In the jungle a Badger roared today

[Ariel Badger]

Seven months and quite a few hundred working hours after I started work on the hill climbing 1936 350 RH (the Badger) today was the day to breath some life into her.
Dougie Walker was summoned and he supplied some high octane fuel and Speeroil grease for the box.
We fuelled and lubed her and took her up the top of the road for a bump start. First attempt was a bit lame as the 10.5-1 compression just locked the wheel in second. Third gear at least turned the engine over and we got a bit of a pop out of it so back to the top of the hill and a real hard push in third and she burst into life. She has no silencer and only a stubby high level pipe this combined with the compression ration resulted in an exhaust note that puts the HS to shame. As I had no helmet or gloves on ( and the bike has no road registration) I restricted my first ride to a quick burst up and down the road until Doug flagged me down. I was squirting oil from the engine at an alarming rate, the problem was quickly traced to the pressure gauge connection. I was not using a gauge but had neglected to blank off the port, a 1/4 bsf screw did the job and we topped up the oil and pushed her back up the hill this time I had a crash hat on and a silencer jammed over the end of the pipe and held in place with a bungee. At the end of the road I performed a U-turn, unfortunately I had not built enough travel into the steering stops and the bike had a somewhat restricted turning circle. I leaned off the bike a bit too far and hit the bump stop resulting in me going clattering down the road breaking the front brake lever and removing enough meat for a ferret's dinner from my elbow.
A bit of fettling sorted the steering but then it was apparent that the oil was not returning to the tank so we pulled the timing cover off and striped the pump down, a bit of crap under the non-return valve ball seemed to be the cause so we nailed it all back together. Doug was getting a little tired of pushing (he is 69 on Tuesday) so we phoned Marc up.
First thing Marc noticed was excessive valve clearance So we sorted that and fired her back up, the oil was now circulating as it should so I took her around the block. She seems to pull like a train and feels more like a 500 VH than a 350 RH with the front wheel threatening to lift as the power piles on, a dry weight of under 100Kg makes a difference. The revs raise very quickly ( lightness of valve gear etc?) but there is a bit of a flat spot at full throttle that may need a bigger main jet.
All in all a very satisfying day and big thanks to Marc and Dougie.
Wali
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Bikers make great organ donors, get 115 on your licence today.

[ms51ves3]

I think we need some audio clips of your amazing bike

[hmmmnz]

at least the valve clearance are easy to do
wicked looking bike
____________________
the humans are dead
I kick arse for the lord
Wiring Diagrams BIDNIP it bitches

[Ariel Badger]

I think she looks like sex in aluminium. As you say open valves are easy to adjust and fact that I decided not to use tubes for the rods and the sidevalve tappet blocks made it easier still.
____________________
Bikers make great organ donors, get 115 on your licence today.

[mistergixer]

I'm not generally a fan of older bikes, but that thing looks like it would bite your arm off and then shag your mum/sister.
Giz a go mister, go on, giz a go.

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Space Monkey #7
Don Eladio is dead. His capos are dead. You have no one left to fight for. Fill your pockets and leave in peace. Or fight me and die!
Mistergixer's videos on YouTube

[Endless Nameless]

Awsome looking bike. Classics rock. Love the bare metal look and all.

Erm, badger. Am I missing something? (quite probable)

Anyway, it's great and cheers for sharing
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A2 passed 22/07/08; restriction up 22/07/10 (just so I don't forget)
'79 Suzuki GS550E. Yes, that's a GS550, not a GS500.
Supersports "In a video editing competition I'd kick your sorry ass"

[neatbik]

awesome bike
i take we'll be seeing you at redmarley on the beast?

[Ariel Badger]

She is built just for Red Marley, hundreds of hours and a thousand quid for a couple of miles of riding
Thanks for all the positive coments.
____________________
Bikers make great organ donors, get 115 on your licence today.

[stinkwheel]

Good period touch with the "Drilled for lightness" engine mounts.
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“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[neatbik]

looking forward to seeing you mate, not long to go now

[Lone-Wolf]