My new (old) Jawa

[stinkwheel]

I was given a free bike about a week ago. A Jawa 350 that had been stripped for painting then left disassembled for quite a long time.

It's a bog basic 350cc 2-stroke twin made in the Czech republic to an aincient design. Built as cheap and easy to maintain transport for comunist factory workers.

I was given it because the guy at the bike shop had been lumbered with it and didn't know what to do with it (other than throw it in a skip). Even running, it is probably not worth more than £200. He remembered I used to have one though so he called me and asked if I want it. Well, "Would you like a free motorbike?" has only one real answer.

Had a proper go at it today. I found a tax disc dated 1996 in one
of the boxes of bits so it is fair to assume that is the last time it
was on the road.

Done a couple of bits and pieces through the week, mostly cleaning out the fuel tank that was, against all probability, spattered with
concrete and bits of stone chippings all over the inside.

It came with two boxes of bits. On closer inspection, it would appear that most of them have nothing whatsoever to do with this bike.

As usual, someone has been 'at' the wiring so I had all that to sort
out. Tried for an oppertunist spark, no go.

After about two hours of going through all the wiring, replacing the
HT leads and cleaning up the terminals (which were covered in a
varnish-like substance) I tested the points with my multimeter. No
power going through them when closed, mighty suspicious.

Removal of the points revealed them to be covered in the same, varnish like substance. A quick file and we have sparkage. Set them by eyeball for the meantime.

Well. I cleaned out the carb earlier so bolt it on, fit the fuel tank
and have a bash at it. After about ten kicks we have signs of life,
another ten and it fires up. Running on both pots and pretty quick off the throttle. Can't get it settled to idle yet but it needs the timing doing, the pilot screw setting and the airbox refitting so there's time yet.

Most of the lights work too, well, those with bulbs in do anyhow. The flashers don't work but then they never do on these bikes, I'd say the longest I've had the flashers working on a Jawa is a week.

Got to refit the mudguard, some bits of bodywork, make a clutch cable and find some way of fitting brake switches to it and we should be ready for an MOT.

The aim tomorrow is to get it in a state that I can ride it up the road because I have a bet on with a guy from my local that I wont have it running by Sunday evening. I intend to park it on his front doorstep and blow smoke through his letterbox.

Why do bikes i buy always have the wiring buggered about with?
https://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f216/stinkwheel/wires.jpg

They know what chrome is for in Czechoslovakia, to prevent rusting, not decoration like the Japanese think
https://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f216/stinkwheel/side.jpg

As it arrived
https://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f216/stinkwheel/left.jpg

[Resurrection]

Still reckon you will win your bet?

One day left mate

Res
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ZX9r

[Aikman666]

Good luck Stinkwheel, i wish my new project had the simplicity of an ancient 2stroke
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Will work for petrol
My Design Blog

[stinkwheel]

[Aikman666]

Stink if push comes to shove just make yourself a minature circuit that will bypass all of the electronics you dont need. If i remember correctly all you need is the cable from your generator -> rectifier -> ignition coil yes? Should only take you a few minutes to make that one up
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Will work for petrol
My Design Blog

[stinkwheel]

Not quite as simple as that with a Jawa. It has a pretty complex charging system which all has to be working to get a spark out of it.

That said, the point is moot, because I had the engine running yesterday so it's all over bar the shouting.

Off to have another go at it now (set up timing and carburettion, bolt on bodywork etc).

[stinkwheel]

Well. That's me just back from the first road test .

Runs well. Managed to get it to idle, the ignition timing was WAY out. Doesn't look like the timing has ever been touched because the stator plate screws are unmarked. The points are well worn, nearly couldn't get it timed up at all, it is at the absolute limit of the slots.

I love the simplicity of the thing though. The timing is a good example. You just stick a vernier down through one of the plug holes, find TDC then wind it back 6mm, that's your timing point. Then you just set the points to lightly grip a cigarette paper at that point. Repeat for the other set of points at 6mm back from BDC and you're done.

Needs a few new cables, they are pretty sticky and the handlebars are bent. I have a spare set of motocross bars in the lockup so I think I'll fit those and get a couple of lever assemblies from the breakers. The standard levers are pretty shite anyhow. With luck, I will find a front brake lever that takes a brake light switch and kill two birds with one stone.

Even got the flashers working after a fashion. The relay is knackered so they don't actually flash but the bulbs all light up.

This one pulls really well, I was surprised, really shoots off the mark and I had a respectable 70mph out of it on my wee test run. Didn't dare do any more just now because the brakes aren't exactly what you would call 'working'. A new cable and japanese lever assembly should make all the difference though.

Well chuffed with it. I took some pictures but my camera is on the blink.

[colin1]

[stinkwheel]

Well. Booked it in for an MOT tomorrow.

I've fitted Kawasaki levers with span adjusters in place of the original ones. This has made a world of difference to the brakes (I flipped over a clutch lever for the front brake and am using the idiot switch as a brake light switch). It is actually worth using the front brake now and the cultch lever springs back all by itself (this is significant progress).

Just need to fit a flasher relay for the MOT.

So far I have had to spend money on the following:

Stuff to clean the tank £5
New brake cable £8
New points £10
Air filter £8
Gearbox oil £9
Homemade clutch cable £2
Horn from breakers £5
Rear brake light switch £3
Fork oil £10

So, £51 spent and ready for the MOT. Just added it to my insurance for a tenner.

It'll need two new tyres though.

[Gazdaman]

£20 says you can't finish the weston beach race on it.

Gaz

[stinkwheel]

Passed the MOT with just an advisory on the rear tyre (absolutely on the wear limit). Got myself a good MOT man "There's a tiny bit of play in the rear wheel bearings, but only if you look for it."

Had three people flash me on the way home because they found the quantity of smoke emenating from my motorcycle disturbing .

Trouble is now, I don't have a V5 for it yet and there is no longer a mechanism to tax a vehicle without it (there used to be). So I have to wait for the DVLA to get their finger out of their arses before I can tax it. This is progress?

[Torque05]

[colin1]

nice to see a frail old bike nursed back to health
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colin1 is officially faster than god

[cqueen]

I had one of those about 2 years ago. I tried my hardest to fix it up but the generator was screwed.
Game over.

[stinkwheel]

Been doing some painting. Flat green with military style stencilling. Dead slapdash, just brushed on green hammerite but quite pleased with the overall result.

Sidepanels
https://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f216/stinkwheel/panels.jpg

Tank with stenciling
https://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f216/stinkwheel/tank.jpg

The finished article
https://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f216/stinkwheel/paintjob.jpg

Hopefully riding it down to the Dragon rally in Wales next weekend. We'll see if it makes it.

[Whosthedaddy]

The militarian stylee looks cool on the bike as does the white stencils, nice one
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Current : MSX 125 Past : CBR 900RR Monkeybike : c50 LAC : ZXR750 H2 : FZR600 : ZX7R P3 : YW100 : TRX850: Trophy 900 T309 : GSXR 600 L0: Monkeybike : XJ6S Whosthedaddy

[Cillit-BANG]

Fantastic job.

My neighbour absolutely loves his JAWA.

[MarJay]

Shame really, cos it would have been better if it was the other major model in the Jawa range:


https://fusionanomaly.net/sandcrawler.jpg

Still, it looks great like that!

Would look cool to add a pair of jerry cans to the side on panniers as well!
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British beauty: Triumph Street Triple R; Loony stroker: KR1S; Track fun: GSXR750 L1; Commuter Missile: GSX-S1000F
Remember kids, bikes aren't like lego. You can't easily take a part from one bike and then fit it to another.

[Sephiroth]

I taxed my Bandit last year using the little tear off strip you get when you sign a new V5.

The bike looks quite fun, although we would need a video to prove how much smoke it's emitting.

[WildGoose]

looking bloody awesome considering it was a free basket case

nice work sir
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So in other words, he stopped you for being flagrantly in posession of a motorcycle in direct contravention of the Hippies, Darkies and People Whose Face I Don't Like The Look of (Police Powers) Act. 1976

[HALUN]

my jawa 639

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v248/halun/my%20vehicles/042a2ad2.jpg

[G]

Nice colours, might have to invest in some of that green hammerite some time .

[Fahd]

A 350cc 2 stroke engine?! how fast does this thing go? nice little project by the way...

[MarJay]

Stinky, where did you get the stencils from?
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British beauty: Triumph Street Triple R; Loony stroker: KR1S; Track fun: GSXR750 L1; Commuter Missile: GSX-S1000F
Remember kids, bikes aren't like lego. You can't easily take a part from one bike and then fit it to another.

[Gazdaman]