Delighted to have picked up a 7 volume set of these books for £8 at a car boot sale. Of course the highlight is the section on Simson.

Streetfighter brake pistons

Got 5 of them out but 3 stuck solid. The issue is oxydation in the grooves for the seals and in the chambers seizing the pistons solid. Tried freeze spray, heat, you name it but no joy with these. Plan to send away to have these removed and all new parts fitted.

Pretty Pink wheels

Well there's the first 2 coats on the back wheel. Didn't know about thinners so had to rub 1st coat down and start again. Will add much thinned out top coat and clear laquer to finish. I don't actually like the colour, reminds me of school blancmange, but it is the correct Breast Cancer colour and this is the Laura tribute bike. The Dayglo pink was great but lacquer stripped it + it had a matt surface so dirt was impossible to keep clean. At least this will be easy to clean and touch up chips.

New whitewall tyres for Streetfighter?

No just prepping for tyres on wheel repaint. Fingers crossed! 

Dead Streetfighter - the guilty party

When the Streetfighter mysteriously died upon attempted winter start up a while back I was pazzled. I checked all the fuses and all connections I could see where OK. I had long been suspicious of the ignition barrel switch with its worn action. I also noticed that the battery was not charging up fully. So I bought new switch and new beefier battery. Into the cellar with the stripped off machine and on with new parts. Still dead. Methodically followed all wiring from front to back checking connections. Came across a rubber topped little box leading to and from the positive connection on the battery. Removed rubber top and there below it was another fuse, 30 amp, which had blown. Did not have 30 amp so put in 20 amp for test, turned key and voila, all systems go. Expensive way to replace a 50P fuse though.

Simson AWO designer Ewaldd Daehn 100 years anniversary

Notice from last week's Suhl newspaper that Ewald Daehn would have been 100 this week. He actually passed away in 2012 aged 97.

First Vintage Rally entry accepted