12th February Club Night AGM Please note change of club night venue! The OC Bar (Knockaloe Club) 28 Bridle Road Bromborough Wirral CH62 6AR
Issue No 241
February/March 2019
W I R R A L A D VA N C E D M O T O R C Y C L I S T S Group Council 2017-2018 Web Site
IAM Group 5115 http://www.w-a-m.co.uk
Chairman
Ken Smith
chairman@w-a-m.co.uk
Vice Chairman
Rob Tutchings
vicechairman@w-a-m.co.uk
Honorary Treasurer & Gift Aid
Tim Holme
treasurer@w-a-m.co.uk
Membership
Nina Jeffries
membership@w-a-m.co.uk
Associate Coordinator & Chief Observer
Derek Jeffries
associatecoordinator@w-a-m.co.uk chiefobserver@w-a-m.co.uk
Honorary Secretary
Rob Cooper 0151 648 4503
secretary@w-a-m.co.uk
Events Organiser
Dave Spotswood events@w-a-m.co.uk
Newsletter Editor
Peter Lovatt
newsletter@w-a-m.co.uk
Social Media
vacant
socialmedia@w-a-m.co.uk
Minute secretary
vacant
Group Shop
Martin Titley 0151 632 3570
groupshop@w-a-m.co.uk
Gift Aid Coordinator
Tim Holme
giftaid@w-a-m.co.uk
Ride Out & Bike Safe Coordinator
Rob Tutchings
rideouts@w-a-m.co.uk
Other Council members Carl Mason Steve Hunter Steve Lord
Cliff Evans, Mike Boston Tony Barber
MAGAZINE TEAM: Editor: Peter Lovatt
CONTACT WAM
Duplication: Tim Holme
Contact any of the council members above
Distribution: The Post Office! 2
Welcome to the first WAM Magazine of 2019 There have been TWO major changes at the end on 2018 for WAM, which means a new start for 2019 1. Our Club nights are now at the Knockaloe Club (Octel Club). Address is:28 Bridle Road, Bromborough, CH62 6AR. Thanks Dave Spotswood for sorting out this new club night venue. We have vacated the Eastham Ferry for all future club nights and Council meetings. 2. The WAM newsletter is now going to by duplicated by CS Digital Printers in Wallasey, as Tim Holme, who has done the honours in the last few years is moving to warmer climes. It also means that the magazine is now going to be a bimonthly publication, for various reasons. Going back to point one, the WAM Christmas Meal was arranged at very short notice, (about 2-3 weeks) after we found the Eastham Ferry locked up for the November Council meeting, which was also the date we were going to put a payment down for the Xmas Meal. A lot of background work was done by Dave Spotswood, Nina, and other members of the club between then, and the actual date of the meal to make it happen at the Octel Club. And here are some pix from the Xmas Meal and Kens novel head wear‌..
OK, time for me to sign off, and see you all around in 2019!! Pete
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WIRRAL ADVANCED MOTORCYCLISTS
Diary of Events www.w-a-m.co.uk
ALL AT THE NEW CLUB NIGHT VENUE *************************
January
14th Club Night - January is usually a Social meeting *************************
February
12th Club Night - WAM AGM *************************
March
12th Club Night - to be confirmed ************************* Pic taken at the start of the Observer Ride out on the 28th October to the Peak District. Thanks to Tony for sorting and the food stop was fab!
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IAM RoadSmart Polo Shirts
We can now take orders for polo shirts. These are a charcoal shirt showing the new logo plus two lines of text Wirral Advanced Motorcyclists Your Name Size Guide: S: 36/38" M: 40" L: 42" XL: 44" XXL: 46/48" Female: 10, 12, 14, 16, 18 ÂŁ20 each - Nina Jeffries will take your payment at the group social evenings (second Tuesday of every month).
You may see some WAM members wearing them at club nights
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Richard Gladman, IAM RoadSmart’s head of driving and riding standards, gives advice on riding during inclement weather. We always advise never to ride in bad weather conditions, however, this is sometimes unavoidable as your morning journey may be full of bright sunny skies which can then turn into unexpected wind and rain during the afternoon. Rain Ensure your screen and visor are in good condition and consider using an anti-fog insert or product Deep water may cause aquaplaning. If this happens, gently close the throttle and retain a firm grip on the handlebars, do not brake or attempt to steer as any input is likely to be excessive when the grip returns. The grip will return within a short time. If possible, avoid standing water Snow and ice The best advice is to avoid riding in snow and ice, however, if you do get caught out in it, beware of micro climates in shaded areas where ice will form first. If you are riding in the snow your machine will have much reduced grip and take longer to stop. Brake only in a straight line and be gentle with the throttle. Weight on the foot pegs will improve the centre of gravity Coarse steering input may induce a skid. Be smooth with steering in order not to break grip. If you have to steer, do it gently until you are back to the course you wish the machine to follow, and try not to brake whilst cornering as the bike will slide Be aware of the effect of extreme cold. Make sure your motorcycle kit is fit for the job concentration is adversely affected by the cold High winds Keep in mind the wind will change when passing a high-sided vehicle so ensure you give them sufficient space, and if you see them being affected by the wind, don’t pass Be especially careful if crossing exposed bridges where wind conditions will change Richard said: “Motorcycling should be fun, planning to ride in extreme conditions is likely to take the fun out of the ride.
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“If you are travelling in wet and windy conditions make sure you have kitted up properly, the first drop of rain that gets in will open the floodgates. Snow and ice are not conducive to two-wheeled travel, what is fun off-road is challenging onroad and best avoided. “If the temperature is forecast to be close to freezing when you leave, how will it be for your return?”
Congratulations on Passing the Advanced Riding Test to:Steve Ellis (pic below) Kevin Lloyd Gary Green Neil Cottam Steve Brock
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NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the 39th Annual General Meeting of Wirral Advanced Motorcyclists will be held on Tuesday 12th February 2019 at The OC Bar, 28 Bridle Road, Bromborough, Wirral, CH62 6AR AGENDA Apologies for absence. 1. Minutes of previous AGM. Any matters arising and approval of. 2. Chairman’s annual report. 3. Accounts and Treasurer’s annual report. Details and approval of. 4. Group associate scheme and membership report 5. Election of group council members:
(Resolution No.1) (Resolution No.2)
The following members retire in accordance with the group constitution: All Council Officers, Cliff Evans, Tony Barber, Carl Mason, Tim Holme Members for re-election in accordance with the group constitution: All Council Officers The following member(s) offer themselves for election onto the Group Council: Steve Moyneux, Graham Dixon, Pat Goodison Steve Hunter (Resolution No.3) Election of Officers and the Group Council:¬ *CHAIRMAN *VICE CHAIRMAN *HON.SECRETARY *HON.TREASURER & GIFT AID * MEMBERSHIP SECRETARY *ASSOCIATE COORDINATOR *CHIEF OBSERVER *MINUTES SECRETARY *GROUP SHOP *EVENTS SECRETARY *NEWSLETTER EDITOR *RIDEOUT & BIKESAFE COORDINATOR *SOCIAL MEDIA
Other Council Members
Ken Smith Rob Tutchings Rob Cooper Vacant t.b.c Nina Jeffries Graham Dixon Derek Jeffries vacant Martin Titley Dave Spotswood Peter Lovatt Rob Tutchings vacant
Mike Boston, Steve Lord
RETIRING COUNCIL MEMBERS Cliff Evans, Tony Barber, Carl Mason, Tim Holme
(Resolution No.4)
Creation of new post of DATA MANAGER in accordance with GDPR guidelines (Resolution no.5) 6. Any Other Business Voting will take place on Resolutions 1 to 5 as detailed above. 8
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The Tiger is Dead, Long Live the Tiger! Eleven Years and Nine months after first getting and riding it, and over 147,000 miles later, my Tiger has died, well, to be more precise, a part of my engine has thrown in the towel. Please read on‌.. Background:I Purchased a brand new Triumph Tiger 1050 in March 2007. Yes, that is me and the bike on the 4th March 2007. It has had regular oil and filter changes every 6000 miles without fail. The bike looks in good condition considering it has done over 147,000 miles – it gets TLC. Now to November 2018. The engine started to make a knocking sound, but wasn’t consistent with a Big End failure, it was slower than engine revs. When the engine was checked over it was found that the cam chain tensioner was at full extension, indicating the cam chain & guides needed replacing.
Well, here are some pix taken during strip down on Saturday 1st December 2018. I took the starter sprag clutch covers off and wondered what on earth was in the oil at the bottom of the case... it turned out to be a gear tooth...... and it wasn't from any of the gears from the starter/sprag OR any of the cam sprockets. It's tiny, only 4mm across the base of the tooth, and both faces are very heavily worn. Originally I thought it was from the balancer anti backlash gear, but I can't see that unless the engine crankcases are split. I Googled Tiger 1050 Balancer, and it looked like it, but 13
not quite, as the chamfers etc looked different. I wondered if this was the source of the knock? Interestingly, when I did an oil change at the start of November, I thought there were more metal filings stuck on the magnetic sump plug this time compared to a previous oil change, but didn't think much more about it. And Yes, the Tiger cam chain was worn to the service limit - 150mm over 23 links, and the guides were slightly worn. And the cam chain tensioner was definitely on full extension. When crank was on no.1 cylinder on TDC mark, the triangle index mark on the cams wasn't level with the top of the cylinder head face, both were a good few degrees out. Now to Saturday 8th December 2018
Well, I think that's it for Tigger...... at least I know where the knocking was coming from. The tooth is from the backlash gear on the clutch. Not one tooth, but I can see a group of 8 missing, and two others further round the gear. Closer inspection of the crankshaft primary gear revealed it is worn and slightly stepped where the backlash gear meshes. There is also visible impact marks on the inside of the crankcases where the teeth have hit as they have broken off. I reckon most of the gear teeth and metal swarf must be in the sump as there was only a few bits in the clutch cover when I removed it.
Monday 10th December 2018, I removed the clutch completely. It looked worse out of the engine!! The main primary drive gear on the crank is hardly worn, except where the back lash gear meshes, the teeth here are worn and stepped.... so why on one side of the backlash gear has this happened? I was puzzled by this until I noticed that the backlash gear wasn't concentric with the main drive gear, it sticks out a fraction on one side, but it is slightly recessed on the other, and guess which side has gone? Either the forces in destroying the teeth have made it rotate eccentrically or it was manufactured with a slight eccentricity which 140,000 miles later has 14
Missing and heavily damaged backlash gear teeth. Main Primary drive gear looks ok
worn the teeth out, and destroyed the gears. As the primary gear on the crank is damaged, it has effectively written off the engine.
Damaged Main Primary drive gear on the Crankshaft where the backlash gear meshes
Had the oil pump out, and that is 99% clean as a whistle, no scoring. But I can't see any debris in the sump where I can see inside the engine, so where all the teeth and metal bits are who knows! Plenty of impact marks inside the crankcase, including one or two near the connecting rod, which must have hit a few teeth in passing. Apart from this, the rest of the engine inside looks in good condition and could go on for many, many more miles. If the clutch backlash gear had been ok, and teeth all intact, the motor with replacement cam chain would be good for another 140,000 miles easily. Yes, I’ve just bought a second hand Tiger 1050 so my one will be used for spares. Long Live the Tiger!! Pete
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DISCLAIMER:-
The articles published herein do not necessarily represent the views of the Institute of Advanced Motorists Ltd, or the Wirral Group of Advanced Motorcyclists. They are the opinions of individual contributors and are published with the view that free expression promotes discussion and interests. So you have been warned. Interested in doing the Advanced Car Test? Wirral Advanced Motorists are the people to see. Go to www.wirraliam.co.uk