It feels like it’s been an eventful period since my last blog.
I’ve been to the doctors about my month-long diarrhea. The first test cleared me of all viruses and stomach infections, which was good. Then they thought it might be cancer, which was a less than optimal outcome. They tested, nope, it’s not that. I thought it would be, to be honest. It’s only the start of this year that mother went in to A&E with stomach pains and was dead 3 months later. I was expecting the same. I can’t say I was that bothered. Perhaps I would have been if they’d have given me 3 months. Probably the BPD working it’s magic again. Anyway, I’m not dying. Which is a bit of a downer because now I’m going to have to go on a diet. I wasn’t going to bother if I was on my way out.
I’ve not heard from the heart people yet, but on the NHS app it said the average wait time for the procedure is 21 weeks, which would be the 5th of November. I said about it online and someone said he had the opposite condition, bradycardia, where his heart slows until he loses consciousness. He had all his licences suspended for 6 months, took them 8 months to finally return his licence, with his bus and lorry categories removed. Literally 10 minutes later I found where they’d hidden my test results on the app, apparently I have bradycardia as well. Well, isn’t that just swell? It just drops my pulse down to 44bpm for a bunch of beats while I’m asleep. I’d never even heard the word before. Super.
I’ve got a letter from the doctor saying the DVLA have sent a questionnaire, so they’ve arranged an appointment for me. Presumably it’s to answer the questions in the form. If not, they could have filled it in, returned it, and left it to the DVLA to contact me. The good negative is it’s not an automatic ban. They are asking questions, so it’s still possible I could keep my licence. That would be ideal, obviously.
Last week work gave me all early starts. From 05.55 to 04.55. I was a sad and tired bunny. On the last shift I asked why they were creeping earlier and earlier. They had it on the system my prefered start time was 05.00. Big no! They’ve changed it to 09.00, yay! Let’s see if that sticks. Another great work thing, I got an email out of the blue saying they’ve given us a £5.5k pay rise! It’s gone from £40.5k to £46k a year. Yes! I’ll have some of that for 4 on, 4 off, days. I really hope DVLA don’t screw this up for me.
The other thing is Beryl, the yellow peril. I pumped the tyres up with a foot pump in the shed. Went around the block to test it out, and didn’t like the feel of it all. Before the MOT on Monday I gave it a top up with the electric (car) pump. It’s supposed to be 36 and 42psi, the foot pump had totally lied. It was on 17 and 17psi! It passed the MOT. I got the road tax and went for a spin. It was probably a bit too far for a test ride, but I did that run to Betws-y-coed to the authentic pastie shop. About 160 miles round trip. The bike didn’t miss a beat. And, with air in the tyres, it felt great. I could see the fun as spoken of in the reviews… HOWEVER. There’s always a however. It was leaking a significant amount of oil. I got it home without any worries, but put it straight back in the shed. I traced it to a breather pipe. Which is ominous. Either the rings are shot, so it’s piston rings and rebore, or oil is getting through the valves. I don’t know how hard valves are, I’ve never done them, but I don’t fancy them. And either option might entail dropping the engine. Lots of work.
I did a pressure test today. The optimum pressure is 217psi. I got 210 and about 200. Pretty much perfect for a 27 year old bike. So it’s not that. Odd. I traced the pipe back. It goes to the petrol tank and the radiator! Odder. There’s no oil there. I joined an SV650 forum and somebody suggested giving the engine a thorough wash and degrease then clarting it in talc to be sure of the location of the leak. Excellent tip. I saw the oil coming from the end of the pipe, so I moved the pipe. It was running down the pipe, not through it. The longer I ran it the more leaks appeared. The clutch gasket is leaking, and the water pump seal that’s on the clutch cover. That’s a bit of a result. A gasket is simple and cheap to replace. Then I noticed more oil all over the chain. *sigh* Another visit to the forum, it seems on that side the seal behind the final drive sprocket and the seal on the clutch pushrod thing both go. Again, very cheap to replace. I’ve ordered a chain and sprocket set while I’m at it. The chain was rusted and set when I got it, I might as well get everything sorted all at once. That’s a bunch of fun jobs to keep me busy. Also the sports exhaust thing. I don’t like it, it’s too loud. I managed to get a whole, standard, exhaust system for £31! Ha! For the win. That’s some more fun for me to fit, when the new exhaust seals arrive.
When I was convinced it was oil blowby I bought a compressor and leakdown tester to see which components had failed. I don’t actually need it now, but it’s something I could have used a dozen times on every bike. Every carb video is always “blow through with compressed air”. So I’ve had some fun shopping as well. Nearly too much fun.
I’ve recently found out about the Honda Shadow which uses the same single pin thing as a Harley to get the ‘potato potato’ sound. But with a clutch you can pull in, and reliability to get you home. Then I saw Kawasaki have done the same with the VN models of cruisers. I thought the SV project was done and dusted with no challenge, so I was bored and looking around. Someone was selling a VN1500, absolutely gorgeous condition, in need of the gearbox sorting (full engine strip), starting price £750! I put a bid sniper in for £1,055. It looked like I was getting it until the last few seconds when someone outbid my snipe by £5. Gutted. Five pounds. To be honest I was OK with it, despite the disappointment. £1,055, £300 for a gearbox, hundreds in gaskets, oil, filter, all the usual gubbins… It would have soon cracked £1,500 and I don’t know how long I’ll be able to drive for a job. As it turns out I wouldn’t have been able to sell the SV to fund it. It would have been lovely, but the possible worry wouldn’t have been worth it.
Oh, and I’ve started the procedure to cash in a £4k pension. It’s going to take another month or so, so I’ll be ready if I lose my licence, but I could cancel the application if I get a good outcome.
Lots going on.