Messages

Stomach flu, tire shipment delayed, maybe next month.
JT

Got a little work done, lubed cables, clean, adjust...  Tried to lower the needle, already as low as it could go.  Reamed a #8 brass flat washer to 1/4" i.d. and used it to raise the needle jet.  That helped considerably.  If one was good, two will be better, right?  Still need to get it crisper.  Any suggestions?  I'll watch the plug.
  Also swapped the front brake to the left side, cable routing looked a bit awkward with right side brakes.  Shouldn't it be on the left?
  Been riding a little on a dirt pile in our pasture, still need to shorten that rear brake lever.  Thanks Dennis, I'd have just blamed my poor abilities rather then look down at the problem.
  What's the difference between a trials throttle and the original Amal?  I understand the danger of factory levers, may rig something with misc. leftovers from the Yamaha's, two Michelins on the Penton and four Coopers on the Suburban are all the budget will handle for now.  Debt is evil.
My son's been riding while I do the "have to" chores.  He's going to make me look bad real soon, yesterday.  Hope the event organizers will let us enter with one scooter between us.
Thanks to all for the help and encouragement.
JT

Sprockets and a reproduction owners manual on order from Al B., Michelins on order.  Swapped a plastic fender on tonight rather then the original per Al's suggestion this morning.  Should I replace the all original handle bar, grip, lever, perch, throttle assembly with misc. stuff to avoid damaging all those pretty original pieces?  Are the clutches on these Sachs' normally heavy to opperate?  Had my son on it tonight and it was a chore for him.  Will work on brakes, including the rear brake lever, tomorrow.  This is the first message board I've used and am enjoying tremendously.  Thanks to all for the advice and encouragement.
JT

OK, you guys got me.  There's a Trials event within 100 miles on April, 2.  Where are my boots....?
Any recomendations on soft tires?  The old Sachs has always seemed a little rich, should I lower the needle? We're around 1800ft elevation.  Never had an Amal apart, similar to a Mikuni?  Lost the Sachs book.  Where's my helmet?  Oh, crud, trailer has a flat...April 2nd...maybe I should act my age...
What pitch is the chain?  We have several sizes at work.  I was afraid this would happen when we started dragging the bikes out of the shed.  I'll be ordering sprockets tonight, where's a good place to get tires?
You guys have been a great help.  I'll be joining POG soon.
Thanks, JT

The "keep it" idea suits me well.  I feel like a guy who finds out his Grandpa's Civil War medals are worth more then his house, should sell, but sentiment gets in the way.
How about changing the countershaft sprocket?  Any ideas on making it preform better?  Trials has alway interested me, now that I'm in my 40's slower looks even better.
Thanks, JT

Sorry, should have mentioned, we're in Salina, Kansas.  No idea what it'd take to get Dad to let it go, we just thought we'd throw the ideas out and see what's suggested.  If it's just a $1000 bike, we won't bother selling.  Any idea what it'd be worth?  
Thanks, JT

Looking for advice.
  Around 1975 my Dad purchased a '72 Penton Trials bike, hoping Mom would join us on easy trail rides, well, that dog didn't hunt so it's set idle most of the years since.  On three occasions I've gotten it out, fired it up and rode around the yard for a few days/weeks, got bored and back to the shed it went.
  Dad and I agree that it's a work of art but we also agree that what some of you guys are doing to preserve old Pentons and the good-old-days is great.  Dad had three Pentons during his bike racing years and loved them (except the Bing).
  We're wondering if it needs a new home.  We still have a little of everything we've raced, boat, TQ midget, 170 inch 6cyl Ford, '76 IT400...anyway, shed space isn't an issue, not rich or poor...just thinking out loud, sort of.
  About the bike;
  My 13-year-old son out grew his little 80 so we headed to the shed a few weeks ago and drug Dad's IT400, my old '83 IT490 and hey, let's take that Penton to the shop too.
  Last time it had seen the light of day was August, 1986.  We drained the funky gas, removed the the float bowl and rinsed with carb cleaner, changed transmision oil, new gas, looked at the plug, primed the Amal and kicked.  Fired first kick, started second.
  Considering the bike's age it's in great shape.  The back fender has vibrated into two pieces, haven't found the little piece yet.  The chain guard has vibrated one of the mounting tabs off, I have the main piece, still looking for the little tab.  The ignition was replaced around 1980 with a Spanish Motoplat by our local Yamaha mechanic, don't think that's original, is it?  The skid-plate is   quite dented, in highschool I was determined to ride over my old Valiant.[8]
  The rest is original.  The tires are holding air, so far.  All the decals are intact.  The grips are "Wassell", levers are chromed steel, chain says "England".  The engine has not been apart since Dad bought it.  Numbers on engine cover are 125 1/6 B.  Frame serial number is W 608 S.T.  In 1986 I spent a few evenings with some polish and made it shine, wow, what it lacks in function it makes up for in beauty.  I wonder if an 11 tooth countershaft sprocket would give it a little more life?  It has a 13T with 64T on the wheel.
  Sorry to babble on, get more excited about old iron then the new, idiot-proof bikes.
  Any advice would be greatly appreciated.  Sell?  Keep?  Ride it like the YZ's I had in younger (stupider) days?
  Thanks for your time and consideration, JT