is I’ve lots of other things I need to do other than play with the Scott, I’ve a Guzzi that needs finishing off after a clutch replacement and I was supposed to be working on my T140D Bonnie after that not buying a Scott ?

[Keith.Maven@ntlworld.com]

Thanks Dave, I found it once I removed the gear change mechanism, it was tucked underneath where there’s a double thickness of steel. I was expecting to find it on the body of the gearbox but it’s on the end cover.

I think the first versions of the gear change were the steel version and the alloy end cover came in a bit later, my bike has no fittings for a hand change so must of come like that.

Richard, I’ve done all of that, the ignition fires both plugs together so you can’t mix up the leads.

And for the first time in my life I even resorted to easy-start, the best I managed was one loud bang !

• This reply was modified 4 years, 6 months ago by Keith.Maven@ntlworld.com.

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[Keith.Maven@ntlworld.com]

And if anyone can explain the comedy repair to the exhaust front pipe I’d be interested to know ?

[Keith.Maven@ntlworld.com]

Also if I could just get the thing to start it would be a bonus, its fitted with an aftermarket coil conversion which is sparking although I have had to remove it and it no longer has horrible bodged wiring, while was there I’ve accurately  found Top Dead Centre and marked it on the flywheel along  with  1/4″ and 5/16″ before TDC. Its relatively easy to set the timing now although its still refusing to start.
Its got some rather odd spark plugs fitted with triple points around the central electrode, I’ve never heard of a Binks M3 plug before, it does look a bit short reach but I’ve fitted some NGK B6ES with adaptors for now and they are actually the same installed length.
The carbs all nice and clean although it drips a bit but that’s probably down to flooding it and it not starting !
It seems to have decent primary & secondary compression too.
I’ll persevere a bit more but I’ll be taking it to bits soon, well its in a queue and it pushed in front, its about to go to the naughty corner while I finish a Guzzi that’s sat on the bench neglected

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