More on the C90 - fun and games with the stand!

The C90 work continues, and today we got the old stand off. It was rusted to the pin around which it should rotate, so it had to come off so a new, modified (to prevent it happening again) pin can be fitted. But first, how do you remove the stand spring? It's very strong!

We tried pliers, then a spring puller, but it wasn't going to shift. So we used this:

The rope goes around my waist, I lean back, and the spring hook stretches the spring enough to free it from its peg.

But how do you remove the pin from the stand when it's rusted in solid?
We tried penetrating oil and a big hammer, but it wouldn't budge. So we resorted to the angle grinder and cut the pin at both ends between the bike's frame and the stand.

That got the stand off the bike, but left us with most of the pin still rusted into the stand. So we took it to a friend who has a garage business and a hydraulic press and tried to press the pin out of the stand. It wouldn't budge.

Next, we put the stand in the vice and hack sawed a slot in the top, then took it back to the press. At first, it wouldn't budge. But at 6,500 lbs pressure, there was a bang and it moved - about 1/4 of an inch! With progressively longer bolts to push on the end of the pin in the press, we continued with the 'press' treatment. Each time there was a 'bang' and a cloud of red dust as the pin gradually got driven out of the stand. It took about five such 'presses' before it finally came all the way out. These things don't just drop out, even when you cut the stand! Here are the bits, with the hack-sawed stand:

How do you prevent the same thing happening again? Indeed, how do you prevent the new pin rotating in the frame and wearing the holes in the frame (as mine was, which is why it had to be rectified) even if it's removed and re-greased frequently? Malcolm, a friend, did this:

The new pin has been drilled down its centre then cross-drilled to allow grease to be pumped in through a grease nipple at the end of the stand pin where the split pin normally goes through. Note the grease nipple has to be tapped into the end of the pin PAST the split pin holes, or else the grease would simply squirt out there.

At the 'head' end of the pin (the brake pedal end of it) he welded a tang which is stepped to rest on top of the brake pedal stop. This will be drilled and tapped so the tang is firmly bolted to the brake pedal stop. This both prevents the pin from rotating, and keeps it in place in the absence of a split pin at the other end.

Now we just have to weld-up the stand where it was hack sawn, clean up the stand tube internally, grease the pin, insert it, drill the tang and drill and tap the brake pedal stop, and bolt the tang to the pedal stop. Finally we'll replace the spring.

Then I’ll re-fit the exhaust, put oil in the bike, kick it over a few times to get the oil circulated (we’ve changed a valve and the clutch plates and TimeSerted the plug threads in the head). Then see if it starts! And doesn’t leak! Fingers cossed!

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Styal Mill update

Quite a lot has been happening at Quarry Bank, Styal recently. There is a project in the offing called 'Revolution and Revelation' (R&R) which will bring big changes to the way Quarry Bank is presented to the public, and the National Trust have a lottery grant application lodged to help finance it. Actually, it will go ahead anyway but without lottery funding will take about ten years to implement rather than the planned five years.

As part of the R&R initiative Quarry Bank decided to train some staff and volunteers in 'media relations' so they can be put foreword to explain R&R to the television, radio, and print media if a representative of the Mill is requested. I've done a bit with local radio for the Runway Visitor Park, and a TV interview for a celebration of flight at Formby, and perhaps it was this experience that secured me a place on the training day, one of three volunteers chosen, and had a great day a few weeks ago undergoing 'media training'.

This morning we did a 'photo shoot' for the R&R publicity to re-create some photographs from the Quarry Bank archives and I was asked to participate. Here's the photo we were re-creating:

Styal Mill overseers, outside what

is today the ticket office
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 Today's depiction of the Styal Overseers,
in the same location as the original
 

I represented the chap on the left, standing.
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The other major news from Quarry bank is that Nether Alderley Mill should open to the public in March (see the relevant entry in this blog at http://vinchad.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/nether-alderley-mill.html ). I will be a volunteer guide there and will soon be undergoing training for that role.


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The first 'Grand Day Out' of 2013 - Chester and (not!) the Boat Museum

The Wilmslow (Horse & Jockey) contingent of glee seekers ventured west today to meet the Merseyside contingent at the Ellesmere Port Boat Museum. We Wilmslowites travelled by train to Crewe, thence to Chester, and onwards to Ellesmere Port via Hooton.

As ever, click on the pictures for full size images.

 

Malcolm, John, and Ivan watch our Merseyrail train to Hooton 

pull into Chester station this morning

As we left the train at Ellesmere Port John's phone rang. Sid, the organiser of our Grand Day Out, was with the other Merseysiders at the Museum cafe.... and had to report that Elfin Safety had scuppered the first part of our day. Because of slippery snow and ice covered surfaces, the museum management had just decided to close to visitors. So after a coffee we got a taxi back into Chester and visited the Cathedral instead.

Jim, John, John W, Sid, Ivan, and Malc outside Chester Cathedral.

After a bit of Anglican culture and admiration of Romanesque and Gothic architecture, including work by George and Giles Gilbert-Scott, we decided it was time for a pint and Sid led us to The Victoria in the town centre. But lunch was beckoning and we were booked into The Albion for that, so after our pint we headed outside to the city wall, where we climbed the slippery snowy steps onto the footpath on top of the wall (giving two fingers to Elfin Safety!) and made our way there.
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Team Picture on the city walls, on the way to The Albion for lunch

A short walk along the city wall towards the River Dee brought us close to The Albion. Braving the snowy and icy steps down to road level we were soon there.

Not for nothing is The Albion known as 'The Curmudgeon's Pub'. Click on the picture to read the board outside the pub.

The snow started to fall, so we arrived at The Albion just in time! Check out the notice in the doorway!

Here we met the remaining two of the 'Merseyside Contingent', Shaun and Bob. Pints of Adnams on the table, we are ready for lunch, or 'Trench Rations', as The Albion has it. Ivan, John, Shaun, Bob, Sid, Jim, Malc and John W.

Replete after lunch! Ivan took this one so I'm on the picture!

After lunch we visited a few pubs on the way to the station. Ivan centre in The Marlborough, our first port of call.

Later, in the back room of The Boot Inn

And our last port of call... The Ship Victory, which served Burscough Bitter. Brought back memories of being a parachute club pilot at the disused Burcsough aerodrome near Ormskirk many years ago!

John, Ivan, and Malc at the bar

Everyone deep in conversation before we head for the station and our train home

Sid, Malc, John, and Jim in a 'domestic huddle' (don't ask!) at Chester station as we head home

 Malc and John at Crewe station awaiting our onward train to Wilmslow (click to enlarge to read the announcement screen above Malc's head) at the end of a most enjoyable day!

Many thanks to Sid for organising this Great Day Out. Now us Wilmslowites will have to organise a return match in Manchester. I can see the Museum of Science & Industry (MoSI) and quite possibly a 'Chinese Hoovering' might be on the agenda!

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