I remember riding my early pre unit BSA 350 single through the Dartford floods in the late 1960s until it got just below the bellmouth of my carburettor. At that point I stopped the engine and retraced my journey hoping I didnt go any deeper. Once out of the water there was water pouring out of the chaincase etc as well as the magneto where the contact points were. I took the cap off and let the water out, found a piece of dry card to clean them and she started up straight away. I then rode up to West hill out of the water to get home dry. While I waited at a junction the water was still pouring out of the primary case, but she never missed a beat. I was well impressed !
Yes I've fitted a BSA sliding seal to my chaincase, but the water still gets in and makes a lovely mess. When I ride in events with really deep water, I leave the drain screw out of the chaincase altogether and use spray on chain lube.
Easy peasy when you take it slow and carefully. I remember coming home from the famous 1968 Frogman's Dragon Rally in my 1950 Triumph Thunderbird Sidecar Outfit through a foot or more of water in a wide Welsh valley, hoping the water kept out of the magneto. My passenger mate had to hold his bum up out of the water, as it leaked into the sidecar over the seat.
My old Bantam went out for a wade today too. It seems my points cover has been sealed liked I hoped! Silencer looks like desert storm now though. Ah well bikes are for riding!
I saw quite a few abandoned cars that were blocking some of the flooded lanes, and the water was only up to their hub caps. The sensible drivers drove though slowly without any trouble.
Muddy Waters 😁 These lanes are between Laddingford and Yalding in Kent. It was a bit deeper before I got out, and a chap stuck in his van, had been there for almost the entire day.
I remember riding my early pre unit BSA 350 single through the Dartford floods in the late 1960s until it got just below the bellmouth of my carburettor. At that point I stopped the engine and retraced my journey hoping I didnt go any deeper. Once out of the water there was water pouring out of the chaincase etc as well as the magneto where the contact points were. I took the cap off and let the water out, found a piece of dry card to clean them and she started up straight away. I then rode up to West hill out of the water to get home dry. While I waited at a junction the water was still pouring out of the primary case, but she never missed a beat. I was well impressed !
Yes I've fitted a BSA sliding seal to my chaincase, but the water still gets in and makes a lovely mess. When I ride in events with really deep water, I leave the drain screw out of the chaincase altogether and use spray on chain lube.
Easy peasy when you take it slow and carefully. I remember coming home from the famous 1968 Frogman's Dragon Rally in my 1950 Triumph Thunderbird Sidecar Outfit through a foot or more of water in a wide Welsh valley, hoping the water kept out of the magneto. My passenger mate had to hold his bum up out of the water, as it leaked into the sidecar over the seat.
My old Bantam went out for a wade today too. It seems my points cover has been sealed liked I hoped! Silencer looks like desert storm now though. Ah well bikes are for riding!
Good old Ariel they hardly ever let you down when it matters (:-))
Yup Definitely Yalding.
mad skills respect to the bike too!
That looked like Yalding if my memory serves me correctly. Always suffered badly around that area
That's the place 👍
Wow. Respect. STP
thanks for that, i know why they were moaning this morning trying to get to work
I saw quite a few abandoned cars that were blocking some of the flooded lanes, and the water was only up to their hub caps. The sensible drivers drove though slowly without any trouble.
Dean, mate, you have the most appropriate name for those conditions...! Which roads are they...?
Muddy Waters 😁 These lanes are between Laddingford and Yalding in Kent. It was a bit deeper before I got out, and a chap stuck in his van, had been there for almost the entire day.
Jesus that's a bit damp round there mate😧
I couldnt help myself, I just had to get out and have a little ride.
Are you running a mag? If so is it waterproofed? Bike seems to be coping really well!
No I run a Thorspark system in an old magdyno body. Water was pouring out of the cap, but the engine never missed a beat.
Geoengineering at it's finest