I went and bought another mag for cheap off of someone off Craigslist. This time a Morris. The Morris seems a little nicer, but the Hunt is easier to setup. If someone knows how to get the inside mounting nut (the one closest to the front head) without taking the front push rod off please let me know. I tried and tried but kept losing the nut down behind the generator. Gawdamn thing.. It's impossible to get to. Wasn't any easier to start either. Seems like I get it started by chance. Not even a puff or sign that it might start then bam it's running. Shit where's my helmet. I was thinking I'd put the morris on something else but my plans changed.The ol' timer I bought the mag from and I got to talking .. I asked what he had it on. A 51 Pan he says.
That's what I have! Actually I know about half a dozen people with 51's. So he say's wait a sec and digs out a book of photos and starts showing me the different states he had his bike in, early 70's chopper in various bar choices and tanks, stretched springer, then on to more 80's style... then was hit by a truck. He wanted to kill the guy. I brightened up thinking some good gore would satiate my anger after my recent auto wrestling match. Did you?
Nah.. neighbors came out. His frame was toast, the front end all bent back, twisted.
I was just hit a few weeks ago on my 69 I told him.. got lucky nothing broke. Same thing happened to mine.
After that I put the motor in a swingarm frame.
I'm going the other way I told him. You still have your Pan?
Nah sold it.
Oh man.., shouldn't have.
I know. He sighed.
I wanted him to still have the bike.. go for a ride together.
My 51 one is a chopper motor.. all sorts of different parts on it. Left case was broke in the 70's .
Mine was the same.. heads were 61..
Bring your bike around he asked.
I told him I would. It's got an offset springer, handles like shit.
Oh I know.. he nodded.
I know he knew.. only reason I said so.
Wish I had a pocket scanner to scan some of his old photos on the spot, if he'd let me. They're his memories though, might be weird.
So the Morris Mag goes from one 51 to another.. couple generations later .. same shit, different time.
4 comments:
Respeck to those old boys.
They can be more informative on mechanical & life woes, than a workshop manual & a bible combined.
- & Get those prints scanned!
BP
He said his was easy to start with the Morris. He was either being a good salesman, flat out lyin', or Mags and Linkert flat out just don't have any love for each other on my bike. It's like trying to wake up a drunk after a 5 day binge.
You just have to find the sweet spot. Once you do, it's like butter. Lots of fuel, kick through on the compression stroke. Not firing?, ground the mag, kick through a few times to clear the plugs, no gas, kick..
I love magnetos!
I use a small allen head bolt on that inner hole under the cylinder. Then I ground down an allen head wrench with an elbow. Take your time cuz it's is a bitch! But you can get it this way. This was my speed week set up and it worked good. Cro's right about the ground make sure you have a good ground. Also check the threads in the case if they are stripped you will get movement via the lose shaft and have funky running conditions.
Post a Comment