I still haven't started the engine on the Special, though I've managed to get a few pops and bangs in the exhaust.

I thought that might point to ignition or valve timing, so I first took the cam cover off to determine that at TDC on number 1, both valves were fully closed, the gap was a loose .015" and the valves on number 6 were just rocking on opening and closing.

All was as it should be. So, if the valve timing was correct, then the ignition must be at fault (there's plenty of fuel). Following the instructions for the Megajolt Lite Jr system, I've arranged the sensor and the missing tooth on the trigger wheel as the graphic illustrates. If the spark occurs when the missing tooth is 'seen', then I'm kicking off with 60° advance - which seems a bit rum to me. However, the blurb says that the missing tooth is the reference for TDC on number 1. There must be something clever going on in the box of tricks that I'm not understanding. To see if I was getting a spark, perhaps setting the system up on the lathe with no attention to the relationship between the sensor and the missing tooth, has loaded a bunch of spurious data into the ECU? Some will say refit the distributor, which I could, but it would stick out of the top of the bonnet - spoiling the line somewhat - so that's not an option. There's a hot rod meeting up the road in a few days' time, so I'll pop along to that and search out someone who might be able to explain what's going on.

A generous rump steak from the Norfolk butcher's own herd, encouraged Chumley to expedite the Buick's starter fandango.

The principle is easy enough to grasp...

... though its execution took a bit more head-scratching to get it to work as envisaged.

I'd originally thought that I could attach a return spring to the spare lug on the Dynastart, but the geometry encouraged the actuating plunger to jam in the aluminium block. A much more effective method was to turn up a couple of PVC collars that fitted a spring found in the stores, and weld on a washer as a keeper. The roller assembly unscrews from the bottom, so maintenance is unaffected by fixing the washer to the plunger shaft.

A collar on the shaft acting as a stop, prevents the rollers from going over centre. It looks as though it's going to work, and as long as the flywheel stays relatively oil free, the belt bonded to the engagement wheel should provide enough friction to turn the engine over.

A local auction has a number of BSA C15's on the list, and I went along to help with the catalogue photography - well, not taking the pictures, just humping twenty-seven motorcycles around. Flat tyres were not helpful, but we found a small compressor after the initial struggle - rotary-engined Nortons are a lot heavier than I remember! A blue C15 was my first motorcycle; bought for £7.10.00 from a school chum who lived in Ruislip. Pa borrowed the MT section's J2 to fetch it (he was Station MT Officer at the time). I thought about bidding for this one as it's the identical model and colour, but as 60's motorcycle prices go, I probably wouldn't get it.