June 2005
Finally I got the license-plates from the bureaucratic dictatorship authorities of this wonderful country (it took “only” three weeks!!) So I could take the bike out for a real ride..... BUT after driving the bike a couple of kilometers, great despair and disappointment struck me. When the bike got real warmed up, it would hardly run at all. I actually had to stop the engine, and walk the last part home, because it wouldn’t pull at all.
July 2005
It seems, after some investigation, that the piston and piston-rings may be all wrong. I will simply order a new one from T&G, and see if this might will solve this problem. The piston I've got seems to leak both compression one way, and oil from the crankcase the other way... I'll be back with an update in this matter.
A new piston is now ordered, and I'm eager to get the engine running right. I have also received some special made parts for my center-stand from my good friend Tony (hand made by his mait' Jim, THANK'S JIM !!). The little master-piece is the C-shaped "thing" (real name: "Spring Anchor Plate") that holds the spring for the stand. Tony also provided me with the right spring... I will mount this to the bike ASAP.
August 2005
All the central stand parts fitted to the bike, and I now a a superb working central stand. New piston mounted. The bike starts easy, and the engine seems to run smoothly, BUT when driving it runs like an old lawn-mover.. This could be either problems with the carb, or electrical (condenser and/or coil). I will start with the condenser and work my way until I solve this problem. Again I had to seek "Mr Bantam" (Tony) for help, and he suggested I should start with the carb.
He said that the fact that the bike starts (even if it runs like a lawnmower) sounds as if the low rev range settings are okay. As you open the throttle further the wide bit on the needle lifts from the "needle jet" (which is the brass fitting that the main jet screws into) and allows the bike to run in the higher rev ranges. He said it sounded like my bike wasn't doing this correctly - a symptom of the needle and needle jet being worn. My description of this problem sounded just like main jet or needle. The smallest bit of grit will block that main jet. Highly recommended after a restoration is an in-line filter (little plastic disposable thing) and a rubber fuel line. The Bantam carby is fairly primitive and it doesn't take much to mess things up. He said he went through hell with his bikes trying to tune them and get them to run smoothly when someone suggested replacing the following:
Main Jet
Needle Jet
Needle
So these parts was ordered.
Looking at Ebay one day I found an advert for new seat covers..... Hmmmm, and I just couldn't resist the temptation of buying it (since my old one was pretty worn out, and the price for this new one was very reasonable!!) It was really a "topping" on my restoration that just added on that little extra...
September 2005
The carb parts from T&G arrived, and was mounted. The (first part of) the test drive gave a whole new experience. Finally the engine was running perfectly, and the bike responded 100% when throttling. For half an hour I was almost the happiest man on earth..... BUT... going up a hill, juuuuuust before reaching my house, the engine seized... Probably I was a little to eager on the throttle, and pressured the not yet inruned engine too much.. So off with the barrel to check, and thank God no major harm done. Just a small scratch on the piston and inside the barrel. I polished both the piston and the barrel with 000 steel-wool, and put it back together. Doing a short test run, the bike worked perfectly again. For the future I will just go for short trips, and keep speed and pressure down until the inrun period is complete. Look up the "Restoration Tips" page for a short description of this common problem of the Bantam.
October 2005
I'm just about to put my Bantam away for the winter. As you probably know, wintertime in Norway is not suitable for motorcycle rides (for normal sense people that is). The bike is now running perfectly. I've just had it for shorter runs, because of the critical inrun. It usually starts at the first or second kick, and runs perfectly! For those of you struggling to get your Bantam to run properly, I have one essential advice: Spend 15 £ on main jet, needle jet, needle and new gaskets for your carburetor..... and discover Heaven!!!
November 2005
Minus 5 degrees outside, but the sun is shining beautifully from a cloudless sky.... I just had to take the "Lady" for a spin. The bike started at the second crank, and I had a really nice half an hour ride.... BUT when I came home my balls were all frozen.... 
30th of November: I just had to crank it up today, to see if she's still alive. Minus four degrees, and the bike started at the fourth crank. I was really impressed, because it has been left in the garage for over three weeks.
December 2005
21st of December, soon Christmas,15 cm of snow outside and minus 7 C. Looking out my window at work, and longing for spring!! I have left "The Lady" under a blanket in my garage, stacked away, waiting for "better days".... I defiantly DON'T like the winter !!!
January 2006
Snow, snow, snow, snow, sn..... FUC........ BLOO.... WINTER !!! I am only waiting for one particular thing right now THE SPRING !! I really envoy people living in countries like Australia, with possibilities to ride their bike year round...
March 2006
A nice sunny day in March, I just had to try to crank her up and do a little testrun in front of my garage. She started after about ten cranks, amazing after being left alone in the garage for over 3 months of hard winter! It was a great feeling to hear her getting noisy again, and she preformed the small test-run perfectly!! But still there is a lot of slushy snow outside, so I just have to wait another month to go for a real ride.
April 2006
Friday 21st I had my first real ride for the season. A really good feeling!! I think I might have a small seizing problem. Had to stop sevral times for the engine to cool down. I might have to take the barrel off once more and "adjust" the piston ring gap a fraction of a milimeter with a grinder... Anyone having the same problem??
June 2006
A whole year has passed since I started this diary, and got the bike back on the road. I took her for a long and lovley spin today (the 6th), and now she runs perfectly. Everything seems to be i order, and no seizing of any kind... Nice to go through my small home town with people staring at my old "jewel".
November 2006
Winter again in Norway, and the Lady is put away for yet another "beauty-sleep". This winter I'm going to change piston (to try to get rid of the seizing problem), and probably by a new silencer (the whole of it; front, pipe and tail). This is the only part that doesen't look good. I have tried to polish it as good as I can, but it still doesn't look good enough.
February 2007
Had to go krank her up, after 3 months sleep. She started at the 7th krank.... NOT BAD !!
March 2007
Just recieved some goodies from T&G that I will fit on the bike ASAP. Peter gave good service, and fast delivery, as allways! To keep some of the "patina" on the bike I will not change the whole silencer, just the front-pipe (since the old one is rusty). Together with this, and for the same reason, I will also change the silencer-nut. I will also, as mentioned earlier, change the piston in atemt to get rid of my heavy seizing problems. I will now try to put pack the piston I got when I did the bore. I changed this piston for a new one because I thought this was the reason for the engine not running properly. I later found out the the carburettor caused this problem, but I never changed back the piston. It might be that the bore is very adapted to this first piston, so that (even if both of the pistons are supposed to be of the same over-dim) the one that came with the bore will make the bike run better.
Just finished changing piston, giving the barrel fresh paint and changing the front pipe & nut of the silencer. Of course I also changed the gaskets. Two kicks on the kick-start.... and wrooom... It runs better than ever!!! And the new, and the fresh painted, parts makes the also bike look better. Can't wait for the snow to go away, and the roads to dry up, to go for a ride... I do hope I've solved the seizing problem now... The piston i took out had suspicious marks on the sides ???
Allready had a couple of nice rides, spring hit Norway early this year. The bike seems to be "well behaving" now, but I haven't tried it on any long rides yet. I do hope I have solved the seizing problems!
June 2007
Haven't had much time to ride the bike, but I have had som short trips. The bike is still suffering from the seizing problem, and this turns down the joy of riding it!! Im' almost out of ideas of how to cure this, but I'm going to try Tony's advice, and do a hone of the barrel. Hopefully this will help the problem.
November 2007
Another winter is at hand, slushy snow/rain is pouring down outside my window. Next spring I definatly is going to get rid of my seizing problems... During the winter I will consentrate on my new project; a Citroën 2CV... perhaps I will make a web site on this project as well
April 2008
Springtime in Norway, and soon it'd time to take the "lady" out from the shed, and go for a spin. I will definatly take it easy, short trips an low speed to avoid seizing. This summer I will try to complete the inrun in a proper way.
November 2008
Yet another winter is here. Not too many rides on the Bantam this summer, better luck next year !!
March 2009
Springtime in Norway, soon the snow will be gone and I can go for my first bike.ride thie yaer... JIIIPIIII
