Bit of luck

Had a very pleasant run out to 'The Greasy Spoon' today for a sausage
sarnie, so that I could take bit more shine off the new Pilot Power
2CTs.

Only problem was the plague of greenfly filling the air. Like a micro
version of a biblical plague of locusts it was.

Anyway, turned back in to the drive at home and knocked in to neutral.
The gear lever just flopped down. A quick examination revealed that the
ball-ended bolt thing of the linkage ball and socket joint on the bit
clamped to the gear selector shaft (not rose joints - can't think of the
technical term) had sheared off.

A bit of luck it didn't do that 15 miles away at the cafe I thought.

FFS , Wiscombe Hill Climb on Sunday - a bit of luck it didn't fail
changing down for 'Martini' hairpin.

Bugger, bugger, bugger, where am I going to get one in time? Is it a
specialist part that was handcrafted by an ancient crone smoking a
Gauloise?

Wait a bit - looks familiar. Brain goes in to random access fuzzy logic
search of images of various scrap boxes accumulated over the years.
Loads of bits on the bike are of Italian origin. Sure I remember
something similar amongst the remains of the Tarozzi rearset kit from
the Morini hill climber that transmogrified in to the Rotarini, whose
cycle parts lurk still in the old greenhouse. I rummaged through the
numerous OXO tins, containing everything from Amal jets and floats, to
spare Morini rocker arms and joy of joys there is was. The exact same
thingy still attached to the equivalent gear shaft clamp - must be 15
years ago that I decided not to chuck it. Moral: never throw any usable
bolt, clamp, bracket or such like away.

Now that's what I call a bit of luck.
Although I suspect a trip to the nearest Ducati or Guzzi dealer might
also have been successful.

BTW it is a joint NHCA bike and 500 Owners racing car meeting on
*Saturday* 13 May. About 30 bikes plus an interesting variety of cars.
Any Devonisti at a loose end might fancy a day out. You get the chance
to laugh at my exceedingly slow runs, and see the NHCA champions going
much. much faster as they launch their bikes over 'bunny's leap' and
through the infamous 'gate'.

http://www.g.pickett.btinternet.co.uk/dates.htm

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