drhasegawa

After the engine did not start again on the gas refueIing stop, and returun to Hayama, I visited Elite Motors in Nagasawa, Misaki. After hearing the current illness, meister Sakamoto immediately install the additional second thick cable from the alternator to the battery - Photo-1 New line from the alternator, very thick compared with the existing thin cable, - Photo-2 Distal charging terminal to the battery. He taught me how to check if the alternator is really generating the electric power to the battery (to rule out the possibility that the alternator itself is the primary cause) - Photo-3 The electric tester (multimeter) is set, one test end to the alternator's main body and the other end to the outlet terminal. O.K. 14.45 volts, the alternator is proved to be working. I hope this treatment is effective. I return to Hayama retreat through the east side of Miura Peninsula comfortably.

to Demoray, actually this is the first time I meet Honda S800. This machine was lately rebuilt to twin cam with twin? caburator by meister Teshima. Since this car's owner is private practice doctor, investment seems effective. This car may be exeptional :）

MV8 - Thanks for your advice.

On December 16 2025, I test run my Birkin to Odawara City. Firstly in excellent condition, though, after 5 minutes stop at Seisho Bypass, Kozu parking, the engine did not start. The tester indicates 7.4 volt with the battery, so, I start the engine with jump starter, O.K. engine starts. On the return road from Odawara City on the route One, the engine becomes unsteady and finally stopped. Be stacked embarrassed on the road side, a yellow Honda Sports S800 stopped and an aged gentle man says "Can I help you ?" (What a good Samaritan!). He was a seasoned auto mechanic (age 75-year-old, cf. I am 74-year-old), then performing a test run for his client's vintage sports car. He kindly leads me, after returning to his garage and bringing back on reserve battery for me, to his garage nearby - Photo-1 Meister Teshima's garage, - Photo-2 ditto his hard-boiled factory, - Photo-3 his mechanic (ditto, aged) narrowed down to a loose electric contact to the Caterham's alternator, - Photo-4 the new terminal installed. It still remains unclear whether this electric terminal problem was the primary cause of the current trouble, though, I could return to Hayama successfully this day, with a lent reserve battery. A week later, I visited his garage to return the borrowed battery with two packages of Sapporo black beer (6x2) as a token of gratitude. Old good mechanics never die.

Actually, my Birkin 7 has suffered from drained battery, lately, probably caused by mild current leakage. When I returned from Tokyo home to Hayama retreat after one week, my Birkin's engine did not fire up recently. So I purchased from Amazon, (1) battery kill switch, (2) Jump (kick) starter (USB-charged auxiliary power), (3) fast pulse battery charger. Today on December 14, I return to Hayama and tried these devices. Geez, kick starter works (photo-1). These devices are not so expensive. seemingly very effective for our vintage car. From the first, I install kill switch on the minus (-) terminal. I will cut the circuit when I go home to Tokyo. By turning black circle handle, circuit is turned kill/alive. Very low-cost countermeasure - (Photo-3, 1.jpg). Then I charge the battery with pulse charger connected with home electric current source (Photo-2, 3.jpg). I will continue this for overnight. Actually, after my Birkin reach 140,000 km mileage, several problems are occurring more frequently. Now, 148,000 km, I am making an effort,,,

To IamScotticus: the description on the bill of Elite Motors only shows "Lotus-seven 70Am". The label is on the other side of the new alternator, which I cannot inspect. According to my Meister, the vendor is Caterham's local corporation at Osaka.

The engine did not start up in the traffic congestion at the exit of Seisho Bypass in the last week holiday, where I hardly succeed to push my Birkin to the roadside (image 1 - 35s.jpg), and call the road service center of Sony Sompo, the carrier car reached about one hour later, sigh of relief (image 2 - 46s.jpg). She was carried next day to the Elite Motors, so-to-speak attending physician. The trouble was diagnosed as alternator's (generator) by Elite Motors, and the repair has finished one week later. 30-year old Lucas alternator (image 3 - IMG ,,,.jpg) is being replaced to Caterham 70 Am (image 4 - DSC,, 04s). Thanks for Lucas part for a long-standing service, Amen. As a result, my Birkin is now a hybrid with Caterham clamshell fender and alternator,,, Birkinham ? (image 5 - IMG ,, jpg)

Thanx for your suggestion. I would add strong adhesive under the indicated point of the second stay.

Re to Vovchandr: >> How's the reception of the Birkin by the public in Japan? I know small sized cars aren't anything strange to the people used to Kei cars but it's a visual statement like no other. << Seven in general is accepted not only by the maniac but also by the general public. Pedestrians occasionally send me thumb-up sign. OTH, between Seven maniacs, some discrimination seems exist, at the summit of the food chain, Caterham is the champion, however, seven people are largely all families, communicating technical experiences.

After experiencing intermittent fractures of the front cycle fender stays and installment of clamshell type fender, my Birkin (some people says poorman's Seven) reached 140,000 km mileage on September 19. Past history: 20,000 km in January 2006 --> 30,000 km in March 2007 --> 40,000 km in July 2008 --> 50,000 km in October 2009 --> 60,000 km in January 2011 --> 70,000 km in September 2012 --> 80,000 km in May 2014 --> 90,000 km in June 2016 --> 100,000 km in March 2018 --> 110,000 km in March 22 2020 --> 120,000 km in November 2021 --> 130,000 km in April 2023. I purchased this car on October 2 2004, at odometer 9,285 km then. Distance meter has already spinned around one time (+ 100,000 meter). Digit number was short for my Birkin.　Mileage meter just before 140,000 km is added. https://drhasegawa.com/prisoner6birkin/birkin-geo.htm

After experiencing fracture of the front fender stay several times after exceeding 130,000 km mileage, which were treated with welding with a central core graft again and again, I make judgements that the welding is no longer the solution, since after the fracture point is treated with welding, the other area is suffering from the mechanical stress and a new rupture happens. My new approach is to replace the cycle fender with the clamshell fender of Caterham. After successfully acquired Caterham's clamshell-type fender on the net auction with reasonable price (circa 50,000 Yen including shipping cost), my Birkin entered the garage of Elite Motors (red arrows indicate the fractured cycle fender in image 104023s) and successfully installed, thanks to Meister Sakamoto (CEO), too), who showed me the installment of front (images 06 and 08) and middle(image 07) stays are MUST.

Actually, for the last six months after reaching 130,000 km, fairly severe troubles arose. 1. Rupture (fracture) of the base of the left fender stay (both front and rear sides). This portion seems to be the center of vibration stress. My meister finally treat with welding with a center steel core, just like, the treatment of fracture of aged person's femoral bone with artificial graft core. 2. Engine start trouble, which is treated with change of ignition coil (Lucas sport). I push hard to reach 140,000 km mileage.

Circa 230 km for one round-Mt Fuji trip (Hayama-Hakone-Gotemba-Fujinomiya-Narusawa-Fujiyosida- Gotemba-Matsuda-Enoshima-Hayama). Thanks for your interest.

Regarding May 18 63th round-Mount Fuji tour on Birkin (1993 model, mileage 138,000 km), feel free to visit my page at http://drhasegawa.com/prisoner6birkin/birkin-geo.htm#240518 (To view the images, click the underlined phrases, and to return to this page, click RETURN key of your browser) Users with large monitor and quick broadband net settings recommended.、

I drive low-key, low-profile on regulation speed, always, since I am old age (71 y.o.) ,,,,

My Birkin (1993 model) reached 130,000 km mileage in Gotemba city today in Japan.　British Ford Kent engine alive and well, 1.6 L OHV. Status post the meter one cycle 99999 finished... Past history: 20,000 km in January 2006 --> 30,000 km in March 2007 --> 40,000 km in July 2008 --> 50,000 km in October 2009 --> 60,000 km in January 2011 --> 70,000 km in September 2012 --> 80,000 km in May 2014 --> 90,000 km in June 2016 --> 100,000 km in March 2018 --> 110,000 km in March 22 2020 --> 120,000 km in Nov 2021. https://drhasegawa.com/prisoner6birkin/birkin-geo.htm

Croc, I usually tour this around-Mt Fuji circle till late November, and after spring comes, I resume. The problem is that the traffic jam is murderous in this splendid autumn season, every one is rushing in to Lake Kawaguchi area from every directions. I use back roads (prefectural roads, not national roads) to ward off, however, in some bad day, I resign to u-turn and return to Hayama retreat.

Thanks for your comment !

For web version of Nov 6 58th Around-Mt. Fuji Tour, please visit my page at, https://drhasegawa.com/prisoner6birkin/birkin-geo.htm#221106 To view the images, click the underlined phrases, and to return to this page, click RETURN key of your browser, ,, don't wait till whole page is downloaded.

My pleasure. A.

I reach the usual gorgeous paddy in Oyama town (fixed-point observation site) on the return road from Otome Pass to Hayama. Rice is growing steadily. https://drhasegawa.com/prisoner6birkin/birkin-geo.htm#220724 Images 6s, 10s, 12s are on July 24 and Image 5s is on June 12 just after a short period of transplanting of rice seedlings. Come on Japanese rice. I am very concerned with calamity of Ukraine farmers,,,,,

to MV8. Thanx for your advice. My chief mechanic also advises me to obtain secondhand VDO meter on the net for worm gear replacement, domestic and international, though, it is very rare, or outrageously expensive in spite of aging. I hope the meter survives till at least 130,000 km mileage. Re: clutch cable - Mine too once broke and replaced. Then I mastered driving without clutch (Non-synchronous transmission driving). I always carry substitute accelerator cables when driving Seven, which broke twice in the past. Boys always take a difficult way !

After mileage exceeds 110,000 km, the trip meter of my old Birkin 1993 stops occasionally, and after several 10 kms, it recovers, again, and again. https://drhasegawa.com/prisoner6birkin/birkin-geo.htm#201115 Recently, I notice the meter stops after mild backward movement in the parking stop for toilet. So when I notice the trouble, I stop the car at the road side or on the wide open space, and set backward gear, and a bit violently go in reverse 1~2 meters back (kick ass mode). Maybe, twice. Voila, the meter recovers instantly !!. After that, the meter proceeds smoothly for next circa 200 kms. This can work over several times recently. I am not car engineer and actually amateur Seven fan. Does anyone explain this phenomenon with mechanical engineering knowledge ? -- Akio Hasegawa, M.D., PhD Pathologist Koiwa, Tokyo, Japan New Home Page at Sakura server: http://drhasegawa.sakura.ne.jp/index.html or http://drhasegawa.com

Thank you for recalling the life in Japan (Nippon).

Yesterday, on a fine spring day, I tour on Birkin 7 to view cherry in full blossom around Route 413. For images, feel free to visit my page at http://drhasegawa.com/prisoner6birkin/birkin-geo.htm#220410 (To view the images, click the underlined phrases, and to return to this page, click RETURN key of your browser, Please don't wait until the previous full page is uploaded) A few sample images are up here,