MOTORCYCLE PATTERN PARTS, WHAT A COMPLETE FARCE!

Warning you of the the pitfall's of buying and using, pattern motorcycle parts.

[@Thruxtonrider21]

please don’t stop your channel.. love, love , love it!!

[@richardyardley5127]

Very wise words. If the price seems too good to be true, then it is almost always too good to be true.

[@Volcanicbrown1878]

@richardyardley5127 That's normally the case!

[@williamnethercott4364]

Back in the days before internet (yes, I am that old), I ordered a replacement jet block for an Amal Monobloc from a motorcycle shop in Hertfordshire. In those days it was very hard to get spares for a 1961 Triumph. When it arrived, it fit into the carburettor body but the slide wouldn't pass over it at all. I spent a lot of time trying to make it fit the slide and reached the point where the slide would pass over the jet block but would stick. At this point, I decided to save time by putting it carefully in the bin. You're absolutely right! Pattern parts for simple things might be fine or just crap. Can't be too careful. I'm thankful that we have good owner's clubs plus people like AMC Classic Spares and Draganfly.

[@Volcanicbrown1878]

@williamnethercott4364 It can get very frustrating trying to modify parts that should fit perfectly from the get go! Funny, but one of the names you mentioned, are the folks who supplied the BSA A65 kickstart ratchet !!

[@williamnethercott4364]

@@Volcanicbrown1878 That's a little surprising, I wonder if they still deal with the same supplier because there's an obvious lesson there!

[@patrickgreenman8248]

You're right Mr Brown, remember the old saying "Buy cheap,buy twice"!!

[@Volcanicbrown1878]

@patrickgreenman8248 Buy in haste, repent at leisure!

[@mikecartlidge5355]

A friend of mine has done a great job of making a green laner out of a classic 500 Bullet. He bought the bike cheap as it needed a crankshaft overhaul. The Indian machines use a floating big end bush rather than a roller bearing. The guy who built this bike is a qualified engineer. The big end pin and outer bearing in the conrod were undamaged and still within spec so a new floating bush was ordered from a Royal Enfield dealership. All oilways inside the motor were cleaned out and oil pumped through. The crankshaft was rebuilt with the new bush and oil fed through it as it should. around 200 miles after the rebuild the botton end knock returned. On stripping the motor it was full of white metal swarf from the new big end bush which had destroyed itself, plenty of oil around, both oil pumps still working and no heat discoloring on the big end pin or the conrod outer race, the new bearing simply failed. As luck would have it he came across a roller conversion crank pin, bearing and outer second hand, 1,500 miles later and the engine is still running as it should. By the way if anyone needs prewar BSA spares that actually do the job I can recommend C&D Autos, I have used them for years and what they sell is always spot on as they will only sell quality spare parts.

[@Volcanicbrown1878]

@mikecartlidge5355 I have a source for good floating big end bushes.

[@paulhoughtonhhoughton9188]

Yea, it easy for us who has done that job before, but there are a lot of people who ain't removed and replaced a head before now easy thing to overlook, but your right about crap parts I learned that years ago, some bit you can get away with but some bits need be correct ones. thanks for the video.

[@Volcanicbrown1878]

@paulhoughtonhhoughton9188 Thanks!

[@jonathanmellish4439]

Spot on. It’s really hard looking for quality these days. I can spend ages going through e bay looking for a UK business, not a UK seller as they are almost always from China masquerading as a UK business.

[@Volcanicbrown1878]

@jonathanmellish4439 I have found that some of the best stuff comes from India, but also some of the worst too! That gasket was supplied by a UK company, who I have bought good stuff from before, but not this time!

[@TheNobbynoonar]

I learned the hard way. Decided to try pattern fork seals for my Suzi Bandit. Big mistake! Yeah, initially I saved a few quid, all lost when the bloody things started leaking again after 3 months. Never happened with original parts on all of the motorcycle’s I’ve owned over the decades. Lesson learned!

[@Volcanicbrown1878]

@TheNobbynoonar we are all guilty of it!

[@brockett]

Very true. I bought a 25 year bike, not Royal Enfield, and the previous owner had replaced all of the carburettor jets with pattern parts. After a year I am begining to work out why it won't run properly.

[@Volcanicbrown1878]

@brockett I try to stick with genuine jets as I too have had problems with aftermarket ones.

[@basilwatson1]

I had a throttle assembly bordering on lethal Really not good, However, RE, RE ( gedit?) I have an earlier model from yours, I make all my own gaskets I lap the head to the barrel ( if you do you HAVE to be careful of the spark plug tip location, in my race bike ) the daily driver, a 350 gets a head gasket from 1mm copper sheet I bought a metre of the stuff from home centre; 2 years no trouble, REgardiing the rebuilding YES, they are simple BUT they come with skillset now disappearing lapping faces, fine threads into soft metal ( Amal warped carb flanges ? ) pushrods that "spin freely " but no "( vertical free play ) Seals that seal through Clearances

[@robertomalatesta6604]

I too made my own copper gaskets for both my GS1000 head and base; mandatory to retighten them after a few heat cycles and worth investing in stronger studs.

[@melvynrogers3149]

Yep i have had many problems with pattern parts..there a lot of so called classic bike parts specialists out there that just sell crap..

[@Volcanicbrown1878]

@melvynrogers3149 There is too!

[@davidpost6902]

They have parts, such as new carbs, gasket sets, electrical, etc. All of which are pattern parts. In my opinion ,it doesn't pay. Had a set of pattern brake shoes , the material was close to compressed Cardboard!!.....lucky i never used them. As you pointed, out get parts from a reputable dealer.

[@Volcanicbrown1878]

@davidpost6902 Any sellers I deal with in India sell genuine factory spares.

[@mickhardstaff6605]

Doesn't pay to buy crap when your life might depend on it , spend a little bit more and get quality and reliability .

[@anthonygrodecki7968]

Well you know the best places to order from. Have to say on my bike I end up making things like gaskets as parts just don’t fit.

[@Volcanicbrown1878]

@anthonygrodecki7968 They do, if you know who to buy from!

[@johnjriggsarchery2457]

I have a trio of older bikes, the one that should be the easiest to find parts for is a 1980 Honda. It needs an ignition coil. A simple fricken coil. I've gone through several modern made crap ones off of ebay that were worthless. BTW, Baxter Cycles in Nebraska bought out parts from British cycle shops when they went under and is THE place in the States for old Britt bikes and spare parts.

[@Volcanicbrown1878]

@johnjriggsarchery2457 Yes, I know all about Baxter Cycle, I bought and imported my Royal Enfield Mk1A interceptor from them! Great company to deal with!

[@Barry-tp2vd]

Being tolerant kills us slowly . Demand to be respected . Only respect those who offer the same in return . Im learning this at 56 . I like your message and style . Can't go wrong being genuine ... and clearly a good bloke . Cheers mate

[@Volcanicbrown1878]

@Barry-tp2vd Thankyou!

[@kevbaldwin9552]

Yep been there done that bloody annoying isn't it. A word to the wise be very careful with fuel components and brake hoses master cylinder kits ect for obvious reasons.

[@Volcanicbrown1878]

@kevbaldwin9552 That sort of stuff, I buy genuine for the same obvious reasons!

[@neilgill2269]

If hitchcocks are crazy enough to be spares suppliers to an old plodder of an Enfield,with all it's quirks and foibles,I'm crazy enough to use em,..I don't know how or why they do it,,but they do,their catalogue..essential bedtime reading!👍

[@Volcanicbrown1878]

@neilgill2269 Hitchcock's are the second largest Enfield spares supplier in the world, second only to the RE factory. They have been going for decades, Alan Hitchcock bought Gander and Gray's stock of Enfield spares. If you run older Enfield's, they are a godsend!

[@westwater73]

I buy gasket blanks and do them myself copper/cork/composite...

[@stewy62]

You have to admire how good some people are at making “copies” of parts, I laughed my head off when you told the story about copying a worn part !! As you eluded to, the biggest thing of course is that even if the part looks right it may not be manufactured from the correct material 🇬🇧

[@Volcanicbrown1878]

@stewy62 Like the pistons, cast out of saucepans and washing machine pumps!

[@thatblokeonamotorbike]

So true, it's like Russian Roulette ordering pattern parts. Love you dry sarcastic way of explaining it. Ride safe, Dave

[@Volcanicbrown1878]

@thatblokeonamotorbike Yes, Russian Roulette with ALL the chambers loaded but only one empty one!! (PS The sarcasm is because I'm old!!)

[@martytoal6547]

I’m glad I watched this,I ordered a pattern part copper gasket and two rocker cover gaskets and was planning on fitting them tomorrow,I’ve just checked and the “ copper “ gasket is actually a 3 piece sandwich which looks like a bit of cardboard between 2 tinfoil copper sheets 😡🤣 I’m gonna order from Hitchcocks but have noticed they have a choice of composite or copper ,I think I’ll try their copper one which I assume will be spa solid copper part,

[@Volcanicbrown1878]

@martytoal6547 The gasket I got sent was just as you describe, a very thin bit of something or other between two bits of copper tinfoil !

[@stephengibbs4372]

If the composite gasket is ones

[@stephengibbs4372]

Try that again, if the composite gasket is anything like the ones for triumph twins it will blow out the side in no time. 😂

[@Volcanicbrown1878]

@@stephengibbs4372 The original composite lasted just over 6000 miles, They are only 7-1 compression ratio so they don't have the umph to blow anything much!

[@robertomalatesta6604]

Copper: the red gold

[@melbinthomas1659]

Lucky seven is today's star😂

[@Volcanicbrown1878]

@melbinthomas1659 yes, they are right up there!

[@Viz64]

I fully understand the issue with pattern (or spurious) parts, they are never a good option. With your previous experiences with pattern parts, I have to ask why did you bother getting one this time?

[@Volcanicbrown1878]

@Viz64 I find myself asking the same question!

[@aaronthomas3917]

When business majors hire under educated non-bike-riders to work in the business.

[@Volcanicbrown1878]

@aaronthomas3917 That about sums it up!

[@ayozhek1898]

Couldn't agree more, so many old Brit parts are total rubbish, even the NOS stuff is from the reject bin these days too. Thanks for the video.

[@Volcanicbrown1878]

@ayozhek1898 You have to know where to go for good spares! Thanks!

[@duncangallup9012]

Great advice VB;enjoyable video as always 👍

[@Volcanicbrown1878]

@duncangallup9012 Thanks! I needed to let off about dodgy parts!

[@jdudb]

I have a 30s Velocette and original pistons are of course, unobtainable. But readily available are pistons made by an overseas piston maker who seems to use generic casts for all pistons. I have a brand new piston from them and a re-bored barrel done locally. The barrel measures perfectly but the piston is undersize and far heavier than the original. When testing I get more vibration and massive piston slap when cold, the original reason for the re-bore but no choice but to stick with it.

[@Volcanicbrown1878]

@jdudb Can't the Velo owners club come up with anything?

[@tomwilker2861]

I remember the old joke about ‘Bolt-On’ performance parts….bolt them on the mill, bolt them on the lathe, then bolt them on the bike.

[@Volcanicbrown1878]

@tomwilker2861 Ha Ha! I hadn't heard that one before!

[@thomaslemay8817]

I order sheet copper whatever thickness I need For head gaskets then I cut it out myself. I worked on a lot of obsoleat stuff . Just no point wasting time waiting on parts that don't fit.

[@Volcanicbrown1878]

@thomaslemay8817 It's ok if you order genuine gaskets (Like I didn't!) I used to make my own for my 1937 Matchless model X

[@johnimmins7302]

Just like lots of things today, the quality cannot be relied upon as you have shown. Very frustrating but you should have just gone to Hitchcocks in the first place. Returning goods in a pain and then to receive another gasket not fit for it's purpose, what a crap firm. All the best😊👍🏍

[@Volcanicbrown1878]

@johnimmins7302 Hindsight is a wonderful thing!

[@wallybuettner]

Good advice? I suspect we have all been miffed by n\g replacement parts. I eager to see your bike running when it is done!

[@Volcanicbrown1878]

@wallybuettner Thanks Wally!

[@randyroy4074]

Thanks for the info. Enjoyed the video.

[@Volcanicbrown1878]

@randyroy4074 Glad you enjoyed it!

[@johnwilcox4078]

Greetings from Wisconsin! It seems the quality replacement parts availability can vary widely, depending on the make, model, and year of your vintage bike. For example, my Norton Commando is readily supplied by Andover Norton. Andover claims to make every part for every Commando during it's ten year run. It takes only one week for an order to get here, not bad! There are actual engineers you can talk to or e-mail. They publish instructional videos on KZbin. They have a full workshop for UK customers. As for my Triumph T140V, parts have to be carefully sourced, there is some junk out there. Real sketchy parts situation with my Moto Guzzi 850T, they are not well supported like Nortons. Some parts for old Japanese bikes are absolutely unobtainable, a frustrating aspect of owning one for sure!

[@Volcanicbrown1878]

@johnwilcox4078 I have had dealings with Andover Norton, they are a good crowd. Genuine Commando bits are pretty easy to find and as you say, there is an awful lot of Triumph aftermarket stuff around. Some of very dubious quality!

[@turboslag]

Yup, been there, got the T shirt!! Problem is, cheapskate owners who want a classic bike and expect spare parts to be the same price as when the bike was made, and they get what they pay for, junk from third world countries. Two little tips, be very careful with spark plugs, counterfeiting is rife, if your buying on feepay and they seem cheap they're probably fake and could destroy your engine. For a reliable source of good quality parts, try the owners club for your machine, it's worth joining just for that.

[@RodgerMoore-m3r]

I went to a Saab specialist hoping to pick his brain , he said look mate if you want me to mend y car I will I'm not here to give advice .so I asked him for a vacuum pump £120 driving back I noticed the part number was different so I went back and asked him for the other part he said we always use these because they are the same, I said they can't be , so he rang a friend and sure enough one pump is for the flaps and one for the turbo all these years he had been fitting people's Saab's with a slower pump for the turbo , so I ended up giving him advice 😁😎

[@Volcanicbrown1878]

@RodgerMoore-m3r Wonderful!

[@dungspreader]

Lucky 7 ! Good job you didn't order from Unlucky 13 😮! I was going to order an Indian Tefal alloy tank , ethanol proof , non stick coating . If it doesn't fit the bike , I can cook a curry with it . Hitchcocks are the boys although they can be a bit pricey sometimes . But when things go wrong they put it right for you .

[@Volcanicbrown1878]

@dungspreader I heard that Unlucky 13 had sold all his stock to Lucky seven? Yes Hitchcock's can be a bit pricey but where else can you buy brand new 750 Interceptor barrels from. Re - made from the original factory drawings?

[@dungspreader]

@@Volcanicbrown1878 Maybe Unlucky 13 's brother in law has them . Catch 22 foundry ltd .

[@Volcanicbrown1878]

@dungspreader I heard that Catch 22 foundry were bought out by the Cat piss and sand casting co?

[@felixVanDiemen]

Thanks mate, very useful info. I've got a nasty feeling I have a complete gasket set for my UCE 500 Bullet made by "Lucky" 7. Wish me luck 🙄😆

[@Volcanicbrown1878]

@felixVanDiemen Good luck !!

[@thewanderin_rider]

You’re right. Pattern are usually bought depending how deep your pockets are, but I’ve made that mistake so many times over the years and never seem to learn my lesson…. well , I did eventually. It’s false economy. If you can, buy quality, buy once. Don’t get me started on tracked parcels, I’ve had two in as many weeks, both late. The last four days late because it went to a different county! What’s all that about 🤷‍♂️

[@Volcanicbrown1878]

@thewanderin_rider The Indian sellers I do buy from sell genuine factory stuff, The gasket seller was in the UK! Parcel farce? I rest my case!

[@breadring]

What about the PATTERN bike.

[@Volcanicbrown1878]

@breadring Made from 1954 -2008, hardly Pattern!

[@breadring]

@@Volcanicbrown1878 I was being a little bit facetious in the direction of the indian built bikes.

[@Volcanicbrown1878]

@@breadring I guessed!

[@spamhead]

Sorry you’ve had such hassle with this seller. I have bought loads of stuff from Hitchcocks without problems. When I have needed to exchange something, they’ve been very helpful. The main problem is p&p when you only want something inexpensive. I seem to remember annealing a head gasket for my bullet(no, I ain’t tight honest!), but you need a solid one to start with!

[@Volcanicbrown1878]

@spamhead Standard procedure for solid copper head gaskets! I try and get an order together for Hitchcock's (If I can!)

[@SteveBernard42]

I think everyone that messes with old bikes (or cars) has had a similar experience. My old mum used to say ‘buy cheap, buy twice’…. She weren’t wrong!

[@Volcanicbrown1878]

@SteveBernard42 No, she wasn't wrong!

[@TorquayTom]

@@Volcanicbrown1878 Buy cheap, pay dearly has long been my mantra!

[@johnhughes8563]

Excellent video thank you so much .

[@Volcanicbrown1878]

@johnhughes8563 Your welcome!

[@Exiledk]

Why didn't you get in touch with Hitchcocks in the first place?

[@Volcanicbrown1878]

@Exiledk I do normally, but must have had a rush of blood to the head and went down that route!

[@borderlands6606]

Pre-worn splines and folded gaskets, you couldn't make it up. It's the hassle of contacting these people, then being made to think we're being awkward for pointing out the obvious. Oh well, I'm repairing a puncture in my 350, probably from my own screw. Happy days.

[@Volcanicbrown1878]

@borderlands6606 Yep! Getting badly made parts gets to be very time consuming and loaded with hassle!

[@markpercy4277]

l like that, its rusted enough to take paint 😂

[@Volcanicbrown1878]

@markpercy4277 Well it is! gives it something to stick on to !!

[@markpercy4277]

@@Volcanicbrown1878 🤣

[@dotpeat1372]

Problem is that some manufacturing is not able anymore, even established brands, like Australian JB piston remake old piston but with new casting alloy mixtures, like silicon to improve moulding under pressure, but increasing the weight. Also other rib feinforcing inside the piston. Asking q's, they don't like to communicate. Charged me triple the price of one piston... took me months to machine it to correct it and balance it with the others. Real engineering info is difficult to get and soon even established dealers, brands will have lost the plot and nobody is even allowed to repair their own bike, car, or tractor. John Deer in the States, wanting to change the law to forbid farmers to repair their tractors!!! All in the name on safety and IP breach...

[@Volcanicbrown1878]

@dotpeat1372 That is how the world is getting! I remember the fiasco that john Deer were causing with banning farmers from repairing their tractors. I was wondering how that ended up!

[@thepoodlestabbers]

Don't say pattern, say SHIT! We all know who use to say that.

[@Volcanicbrown1878]

@thepoodlestabbers Yeah, dear old Beret! I think of him every time I go round that bend.

[@IVAN-bs5bq]

And it's even worse with old classic car bits , not only rubbish and don't fit they cost a fortune !!

[@Volcanicbrown1878]

@IVAN-bs5bq Yes, the car stuff is even worse!

[@twostroke350]

Shonky pattern parts aren't a new thing though. Exhibit A: Wassell. I get enfield parts from either Hitchcocks or Harry Price. I do occasionally venture into the wonderful world of Indian retailers and resellers of Indian parts but more often for either something that is non-mission critical or something I think might be a good idea but have yet to convince myself it is or that it will fit witha view to getting a proper one later (for example, I went through several fork legs off different models until I found one that suited my build). My favourite one was when I bought new fork springs off an ebay reseller and they sent me one spring. I've never in my life heard of someone selling a single fork spring. They'd even sent it in the original box and removed one of them. They argued the toss when I queried it too, blacklisted the seller and chalked it up to experience.

[@Volcanicbrown1878]

@twostroke350 I have bought , in the past a lot of good stuff from Indian sellers, a lot of it genuine factory stuff that they probably get out the back door! There are some sellers who are great and others I just won't use full stop! PS. This gasket came from a UK re seller who's staff don't really know what they are selling. One fork spring? Wow! That takes the biscuit!

[@johnharris7353]

Yeah Amazon had a spell where they were shipping one half of a fishing rod...crikey! They're idiots !

[@OldBiker]

I purchased new LF Harris barrels for my T140 and none of the head studs fit and the barrels come with a missing oil way plug, pattern parts are shite

[@Volcanicbrown1878]

@OldBiker Some are, some are not....(Most are!)

[@MrBowsmith]

Hi, I have a similar head, spigot style barrel arrangement on a Matchless G2. I found the composite gasket unreliable, maybe I was a bit timid with the head torque, seeing the studs are screwed with relatively fine Cycle threads. both ends! I decided to go the copper sheet route. I needed .050 and made that up with two 25 thou' sheets and used Wellseal, top, bottom and in-between. This did the trick, and enabled me to keep a moderate 25 lbs/feet on the head studs and have a bike I could ride. I should perhaps add, this was pre-internet.

[@Volcanicbrown1878]

@MrBowsmith Matchless (AMC)used high tensile steel for their barrel studs and nuts, so you can wind the pressure on them up a bit more if you need to, It sounds like you have it sorted now.

[@MrBowsmith]

@@Volcanicbrown1878 Thanks for the info. I wasn't aware. But my overriding concern was less for the studs, but not to rip the threads out of the crankcase. That's going to put a crimp in anyone's day. I've had it apart once since then and reused the gaskets I'd made after a standard annealing. all good and running. All the best, safe biking.

[@billmcclean6986]

Did you buy the panniers from northern Ireland by any chance

[@Volcanicbrown1878]

@billmcclean6986 No, they were on the bike when I bought it. Genuine Craven's dated 1976!

[@johnfountain8588]

Eye opening vlog Great advice for the DIYer I guess it all comes down to research the supply house or take your chances May cost a bit more but go with the trusted source Regards from Florida 🦩🦩

[@Volcanicbrown1878]

@johnfountain8588 Very true!

[@ianhoyle8459]

It looks a really nice bike, is it an original Royal Enfield?

[@Volcanicbrown1878]

@ianhoyle8459 2007! But identical to the 1954 model!

[@ianhoyle8459]

@@Volcanicbrown1878 looks good with a proper carburettor. I’m watching your videos now! The Chrome tank 500 looks nice but you’re riding it so I can’t get a good look. Thanks for replying 😎

[@Volcanicbrown1878]

@@ianhoyle8459 You can here:- kzbin.info/www/bejne/hXicamWEh9N9r6s

[@cobbvd]

It seems, your Royal Enfield is really old. And still in use. Interesting, my new Benelli Imperiale 400 ( 95% copy of contemporary RE) will last me as long ? In such case I need to live about 120-130 years. 😀 Because I am 68. Greetings from Lithuania.

[@Volcanicbrown1878]

@cobbvd It's a 2007 model but hadn't changed at all since 1954! It will outlast me!

[@Between-Bikes]

I'm sure I'm not alone in thinking the video of changing said gasket would make interesting viewing? Regards.

[@Volcanicbrown1878]

@Between-Bikes I did film it anyway, just in case I got asked to!

[@johnharris7353]

Yeah me too !

[@listener85]

@@Volcanicbrown1878 I'm glad you filmed it, looking forward to watching it even if it's as you say quite simple to do. I was a Yamaha two stroke rider back in the 70's and 80's and watching your videos is bringing me closer to buying an old iron barrel Bullet 350 like your two workhorses. Sounds like it is a lot easier pulling the head of a push rod engine than an overhead cam, no cam chain and sprocket to mess about with! By the way, I found your Bullet oil change video very interesting and informative.... I suspect a lot of owners don't know to take the case off and re-prime the pumps during their oil changes!

[@chrisb4504]

Wow 🤩 look at you all clean shaven have you had some restoration?😂

[@Volcanicbrown1878]

@chrisb4504 I don't know about clean shaven, looks like I missed a big chunk of it!

[@gavinbooth8131]

Don't know if you can help I am after a bit of advice I have a 2001 Enfield 500 bullet I have changed the ignition system from points to boyer Bransdon electronic ignition but now I am hearing a few horror stories about this electronic ignition burning out valves is this true and should I just stick to points thank you any light shed on this would be greatly appreciated 🙏

[@Volcanicbrown1878]

@gavinbooth8131 Hi Gavin. Points just break the current to the coil, causing the field to collapse and a park to occur at the plug. Electronic ignition does the same job but without the moving points, condenser and mechanical advance and retard. Neither system will burn valves, they can't! Providing the ignition timing is correct for either system then no harm will come to anything.

[@gavinbooth8131]

@@Volcanicbrown1878 thank you very much for putting my mind at rest and another question I'm sorry to be a pain it's regarding setting the timing I took the timing chest cover off set my pistons to tdc aligning the dots on the two cams and the crank then set up the electronic ignition how can I tell if the ignition is set correctly you know not too far advanced or retarded yes again any help would be appreciated thank you

[@Volcanicbrown1878]

@@gavinbooth8131 If you don't have the instructions, this may help. kzbin.info/www/bejne/eGqtoqJ-fZeHpas

[@ludo9234]

Your best bet is buy a sheet of 1mm thick copper sheet. Scrib around the original one then cut it out. You'll be able to use it many times.

[@Volcanicbrown1878]

@ludo9234 The problem with that is you have to order the copper, wait for it to be delivered and then set too making it! The Copper is dearer than a genuine gasket which you can fit .the moment it turns up! Making head gaskets makes little sense when there are genuine factory ones to buy. It's fine to do it for obsolete bikes where you have little choice.

[@Richard-pe4cx]

on my A10 i use a solid copper gasket the composite ones can blow and you can't reaneale

[@Volcanicbrown1878]

@Richard-pe4cx Yes, that is what I was after, but didn't get!

[@Cobra427Veight]

My old 54 Bsa b33 has a ebay coated piston , but it's a harley evolution big bore about 90mm bore , I will see how long it lasts ! .

[@Volcanicbrown1878]

@Cobra427Veight Is it a Wisco? you should be good if it is.

[@Cobra427Veight]

@Volcanicbrown1878 not a wiseco but a cast piston ! , I will see how it goes , you've had some bad luck , it's not easy when there is little choice , I also have a 49 matchless g80 , which had the wrong piston in it , and there seem to be only two choices JP and gardini , I've got both now , but saw the video with the Ariel , with the Jp piston with the ring lands falling off ! Not too good .

[@Volcanicbrown1878]

@@Cobra427Veight I had a 37 matchless model X for about 20 years, when it came to reboring it, I was stuffed for pistons so i fitted Bedford lorry pistons and it ran as smooth as silk!

[@Cobra427Veight]

@Volcanicbrown1878 I worked as an Automotive machinist in the 80s and 90s and that was one of our funny sayings "bore it out to bedford" back then you go through the piston and bearing books and look up the pin size , comp height ,bore size and use a few of the pistons in special applications like you mention .

[@egc04]

Copper Gaskets unlimited will make correct copper gaskets if you send a pattern but they are based in USA

[@Volcanicbrown1878]

@egc04 don't need to go that far! gaskets from the factory are available here!

[@Lynt144]

You're lucky if you got one good one in 7 attempts! 🏍

[@Volcanicbrown1878]

@Lynt144 Ha Ha! very true!

[@theodavies8754]

I paid £79 for a kit of OEM Harley brake pads. In the mean time the supplier has gone metric and the OEM kit won't fit. 0.0025" isn't 0.75mm. Wouldn't refund unless I took the bike 50 miles and then got told if they could go them to fit they would charge me. I said ok can I film you and they said no. Bottom line I modified the caliper for ECB who still use imperial but they don't use backing shims. Hi Plymouth Harley, bought all my OEM casings from iron horse and they weren't cheap but at least you didn't have to refund £79.

[@Volcanicbrown1878]

@theodavies8754 Could never understand why some manufactures mixed imperial with metric. Either do one or the other!

[@theodavies8754]

@Volcanicbrown1878 The brakes are Japanese. Back in the day they made imperial to order. China and PRC are driven to go by the nearest metric equivalent for sheet metals. It's fine once you have the experience and thread pitch gauges but it catches out the DIYer that use metric hex that don't fit properly. No worries, I can see everything they did badly.

[@ruahinesrider]

That BSA Ratchet story is shocking must of been the apprentice who copied original without compensating for wear.You'd hope so cause that pretty piss poor engineering.

[@ruahinesrider]

Hitchcocks might sell copper gaskets for it maybe.If not they probably could make copper gaskets.

[@Volcanicbrown1878]

@ruahinesrider He was probably just told to "Make one just like this"!

[@ruahinesrider]

@@Volcanicbrown1878 😁😆😂🤣

[@jimksa67]

Everything is grey market phoney today Bro. I call it mess production. The only genuine thing left is salvation through Christ!

[@Volcanicbrown1878]

@jimksa67 You could well be right there!

[@MarkTrentham-t4h]

Just because it looks good,a lot nowadays are about as useful as an empty tea bag.;).

[@Volcanicbrown1878]

@MarkTrentham-t4h Tell me about it!

[@joetocchio9666]

One thing I know is go with quality every time and you have no aggravation. Pay the money!!! If you can't afford to get OEM or better, find another past time.😂😂😂

[@Volcanicbrown1878]

@joetocchio9666 Summed it up in a nutshell!

[@robinbrowne5419]

It's true. The older we get and the more idiots we have had to put up with, the more cynical we get. Cheers from Canada. 🙂👍

[@Volcanicbrown1878]

@robinbrowne5419 I'll go along with that!

[@cousinjack2841]

I can't believe they copied a worn out ratchet! 🤣 Bloomin' heck! It all goes to build your character...Just smile and wave Mr. Brown. Smile and wave.

[@Volcanicbrown1878]

@cousinjack2841 What can I say!

[@martinowl]

Pattern parts are just a lottery, it’s so annoying & frustrating when a piece of unusable crap turns up.

[@Volcanicbrown1878]

@martinowl I think it's worse now than it's ever been!

[@johna7661]

Aviation has a serious problem in this area. The final decision on a parts suitably rests on the mechanic doing the work

[@Volcanicbrown1878]

@johna7661 That sounds scary!

[@ianwoollard9008]

Hi VB👍. I had to laugh. As if a 350 bore would share the same head gasket as a 500cc FFS 🤣😂😅! I think you should name & shame. I just insured my 350 today. Bear in mind it's a 68 model. Being vintage, you don't get any NCB. It was £91 & some short change through Bikesure. These Price Comparison websites don't go back that far. I had to make out it to be a 1977 model just to get a quote. I have no trouble with my other bikes, i insured my GSX 1400 for about £70 but that's because i have over 9 yrs + NCB. Actually it's over 20 yrs. Did you get some ridiculous quotes when you attempted to insure your Mk2 Interceptor ? I was getting prices around £250 with some companies. You'd think it would be much cheaper on a Classic Bike Insurance.👍

[@Volcanicbrown1878]

@ianwoollard9008 I have a rider policy with Bimoto ins who are really good. I have 9 bikes on the policy at any one time and can substitute any bike as and when at no cost. The Mk2 Inter cost me £67, fully comp with an agreed value of £7K I can't fault them!

[@ianwoollard9008]

@@Volcanicbrown1878Blimey😮, that sounds unbeatable . Just what i need. I will have to check them out next time. I have heard of 'Bimoto' but it never crossed my mind. Hope to see you out on the road soon. 👌👍👍

[@RockerMark]

I think we have all been there at some point; you need a part, find a bargain and end up disappointed. I’ve recently bought replica dip and horn switches for a bike I’m restoring. I paid a lot for poor quality items so it’s not just the cheap stuff that’s naff.

[@Volcanicbrown1878]

@RockerMark Yes, we all do it and probably will carry on doing it!

[@stephencroft6481]

Return of the seven

[@Volcanicbrown1878]

@stephencroft6481 But not the magnificent seven!

[@dotpeat1372]

Welcome to the 'modern after market'. The West has literally farmed out its entire supply industry to cheap countries. Unregulated they supply visual copies of anything. Remake old handles with oval turning holes, girder forks, recast with wrong castiron quality, breaking whilst riding. No knowledge copies, even jeopardizing safety, many brakepads, linings, come even in fake branded packaging... even with compliance markings... All is dumped through untraceable sellers from Ebay to jumblesales. It is even wise to keep old referential material and teach yourself to remake (either alone of multiples through clubs). Enjoy whilst you can, coming generations don't even know how to start! An other fellow biker!

[@Volcanicbrown1878]

@dotpeat1372 That is all so true!

[@philipfreeman72]

You see ads showing wrong vehicles / engines more often than not .

[@Volcanicbrown1878]

@philipfreeman72 I know, see it all the time!

[@clivewiddall3430]

Royal Mail tacked 48 is second class not 48hrs

[@Volcanicbrown1878]

Thanks for watching!

[@Phiyedough]

If the old gasket is copper you could just anneal it.

[@Volcanicbrown1878]

@Phiyedough No it was composite and had blown a chunk of it out.

[@ludo9234]

Nothing new hear, its been like this for many years unfortunately.

[@Volcanicbrown1878]

@ludo9234 It has indeed!

[@mred7030]

these things are made to try us and they do .

[@Volcanicbrown1878]

@mred7030 Indeed they do!

[@MrBradfordchild]

Why on earth would you buy a cheap eBay head gasket? Surely an original from a uk dealer wouldn’t be expensive? How expensive could an Indian made part really be?

[@Volcanicbrown1878]

@MrBradfordchild It was a UK dealer who supplied it!

[@MrBradfordchild]

@@Volcanicbrown1878 uk RE dealer? If so, fucking terrible.

[@allanhmelnitski978]

Then You should probably go full russian style - make the gasket using empty beer can for example. Or a dog food tin can... Like a proper after armagedon dystopia lifestyle I mean.

[@Volcanicbrown1878]

@allanhmelnitski978 Na, Think I will just fit a gasket !!

[@peteduch2151]

I see where your name comes from you blow up with frustration

[@Volcanicbrown1878]

@peteduch2151 Stuff that's made badly makes my Lava rise!!

[@cerealtiller]

No Video?

[@Volcanicbrown1878]

@cerealtiller Everyone else can see it!

[@angelsordemons]

9:30 😂

[@Volcanicbrown1878]

@angelsordemons :)

[@gordonsuddery4635]

Thanks for your insight into spair parts ! Never mind the price if it's right it's worth it. My best wishes to you from the Philippines ♥️💪👍😉😀😁🏁🛺🏍️🐑🇵🇭🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿⭐

[@Volcanicbrown1878]

@gordonsuddery4635 Thanks Gordon!

[@Indigenous51]

You should name and shame these rubbish suppliers. RMs post of 48hrs is BS ! Their service is appalling because they are trying to take business away from the likes of EVRI etc. but cannot cope with the overload. Sheer greed at our expense.

[@Volcanicbrown1878]

Where would we be without Parcel Farce? (Probably a lot better off!)