Silk 700s Mk2

[Stenton]

I have just started cleaning and examining this bike prior to a full restoration, and one of the things that I have discovered is that the silencer is holed on the underside. Drops of black oil keep appearing from the hole. The silencer casing could be repaired and then re-chromed, but I think that a better solution would be to obtain and fit a new silencer of the correct type - always assuming that they are still available. Does anyone know where I could get a new one, or are there alternative silencers which might suit the engine better?

[Hendred]

How big is the hole?   Is it a rust hole or a drain hole? I get drips of black oil out of mine but not looked hard to see where it comes from.  Just the delights of running a two stroke engine!

Allden Exhausts in Market Rasen have the patterns for making the exhaust in stainless.  The only source I know of for the exhaust.

[Stenton]

2696M
fu37rya53lThanks for your reply. I think it is a rust hole, although I cannot be sure until I have removed the silencer for full examination. Whatever it is, a new exhaust in stainless steel woud be better than trying to renovate the existing chrome-plate one, and I will contact Allden exhausts at a later date with a view to having a new one made.

[Stenton]

Allden exhausts seem to have gone out of business; at any rate, their telephone number is not recognised and their website is defunct.

[Smokey_Paul]

I am looking into this at present and have found one supplier that will replicate my silencer in highly polished stainless for about £300. Will let you know as may be cheaper to have two made.

[Stenton]

Excellent; please keep me posted. The exhaust manifold is rusty in the usual place, and I would like to have that re-made in S/S as well. If I get any positive reaction from the specialist manufacturers I have already contacted, I will let you know.
As for a bike lift, I already have an hydraulic car jack, various axle stands and large wooden blocks. I live near Trago Mills, Liskeard, and they sell good hydraulic bike lifts at reasonable prices. I will still look carefully at the Spondon frame to see if it is possible to design a suitable centre stand for the bike.S5J6L