Strange to think my last post before now was in march 15 2020, just one week before the (first) UK Corona virus lockdown. We managed to get away for a camping holiday at the start of July, up to Scotland to see friends then camping at Hadrian's wall. Cold but great to be able to get out again.
Ruby went well with the Daytona (red) cams and lower gearing but noticeably thirstier. On the trip back down the M6 and M5, she disgraced herself by weeing oil over the rear tyre. Engine breather problems yet again. Plus I could see oil escaping from the cam cover.
The breather arrangement on the very first engine is via a catch chamber just behind the cylinder block. Most people who know these engines will be aware of an inspection cover under the carburettors, over the starter gears. Well, initially that cover was also for breathing with a wire mesh condensing element intended to minimise oil transmission to the airbox. A second breather pipe then linked this chamber to the airbox. However there must have been issues with our or cost savings to be made because this was deleted in favour of a single pipe linking the clutch cover to the airbox done Time in 1992. I've had problems with oil expelled from the breather several times before, usually when riding extended periods at motorway speeds. The thing seemed to happen if running at or above 4000rpm for more than half an hour. I really wanted this early arrangement to work but I have not been able to so. So I have now blanked of the condensing chamber in favour of my own catch tank, currently a bottle cable tied to the left side of the engine.
We are out on another camping trip now, September 2020, and this arrangement has been problem free but so far has not including any extended motorway riding. 30 mins max on dual carriageways. Fingers crossed.
I also changed the cam cover seal and reinstalled the original, green cams. Feels just great. At the gentle speeds so far enjoyed, the bike is returning about 47 miles to the Imperial gallon. Perfect.
And sunny Kent is a good place to be
