Night before

Everyone is arriving and checking in. The parking lot is a museum.

All packed.

Ready to head out tomorrow.  Just hoping for a good nights sleep.

Final test ride complete

Just finished a 19.8 mile test ride. Bike seems to be running well and I seem to have remembered how to ride it. I think I have everything in good shape. My only fear is that in the past I have encountered times when it would stick in 4th gear... but it only happens rarely when the engine is very warm and I have run in top gear at full throttle for quite a ways. Needless to say, it hasn't happened since last years event! So I haven't had a chance to investigate it. Maybe I'll be lucky and the oil change and cush drive fix will make it go away? Wish me luck. Its time to pack.

Roll Chart tips

The Giro d'California has provided roll charts this year! In the past the competitors had to make there own, and that could be a tough exercise. Here are a few tips for assembling the chart.

• Mark the hour on the roll chart. The Roll chart only shows the minutes... and with everything going on, it can get confusing out there. Having the hour marked can be a minor help.
• Use a long straight edge, like the edge of a table, to make the pieces straight as you tape them together. Just align the pieces with the edge as you tape them.

• Tape the joints on both sides. Otherwise the chart gets tangled as you wind or unwind.
• Run one long piece of tape all the way down the back of the chart. This makes it a little stronger.

 All done!

 

Just don't let this happen!

Nuovo molla per parastrappi!

I got my new springs for the cush drive yesterday! So I pulled the rear wheel off again and put the new springs in. It was pretty hard as they are under compression when fit and they are very stiff springs. But after a couple attempts I got them in and assembled. Lets hope they work as well as they look and hold up through the rigors of operation.
I also took the opportunity to inspect the rear brake again. It had seemed a little sticky, so I greased the cams very lightly and carefully and then removed any excess grease. Seems much better now,
Test ride tomorrow!

Molla per parastrappi

In an earlier post I wrote about the broken "cush drive" springs. Apparently my parts book calls them: "Molla per parastrappi". I didn't find anyone local selling applicable replacement springs. But I did find these guys have a good online catalog:
www.leespring.com

And they were quite helpful with ordering the springs. The minimum order was a pain ($40), but that is survivable.

Essentially, there tech rep said engine type springs, like valve springs, have a high grade finish with less pits etc. A spring like that will require special ordering of a zillion units. That is out of my budget for this.

I ended up ordering a couple sets (ordered 16 to get to the $40 minimum order) of a standard "music wire" springs. Might be OK in my application in the rear hub. They are unfortunately powder coated, but that rubbing off shouldn't be too detrimental in the sprocket area.

The ones I ordered are specified as Length:63.5mm, Outside Dia: 15mm, Wire Diameter: 3mm, Number of coils: 12 (total 14). I actually ordered 2 types, the ones closest to that size. I'll see which fit best.

I have a lot of spares so if you need something like this contact me!

Mondial almost ready.

The Mondial 175 Turismo Veloce is starting to look ready. Here's what I've done for this years event (so far):

• Rear Wheel Inspected
• New rear 2.50 x 19 tire and tube.
• New rear wheel bearings
• Rear brake pads OK
• Checked rear spokes 

• Front wheel inspected
• Tire OK
• Wheel bearings OK
• Brake pads OK
• Added grease to speedo drive / spacer.

• Lubed brake and clutch cables with Tri-Flo
• Lubed throttle cable and greased throttle chain
• Drained old fuel and replaced. Fuel line and filter OK
• Lubed chain
• New front headlamp bulb
• New Powersonic PS-6120ToyTS Battery (Perfect SLA AGM for this bike, and cheap. Just don't charge it with too high a voltage: check your regulator)
• Tested the charging system regulator output

 Then I mounted and checked my rally instrumentation. This consists of two roll chart holders, one for the route and the other for the roll chart. The first lets you find your way and the second helps you to stay on schedule. Thus there is also a watch mounted properly nearby. The big gizmo with buttons is a ICO rally computer. It's a bit complicated but combines a speedometer and odometer with some other potentially useful functions.

Then I was off for a test ride!

Besides new leathers, there is lots to remember on the Mondial. The shift pattern (heel down toe up), the manual ignition advance, how to operate the ICO computer, etc. And of course the obvious stuff that modern riders forget, like the manual fuel taps, choke, funky headlamp switch, and the need to unplug the battery at stops, just in case the ignition switch is sticky. I need a couple more rides to get completely back in the roll with things...