Workshop - 2 - Classic Bike Hub

Five minute fix – Throttle tubes

Little spoils a bike like a graunching throttle. Cables are obvious and easy to lubricate but throttle tubes regularly get ignored. Whether it’s the conventional barrel type or early Japanese straight pull/scroll type the same

Workshop - Bertie Simmonds

1976 Suzuki GT550

Q: The headlamp bowl was rusty and my mate gave me a new chrome one. Foolisly, I accepted and removed the headlamp in order to replace it. As you may know, in the shell there

Workshop - Bertie Simmonds

Triumph Valve issues

Q: I have two valves out of a classic motorcycle (a Triumph) one and the other are the same size in all respects. The parts book gives a different parts numbers for each valve (inlet

Workshop - Bertie Simmonds

Q: I’m getting desperate here on the garage floor with my DT400B twin shock. Over the last two years since I bought it, I’ve tried everything I can think of to stop a nasty chugging

Workshop - Bertie Simmonds

Five minute fix – Brake Linings

Never, ever, take a brake shoe lining for granted. Almost without exception Japanese shoes are fixed to their alloy carriers by adhesive alone; you rarely see rivets used. Eventually dampness, heat and time can and

Workshop - Bertie Simmonds

Your tips – Aqua Blasting

Aqua blasting is all the rage at the moment. I’ve been doing it for years at home using a cheap B&Q pressure washer (£25) and a sandblaster pick up lance (eBay £9.99). I used to

Workshop - Bertie Simmonds

Mark’s rapid fire tips

How do you determine the correct angle for the handlebar controls? Sit on the bike, extend your fingers in line with your arms and lower your hands on to the grips. The levers should be

Workshop - Bertie Simmonds

1986 Suzuki GSX-R750G

Q: I recently purchased a 1986 GSX R750G. It is a Jap import, but I have read in your magazine that these bike are restricted to 75bhp and it certainly does not feel as quick

Workshop - Bertie Simmonds

1998 Suzuki GSX-R1100WT

Q: I am trying to find an aftermarket a 4-into-1 complete exhaust system for my 1100WT with no success. Could you tell me if any other models will bolt straight on, maybe a 1200 Bandit

Workshop - Bertie Simmonds

Yamaha RD350LC YPVS 31K

Q: Do you know anyone who can check or test CDI units? And what are the obvious symptoms if a CDI unit is faulty? A: The usual symptom for a faulty CDI unit is no

Workshop - Bertie Simmonds

Q: Can anyone help me? Do you know what other starter motor will fit this machine as I cannot get one and I’ve tried everywhere. A: This is a Mitsuba motor, identified as 36496 on

Workshop - Bertie Simmonds

Suzuki Burgman 650AN

Q: With a cold engine it doesn’t respond to quick throttle openings. There is a bit of a difference once the engine is warm-though from about 55mph upwards, when the throttle is open to accelerate,

Workshop - Bertie Simmonds

Five minute fix – Wheel spindles

Whenever you replace a wheel spindle make sure it’s greased. As Japanese bikes rarely received lubrication to their axles when new they have a real propensity to corrosion weld themselves to the inner bearing race.

Workshop - Bertie Simmonds

Q: Just to say how much I enjoyed the ‘Why forks fail’, article, but surely the primary cause of forks ending up needing repair work is, in my experience, accidental damage. So, the difficult and

Workshop - Bertie Simmonds

Mark’s Top tips – Engines

1 When separating major engine components, a tap with a soft hammer helps to release the bond between them. If that does not work, don’t automatically use a bigger hammer: you have undone all the

Workshop - Bertie Simmonds

1980 Kawasaki Z7650/750

Q: Hello, I’d appreciate your opinion on the need for coil replacement on my Z650 F1. I’ve recently fitted a Z750E1 engine into my Z650 frame, The bike is running fine but I’m wondering if

Workshop - Bertie Simmonds

2012 Yamaha Raider

Q: I ran across CMM in a forum and like a parent with a poorly child I turn to you in hopes of saving my nearly-new bike. Don’t ignore me just as it’s ‘new’. I

Workshop - Bertie Simmonds

Q: Hi, I am rebuilding a GL1100 GoldWing it has been stood since 1989 and it is fitted with a Pantera fairing, which I would like to keep on for the period look. Would you

Workshop - Bertie Simmonds

Five minute fix – Cleaning

Go to check/replace your front sprocket, grease the clutch push rod, inspect generator wiring etc. and you’re normally faced with something that looks like valve grinding paste lovingly mixed with a cow pat. And that’s

Workshop - Bertie Simmonds

Your tip – Engine in the frame

Having owned my RD400F for 12 years I decided it was time to restore the old girl. After spending a lot of time restoring the parts, one area for real concern was to place the

Workshop - Jayne Clements

Mark’s Top Three Tips – Maintenance

1 Locking washers were used in the past to stop nuts and bolts from coming undone, but the modern approach is to use a chemical solution: threadlocker. Do be aware of a few things though.

Workshop - Jayne Clements