Setting up

Hello devoted henchmen, Last time we spoke i had just started the engine up and checked it all worked ok. This episode we are visiting the dyno to see if we can get any power out of it and see if it will stay together.

So off i went to Clockhill scooters owned by Paddy O'conner (I think thats his surname) who not only has his own dyno but is a racer himself and as such gives you a very sympathetic go on his machine for not alot of notes. We strapped the bike to the roller and started it up to warm the engine and do a test run. This saves a lot of messing about as if your engine is set a long way out you can use this first run to see if it is too rich or lean before you open it up fully.

1st run, using a 290 main jet and needle set to its leanest. The bike started ok and pulled at bottom end but it was very clear that it was too rich.

2nd run, using a 260 main jet and no alteration to the needle and a new plug fitted. This run was better and it started to rev a bit but not fully. The carb was blowing out vapour like mad and a lot of exhaust smoke coupled with fourstroking at revs meant that it was still too rich.

3rd run using a 260 main and on the warm up run it sounded much cleaner and was revving out fully but a bit woolly at the top end. We decided to do four power runs at this setting and it gave a peak reading of 19.3hp at the wheel.

As it was now a bit hot we let the bike cool a bit and i went round it to check for loose bolts. It had only shaken one out of the head cowling so not too bad.

4th run using 240 main. This sounded much better right from the start and again it was given four power runs giving a peak of 19.61 and holding power for longer. We were getting very close to finding the correct jetting until we found that a 240 is the smallest jet we had. It could do with coming down a couple of sizes yet as the dyno reading is very messy at revs which is a sign of running a bit rich.

The next thing to do was take it onto a private road and run it through the box and see if it will pull ok. The bike is woolly as you burble it along. Then screams off like a nutter and then drops power as you get into high revs. The bike does seem fast though and will pop a wheelie quite easily in first as it hits the power. It is much quicker than most road TS1's and it will get quicker as i play with the setup over the next few weeks, so i will be looking forward to that.

So let's recap on what the engine is. Second hand spanish (repaired) casing, Indian cast iron barrel. Indian crank, second hand ASSO piston, Indian electronic ignition, side spark (standard) head, Li150gearbox, borrowed carb and exhaust and only a mild race tune on the ports. Not a bad result really as it was taken up to 9grand every run and did not seize or blow up.

Now it was not all good news, there is too much end float on the gearbox, too much play in the gear hand control and the back brake is shit. But on the lighter side the bike goes well, is still in one piece and the front (drum) brake is shit hot.

Aye up son its,

TightWads Alternative Tuning (T.W.A.T)

This week we are looking at getting a better dyno reading. Lift the back of the dyno up so the bike is facing down hill.This will make it faster as it is rolling down hill.

Tune in next week when i will be visiting a race track test session and shouting at all the bikes "slow down. You'll have someones eye out with that".