Maintaining major components on your 'beam should provide a satisfiably achievable challenge. However if you've never undertaken to overhall something as important as the rear drive, then it's always going to be reassuring to make changes when those with more experience are around. And so to take this to it's ultimate conclusion, why not overhall your bike at the annual Sunbeam rally? This summer, and by prior arrangement, Brian was keenly assisted by Colin and others, in replacing the rear drive on his S7 deluxe, the details of the tale and techniques are below. However, it's not the only rally repair work to have been undertaken, nor the most mammoth, a few years ago now (sometime in the early nineties) a full engine rebuild was completed on the rally field. In what better company could such a task be undertaken? This year provided a bumper crop of 'running repairs' being made at the rally, from altering timing and switching carbs on a Friday night, to fiddling with flat batteries on Sunday afternoon. The practice ought to be encoraged, there aren't too many happy campers who don't enjoy fettling and what an opportunity to rack the collective cognisance. I might even sponsor a trophy - most heavyweight rally maintanance. Bring a basketcase, ride it home. Remember to fit a rack for the trophy. Seriously, don't turn up with a frame and a lump and expect folk to blast, spray, whack and nurture all weekend to turn your bag of bits into a show winner. At least send a begging letter to the mag' first.

Anyroadup, removing a readdrive. The essential fact to remember is that the rear plunger springs are under significant compression. Take care and whenever possible keep important things out of any potential trajectory. Before the change started the bike was pulled onto it's mainstand and the front wheel secured, with tugging and efforts going on at the back, don't risk the bike moving or toppling.

Step 1 The rear light wiring should disconected from within the electrics box (there should be a terminal block connection, if there isn't, snip the wires and fit one when you refit the mudguard). Remove the rear mudguard and exhaust (up to the flexijoint). Disconnect the rear brake and drive shaft.

Step 2 Remove the rear wheel. The rear wheel spindle should turn out and the wheel should drop out.

Step 3 Tap out the central plunger column (plate 3, part 36), with a wooden rod (a length of broom handle does the job). This should keep the unit in shape.

Step 4Slide a thin metal plates inbetween the frame and the suspension unit outer shrouds. At the rally, metal plates had been misplaced, so flatten tent pegs were used.

Step 5Get a large G-clamp into position adjacent to the frame ready to take the strain. Carefully slide the plunger from between frame, to between to the G-clamp.

Step 6Prepare to take the weight of the reardrive. Squeeze the springs down with a turn on the G-clamp. With the strain on the G-clamps, fit the weight off the frame and carefully lift the drive to the floor. Take care to keep the piece together, the springs are still under great compression.

Step 7Slack off the G-clamp. Not too many turns should release the pressure so the springs are no-longer a danger.

Step 8Have a well earnt cuppa.

Step 9Get the new (heh!) reardrive into the G-clamp by reversing step 7.

Step 10Reverse steps 6, 5, 4 and 3. When dropping the central plunger column back, you will need to line up the grove with the hole for the rear wheel spindle. Good light and good luck helps. Once it is lined up, get the wheel back in position and the rear wheel spindle should twist back in.

Step 11Fill the rear drive with oil.

Step 12Recontect the rear light wiring, mudguard and exhaust. Reconnect the rear brake and drive shaft.

Step 13Stand back and enjoy the accolade of your peers and ride off on your newly improved 'beam. Untie the front wheel mooring first, obivously.

There are alternative methods for reardrive removal, such as using threaded rod with nuts and washers to compress the springs. I haven't attempted either, so won't try and suggest which is preferable, I only had the chance to photograph (and help out) this switch at the rally. I hope instructions are complete(!), understandable and helpfull to fellow members. The reardrive swop at the rally was to transform a speed shy S7 Deluxe solo bike running on a sidecar gearing, into a sprightly sporty solo S7 Deluxe. The morph is seemingly successful after the owners first few rides out.