methanol anybody?
anone here know anything about methanol? looking at making my sprint bike run on it - any links appreciated

nutter, invite me to the first run! Sorry don't know that much about it - it would be worth PM'ing Rico (father fury) on the JJ, I know he screws with stuff like that.

I used to run a 5t sprinter on alky. You've got to run it much richer than on pump juice so all your jets need to be bigger and your slide needs to have a smaller cutaway - assuming you're using an Amal. Between 20 and 40% seems to be right- Amal's probably the best carb to go for - Surrey Cycles do a conversion kit to run on alky - different seals etc that don't perish. It runs a lot cooler than petrol so some reliability bonuses but you need to choke the cooling with a baffle or something when the engine is hot, cos the methanol will just evaporate. Google 'latent heat of evaporation'. It can be enough to freeze your manifold and the fuel in your line. Maybe a carb heater would help? I seem to remember timing was about the same but it depends on the grade of fuel you buy. I think race fuel (nitromethane mix) can run silly advance, like about 50 degrees and higher comp. You can also get a top end lubricant that helps with valve and ring life but I can't remember what it's called. Also you need to change your oil A LOT more frequently - it contaminates very quickly.

cool - ive read about the oil and thats no biggy - its a sprint bike so wont be used much and oil change after every meet will only be a couple of quid - reg changes fine i knew you had to dump a lot more fuel through did know about the cutaway - will have a look up on that - dont know what carb ill be on - need to look into the rule book and see whats allowed but it all looks reasonably relaxed as long as your bike is "in the spirit" or its age this is the kind of riding position i will be having - with a tiger cub haha - happy days - just not easy getting the rules about what they will let me do to it to still be in class

When you get the rules can you post a link. It's somehting I've been toying with getting back into - Think supercharged 6T or something!

hey man - this is what i have so far - apparently its the main thing and then different series have amendments http://www.acu.org.uk/info/acu_handbook.aspx then this seems to be fairly generic amendments for vintage class which im guessing you would be looking at... Vintage classes will be sub divided, subject to the number of entries as per the following: a) Pre War (Up to 1946) Up to 250cc b) Pre War (Up to 1946) Up to 350cc c) Pre War (Up to 1946) Up to 500cc d) Pre War (Up to 1946) Unlimited e) Post War (1946 - 1960) Up to 250cc f) Post War (1946 - 1960) Up to 350cc g) Post War (1946 - 1960) Up to 500cc h) Post War (1946 - 1960) Unlimited The cut off date for the Vintage class is 31 December 1960. 1. The main aim is to try and present machines which look as they would have done in Sprints of the period they represent. 2. Basic machine, engine type, frame, forks and wheels to be contemporary with the machine's stated age. 3. Any reasonable cycle parts modifications, bearing in mind point 1 to be permitted, ie. Smaller fuel tanks, oil tanks, alloy rims, engine plates, etc, also removal of components ie, mudguards etc, subject to ACU GCR's. 4. No blatantly unusual wheel sizes or wheel types, ie, NO cast alloy wheels etc. 5. Any internal engine modifications permitted, but any external power boosting modifications, to be contemporary with the machine's stated age, ie, carburettors to be of the correct era for pre 1946 classes, NO RESTRICTIONS for post 1946 classes. NO turbochargers or Nitrous Oxide equipment. 6. Methanol & Nitro Methane may be used. 7. Only treaded tyres to be used (NO hand cut slicks allowed)