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Messages - cardan

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736
British Bikes / Re: British combo ?
« on: July 14, 2016, 09:56:03 AM »

I agree with R and Bob - continental from the period 1929 - 1934. The tank shape is a bit like NSU, but it was a popular shape at the time. Gnome et Rhone and others were very similar. If you wanted to identify it, there are about five points that would need matching: the tank shape, the fork type (centre spring with dampers on the bottom spindle and links recessed along their centre-line), the (Bosch?) single-point headlamp, the hand gear change at the front of the tank on the right side, and the shape of the tank transfer.

I don't know enough about continental bikes of this period to even begin to guess!

Since the bike obviously still exists, and was photographed somewhere relatively recently, I guess someone somewhere knows it very well!

Cheers

Leon

737
Autojumble / Re: James 1928 V Twin 500cc parts and help needed
« on: July 12, 2016, 07:46:40 AM »

Hi David,

Time to find a fellow 500 James owner I think, or at least the VMCC James Marque Expert. Valve springs are a pain unless you have a sample to go by.

Even though very sporty bikes, like OHV Nortons or 4-valve Rudges, were starting to get very strong valve springs by 1928, I suspect the James s.v. would use soft-ish springs. I reckon that a "two thumb lift" would be about right. Be suspicious if you end up with valves that can't be lifted from their seats with your thumbs - it won't help performance but it will ruin your cams and followers.

Cheers

Leon

738
British Bikes / Re: Grigg motorbike.
« on: July 12, 2016, 02:38:02 AM »

I'd love to see a photo of the Grigg-Blackburne Chris, as I have an Australian-made Victor Blackburne myself. Mine is about 1920-21, with an 8-hp (1000cc) side valve twin. The motor has the largest outside flywheel known to man.

Aside from being the only Grigg-B&H, I wonder if it's the only surviving B&H twin?

JFerg: I wonder whether you could try to track down a Grigg frame, of the type used for the 350cc Villiers, with a view to fitting one of your B&S motors? Presumably the VMCC has a Grigg Marque Specialist.

Cheers

Leon

739
British Bikes / Re: Grigg motorbike.
« on: July 11, 2016, 07:54:37 AM »

Last evening I had a browse in my paper magazines. Grigg certainly used a range of motors. In addition to the 348cc Villiers two-stroke and the weird 181cc aluminium-cylinder four-stroke (no idea what this is) in the article above, I found mention of a Grigg Blackburne (single) and also a 998cc V-twin with a 3-speed Sturmey Archer gearbox described as a 1924 model. Unfortunately the v-twin was in the small adverts and there was no mention of the make of motor. I suppose it could be the mysterious B&H.

I found no mention of the B&H engine, but clearly Grigg were keen to please and could have fitted one or more bikes with this make of motor.

JFerg: I was thinking about Grigg offering to fit a B&S motor. Would they have done this if they had not tried out the B&S in their bike? I don't think so. The Grigg works must have had at least one, so I wonder where they got it from?

Cheers

Leon

740
Identify these bikes! / Re: Any idea on this rear wheel ?
« on: July 10, 2016, 11:34:30 PM »

26" is nominally the outside diameter of the tyre - these days we measure the rim. "26 x 2 1/2  / 2 1/4" on the tyre means that the appropriate rim size is about 22 1/2" o/a diameter, rather than a tyre labelled "26 x 2 1/2" which went on a 21" rim. It's a long story...
Anyway, you have a rear wheel from the 1920s missing its brake rim. The 6-bolts pattern is pretty nondescript, but the hub is possibly a British Hub Company item that was used by hundreds of makers.
A nice relic, but given the level of rust it's probably not of too much use to anyone. Under the tyre the rim will be badly rusted.
Cheers
Leon

741
Identify these bikes! / Re: Any idea on this rear wheel ?
« on: July 10, 2016, 12:08:11 PM »

That's a lovely Douglas LAB - just my cup of tea. 1910-ish I think.

Leon

742
Identify these bikes! / Re: Any idea on this rear wheel ?
« on: July 10, 2016, 12:03:26 PM »
Hi Jon,
The 20 extra spokes were for the belt rim. For some bikes (like early Triumphs) the belt rim was attached to the exiting spoke, while other used the extra short spokes, and sometimes both methods were used.
Believe it or not, chain drive dates from the earliest days of the motorcycle c1900, but it was not popular in the early days as it was considered harsh. As chains improved, and various cush drives were perfected, chain drive became more common. Belt final drive had pretty-much disappeared by the mid 1920s.
If you post a photo of your wheel and the hub we can probably identify it.
Cheers
Leon

743
British Bikes / Re: Grigg motorbike.
« on: July 10, 2016, 02:12:44 AM »

Thanks Murdo - I've never seen a B&H motor before! Looks interesting, but you'd have to be confident to set up in the face of the other more established manufacturers.

John you may be right. At the 1922 Show, Grigg offered a range of machines for 1923. No mention of B&H, but they did offer to fit B&S if requested. If your records are complete, then it's likely no one asked!

The Grigg B&H would be a good bike for the weirdo motorcycle historian - an interesting design from a not-well-known maker fitted with an unheard-of engine! Now if I lived in the UK...

Cheers

Leon

744
British Bikes / Re: Grigg motorbike.
« on: July 09, 2016, 10:35:44 AM »

B&S, yes Grigg used them, but I've not heard of B&H. Can you scan the photo for us?

Leon

745
British Bikes / Re: Unknown vintage bikes
« on: July 09, 2016, 03:19:34 AM »

The first one - a bit newer than the second going by the registration number - is a New Imperial, likely a 1926 Model 1 300 Deluxe Semi Sports. This was similar to the 1925 offering, but used a new New Imperial motor to replace the previous year's JAP.

I couldn't easily find a good photo on the web, but here's an advert with the Model 1 at top left. http://cybermotorcycle.com/gallery/new-imperial-1926/New-Imperial-1926-models-advertisement.htm

The photos are particularly atmospheric, but particularly blurred! However a pair of nice light-weight, sporty bikes from the mid 1920s.

Cheers

Leon


746
British Bikes / Re: Unknown vintage bikes
« on: July 09, 2016, 02:44:20 AM »

I suppose the second one is a Raleigh, from about 1923-4, and something like this one http://www.yesterdays.nl/raleigh-1924-model-399cc-cyl-sv-p-2447.html

The first one required a bit more thought.

Leon

747
Autojumble / Re: James 1928 V Twin 500cc parts and help needed
« on: July 07, 2016, 01:45:40 AM »
Hi John,
I'm just bubbling over with carby info at the moment, so happy to share it. The AMAC was also a fine carb through the 1920s, and while I suspect they had the edge for outright performance they didn't bring out a carb with a pilot jet until the PJ series in 1926-27. I guess they didn't care too much about idling in those days!
Here's a c1927 AMAC PJY. As the caption says there were three sizes, as well as top and bottom feed variants (PJX and PJY). AMAC were good at stamping identification marks, so if you find an original AMAC the code (eg PJY15) will identify it immediately.
Cheers
Leon

748
Identify these bikes! / Re: Help! Trying to identify 30's Bike
« on: July 06, 2016, 10:45:59 AM »

Well done Helmut - when I glanced at the photo I immediately though "New Hudson", but you are correct it is clearly a Triumph. Quite a low period for Triumph (and others) and I don't think I've ever seen one of these enclosed slopers in the flesh.

Leon


749
Autojumble / Re: James 1928 V Twin 500cc parts and help needed
« on: July 06, 2016, 12:29:09 AM »
John we were discussing B&Bs and I mentioned the very nice one you pointed to on ebay was too early for 1928. However there is one for sale on ebay at the moment http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/252444276646 that would suit a sporting bike from 1924-1928 (although it might be a bit big for the James). The pilot jet arrangement on these B&Bs is quite interesting, and one of the photos on the listing (below) shows it very nicely. There are two adjusters for the pilot jet, one on either side of the mixing chamber. One controls the air, the other controls the fuel. Presumably you could get a very nice idle!

B&B carburettors were very sophisticated - they were the first of the major British makers to use a tapered needle attached to the throttle valve (1913-14), and in 1915 they brought in an adjustable pilot jet for easy starting and reliable low-speed running.

Cheers

Leon

750
Autojumble / Re: James 1928 V Twin 500cc parts and help needed
« on: July 06, 2016, 12:08:13 AM »

I must admit I'd never seen - or perhaps never noticed - a concentric Binks-AMAL until the last week! No idea what they were fitted to, so it could be a lawnmower or similar. The first year for AMAL (Amalgamated from Binks, AMAC and B&B) was 1929, but for a year or two there was some mixed branding, the most common of which was Binks-branded carbies (not the lawnmower type!) mounted on Nortons in 1929, and maybe 1930. Rare these days. The AMAC brand was used on the continent many years after it disappeared in the UK.

I've been amusing myself over the last month or so sorting out the year-by-year features of AMAC and B&B and trying to sort out bits in my carby junk box. Interesting activity once you have some knowledge.

Leon

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