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Messages - JFerg

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16
Identify these bikes! / Re: Barr and Stroud mystery bike
« on: May 03, 2021, 10:27:26 PM »
More jigsaw pieces, thanks Leon.

Can you point me to that article, I need a copy of that in my file.

cheers,
JFerg

17
Identify these bikes! / Re: Barr and Stroud mystery bike
« on: May 03, 2021, 01:06:38 PM »
I can get very close, Leon, but not quite claim the cigar.

One engine, #290, was sent to Adelaide.  It was ordered on 12 May, 1922, and despatched on the 19th, to Roy Hill & Co, in Adelaide.

Subsequent research showed that Roy Hill & Co became Roy Hill and Sons, and were suppliers to the Adelaide motor trade.  They had a link to Empire Cycles through Charles Ramsay, who apparently was a manager of both firms.  No demonstrable link to Elliots, although the dates match very nicely.  Despatch Anniesland in May, arrive Adelaide August or September.

Would be fairly sure it was a one-off.

However.....  Warren maintained that Allparts had a V twin B&S as a window display circa 1937.  A then 13 year old engine thought worthy of a window display.  Hard to imagine it then being scrapped; is it under an Adelaide bench somewhere?

18
British Bikes / Re: Junkyard Villiers find - Waratah history
« on: February 06, 2021, 11:15:21 PM »
An even redder herring.

Two other engines, a 500 and a V twin, were despatched to Sydney in April 1923, but just to a shipping mark "S294", which is tantalising.  That 500 is in Ever Onward, but how and why it travelled from Sydney to Wilcannia still in the packaging remains a mystery.

19
British Bikes / Re: Junkyard Villiers find - Waratah history
« on: February 06, 2021, 11:02:58 PM »

What did they do with them? Not build two B&S Waratahs, because at this time (1923-4) it was Williams Bros (the elder generation of the family) and not P&R Williams (the younger generation) who were importing and selling Waratahs.


My finger fault on the date.  The order was placed on 13 Nov, 1923 for delivery "on account of Messrs P&R Williams Ltd, Sydney", and was despatched on the 17th.  Both engines complete with AMAC carbs and ML magneto.

At least we know what didn't happen to them.....

20
British Bikes / Re: Junkyard Villiers find - Waratah history
« on: February 06, 2021, 10:52:59 PM »
That is brilliant, Leon, fantastic.  Thank you.  A red herring no more!

21
British Bikes / Re: Junkyard Villiers find - Waratah history
« on: February 06, 2021, 06:34:02 AM »
Here's a P&R Williams red herring for you, Leon.

In late 1923 they bought two Barr & Stroud engines, a 350 and 1,000cc V twin.  Not been able to find a trace of either since, but conventional logic would be that they were each built into a machine of some description.  Both engines were on the same order.

cheers,
JFerg

22
British Bikes / Re: Omega motorcycle
« on: January 06, 2021, 02:41:30 AM »
Thanks, Murdo.

Omega bought at least 38 engines from Barr & Stroud, all 350's.  Not aware of any survivors.

JFerg

23
British Bikes / Re: ML Magneto.
« on: November 06, 2020, 10:13:29 PM »
That's it exactly, Leon, thanks.
Obviously my "self contained spring" isn't doing what it should.  Given the short travel, light load and proximity of the cable anchor, it should push back if I increase my cable gauge a whisker.  I don't really want to pull it off and apart if I can avoid it.

many thanks,
JFerg

24
British Bikes / ML Magneto.
« on: November 06, 2020, 05:18:03 AM »
My current project is approaching completion.  I've made the cables, but have a problem with the advance/retard for the reconditioned round ML magneto.  There is no internal spring to return the points cam to the full retard position.  I'd planned to use an external volute spring over the cable, but the lever arm is rounded such that the spring flips over the end at full advance and jams there.  There's nowhere on the arm to attach a spring, and only smooth crankcase beneath it, so nowhere to anchor a spring there either.  What's the standard ML arrangement?

25
Identify these bikes! / Re: Identify this tank please
« on: October 07, 2020, 10:04:11 PM »
a couple more pictures.

26
Identify these bikes! / Identify this tank please
« on: October 06, 2020, 11:16:04 PM »
This is close to the last item from a deceased estate I am clearing.  It's a lovely tank, but what's it from?  Nicely made, with the bottom edges rounded to roll under, it looks European; but the threads are all Imperial, so I guess it's British.  It has (or had) a hand auxiliary pump.  That makes it a very early saddle tank, 1925 or 1926.  Best suggestion I've had is OEC, and it could be; but all I can find on OEC is either later or so focussed on duplex steering that the tank gets neither mention nor photo.  Mountings are 9" x 5 1/14".

27
British Bikes / Re: AMAL 289 questions
« on: August 04, 2020, 11:20:11 PM »
Don't know what happened there....

1.  Holes are for the intake of air at idle, but that's not going to be an issue in this case.
2.  Fuel level in a vertically mounted carb is, in the perfect world, just below the jet in the choke such that when the throttle is opened, fuel will seep into the choke by surface tension.  When the engine is not running, of course.  In practice, a smidge below this is perfect and does not dribble.  With the chokes and jets horizontal, the same principle will apply.  The highest level where it won't dribble out unassisted.  Note that this is the fuel level, not the float level, which is a very different thing.
With the standard type 29/289, there's a drilling through the arm of the float bowl.  This is blanked with a little screw opposite the drilling on the mounting flange of the float bowl.  Replace that with a little adapter screw and a pit of clear plastic tubing tied to the side of the carb and you can see the fuel level precisely.

28
British Bikes / Re: AMAL 289 questions
« on: August 04, 2020, 11:09:12 PM »
Back at the original question;

1.

29
American Bikes / 1914 two speed American X
« on: July 30, 2020, 02:58:56 AM »
Just dragged out of a garage after 40 plus years in hiding.  Needs tyres and a wipe over with the oily rag before it's ready to use.  Shannon's Auctions, Melbourne, on-line auction starting 11 November.  When will you see another one?

30
European and Other Bikes / Cito KG
« on: July 30, 2020, 02:53:30 AM »
Here is your chance.  As far as I can tell, there are only three other examples of the 500cc OHV, shaft drive Cito KG in existence.  This one came out of a garage in Melbourne, Australia, last week.  Very complete, although missing Bosch electric lights, and needing tyres.  Original paint and too good to restore, but why would you?  Date is unclear, but early twenties.  Now at Shannon's Auction, Melbourne, for on-line auction starting 11 November.

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