Awesome video. Thx for posting.To see the excellent 'start-up' procedure of the world famous RM Velocette startup at the "Legends of the 9-Hour " vintage race recently, with disastrous results; oil line burst & more vintage racers. Goggle: 'RM Velocette starting procedure' & click on it. Hours of bike and vintage cars, & vinatage airplanes etc. Panteras, Daytona Cobra coupes, GT 40's, Chevrons, & a one off Nomad plus mystery South African built racer.See who can spot them, no prizes. Enjoy. tai
Is this the only Velo on YouTube which ticks over slowly without eight-stroking or otherwise misfiring? You'd think people would get the things running good before filming.
She's a beautiful bike, we have a venom that my Dad built and 'thruxtonised' with a fairing and lots of other bits and pieces. Needs a bit of work first though.
BTW I've now put a correct Iridium plug in the old girl and she starts even easier! I would highly recommend them. Also have them in my 1953 Sunbeam S8 and same result- starts like a dream.
god those things start easy, it takes a good jump from someone 250lbs+ to turn over my fathers 1965 t120C but then again that thing was set up for flat track racing before we got it and could easily have a 750 kit and 11:1+ compression... with no compression release
@jaratt85 Well, the ease of starting has something to do with the starter! Velos are actually notoriously difficult to start. If the standard Velocette "starting drill" is not followed your hypothetical 250 pounder could stand on the kick start all day and never spin the engine over. The compression release as you suggest, is the secret.
Nice Bike! Always wanted a Velocette,...beautiful machine. The Velo has loud tappets cold but my RE Bullet 350 is quiet cold, then gets louder as it begins to warm up and finally settles down to a light ticking once hot. The cylinder and pushrods expand and lengthen at different rates until all is well when fully warmed. I imagine the Velo goes through a similar series of expansion rates that alter tappet clearance. If you can't hear the valves on these old thumpers you have something wrong.
I always thought the banded tank looked best along with the square badges.The following start technique came from the Hall Green workshop: Fuel on ,flood carb,decomp lever in,swing the pedal through a couple of times, to prime. Move the ign adv. to half. Pump up to compression on pedal.pull in decomp lever and carefully turn over pedal by about 50 degrees.release decomp lever ,return pedal to top and one good swing usually started first time
Thanks for the compliments! I think there were only two exhaust pipes on late model Velos. The swept back one was common to the Venom Clubman and Thruxton.
Three friends of mine have the other late models and this summer we plan a get together with our bikes. maybe I'll put up something on YouTube.
Yes you're right, by 1967 there were only two different types of pipe available - standard and swept back 'Thruxton' style. However, I was saying that in 1961 my Dad's Venom Clubman had a different swept back pipe - not as severely angled back as the Thruxton.
My Dad had a '61 Venom Clubman that looked virtually identical to that MSS - apart from the obvious rear sets, rev counter and 'upside-down' handle bars (they weren't fitted with clip-ons back in '61). Same tank with that ali strip - he said the strip kept falling off! I've got a stack of old black and white photos of it - anyone got GJP 534? I'd like to buy it back!
Lovely. Really nice to see a late '60's velo with the correct finished tank. Check out the tappet click! - they had a much wider clearance than most other marques.
Valve clearances: on the MSS it is usually set for running to .006" inlet and exhaust but on the Venom Clubman or anything which might run a bit hotter it is set to .006" inlet and .008" exhaust.
Latter sounds a bit noiser when cold but quietens down when warmed up!
Thanks - should have noticed the number plate lettering ! - lovely bike, a pleasure to see and hear, I've wanted a Velo since my schooldays - you have reminded me of why ! All the best....
Awesome video. Thx for posting.To see the excellent 'start-up' procedure of the world famous RM Velocette startup at the "Legends of the 9-Hour " vintage race recently, with disastrous results; oil line burst & more vintage racers. Goggle: 'RM Velocette starting procedure' & click on it. Hours of bike and vintage cars, & vinatage airplanes etc. Panteras, Daytona Cobra coupes, GT 40's, Chevrons, & a one off Nomad plus mystery South African built racer.See who can spot them, no prizes. Enjoy. tai
ahambrama 1 year ago
Is this the only Velo on YouTube which ticks over slowly without eight-stroking or otherwise misfiring? You'd think people would get the things running good before filming.
ridstanejimmy 1 year ago
Sounds just like my Guzzi Falcone!
mguyvig 1 year ago
She's a beautiful bike, we have a venom that my Dad built and 'thruxtonised' with a fairing and lots of other bits and pieces. Needs a bit of work first though.
MrBlj8977 1 year ago
BTW I've now put a correct Iridium plug in the old girl and she starts even easier! I would highly recommend them. Also have them in my 1953 Sunbeam S8 and same result- starts like a dream.
chardinej 1 year ago
I'm 14 and i got the 'nack of starting a velo' yesterday. It's a 1929 KTT racer. I started it!!
MrBlj8977 1 year ago
@MrBlj8977 Well done!!! Once you learn it you'll never forget! And what a bike you started- a dream machine!
chardinej 1 year ago
god those things start easy, it takes a good jump from someone 250lbs+ to turn over my fathers 1965 t120C but then again that thing was set up for flat track racing before we got it and could easily have a 750 kit and 11:1+ compression... with no compression release
jaratt85 1 year ago
@jaratt85 Well, the ease of starting has something to do with the starter! Velos are actually notoriously difficult to start. If the standard Velocette "starting drill" is not followed your hypothetical 250 pounder could stand on the kick start all day and never spin the engine over. The compression release as you suggest, is the secret.
chardinej 1 year ago
@chardinej what kind of compression do they run?
jaratt85 1 year ago
Nice Bike! Always wanted a Velocette,...beautiful machine. The Velo has loud tappets cold but my RE Bullet 350 is quiet cold, then gets louder as it begins to warm up and finally settles down to a light ticking once hot. The cylinder and pushrods expand and lengthen at different rates until all is well when fully warmed. I imagine the Velo goes through a similar series of expansion rates that alter tappet clearance. If you can't hear the valves on these old thumpers you have something wrong.
jkt8012 1 year ago
TAPETS!!!
MuffinBoy360 1 year ago
@MuffinBoy360 That's the way they sound cold. Tappets are set to nominal. Get a Velo and you'll see.
chardinej 1 year ago
Really needs valve clearances setting!! Very sweet motor though.
time56machine65 1 year ago
@time56machine65
Clearances are as per Red Book. This is just the way they sound cold.
chardinej 1 year ago
@time56machine65 - Thanks. Clearances as per Red Book. That's just the way they sound cold.
chardinej 1 year ago
I always thought the banded tank looked best along with the square badges.The following start technique came from the Hall Green workshop: Fuel on ,flood carb,decomp lever in,swing the pedal through a couple of times, to prime. Move the ign adv. to half. Pump up to compression on pedal.pull in decomp lever and carefully turn over pedal by about 50 degrees.release decomp lever ,return pedal to top and one good swing usually started first time
BIGOINK303 2 years ago
my dad has a velos and im going to ask him what model it is as it must be rare. its not on any of the vids on you tube.
its cream coloured witha huge wind shield and is a 250cc. thats all i know as yet.
quackenbacker 2 years ago
tappets are bloody loud
enginetorque 3 years ago
The exhaust pipe was slightly swept back too - but not like a Thruxton pipe.
Really, Really nice MSS though. All credit to you.
twangalot2 3 years ago
Thanks for the compliments! I think there were only two exhaust pipes on late model Velos. The swept back one was common to the Venom Clubman and Thruxton.
Three friends of mine have the other late models and this summer we plan a get together with our bikes. maybe I'll put up something on YouTube.
chardinej 3 years ago
Yes you're right, by 1967 there were only two different types of pipe available - standard and swept back 'Thruxton' style. However, I was saying that in 1961 my Dad's Venom Clubman had a different swept back pipe - not as severely angled back as the Thruxton.
I'm itching to get a '61/'62 Venom Clubman now!
twangalot2 3 years ago
My Dad had a '61 Venom Clubman that looked virtually identical to that MSS - apart from the obvious rear sets, rev counter and 'upside-down' handle bars (they weren't fitted with clip-ons back in '61). Same tank with that ali strip - he said the strip kept falling off! I've got a stack of old black and white photos of it - anyone got GJP 534? I'd like to buy it back!
twangalot2 3 years ago
Beautiful bike...
01triumphbonnie 4 years ago
Lovely. Really nice to see a late '60's velo with the correct finished tank. Check out the tappet click! - they had a much wider clearance than most other marques.
I've got a chrome tank '58 Venom.
65twin 4 years ago
Valve clearances: on the MSS it is usually set for running to .006" inlet and exhaust but on the Venom Clubman or anything which might run a bit hotter it is set to .006" inlet and .008" exhaust.
Latter sounds a bit noiser when cold but quietens down when warmed up!
950BAD 3 years ago
Terrific - Venom Clubman ?.....
portlandstone3mw 4 years ago
Thanks. It's the MSS, which is the softest tuned of the late model 500 cc Velos.
chardinej 4 years ago
Thanks - should have noticed the number plate lettering ! - lovely bike, a pleasure to see and hear, I've wanted a Velo since my schooldays - you have reminded me of why ! All the best....
portlandstone3mw 4 years ago
Norton dominator 99 tank?
Coffinman2 4 years ago
Nope. Standard 4 1/2 gal Velo tank as fitted at the factory in 1967, They do look similar though, I agree.
chardinej 4 years ago
Very nice bike...and it starts easily too..
marciarussell1 4 years ago