classic motorcycle forum

There is a 28mm Micarb to suit a 500 RE .........the Ariel was supposedly rebuilt with Red Hunter internals..........the only difference in 1950 was the flywheels- steel vs cast iron   the carby 276 vs 289,and a valanced front mudguard ......it came with a melted carb and magneto .......Ive put a brass all parts carb on it ,and it seems to run quite well ,the few turns Ive had it out on  the back street.

Next is my Ariel VG ........Im sure its in a alot better condition mechanically than the Norton,as it was burned up in a carb fire many years ago .....anyhoo,its going again but has had very little use ..........at the moment its got a brass allparts carby (wont melt next time there is a fire),which is only 1" bore ..........question is ,do I bore out a 276 to 1 & 1/16 (correct size) or find a 289.........I ve had a look around for a 289 ,but seems they are rare and valuable ...even when knackered .........in fact every Amal ive seen is knackered ,but that has no effect on the asking price............something to do with a new one costing $1000 by the time it arrives in the antipodes...........Makes the Indian Mikuni off a RE at $90 delivered very attractive.............but that would be heresy ,of course.

JAPs traditionally breathe only through the oilbox ......if you put breathers anywhere else ,you upset the lubrication system,and may even cut off the big end feed

OK,have bit the bullet ,and ordered a WW 2 shaft .........noticed that RGM have in tiny print that they have no stock of anything but Commando shafts ........I certainly have the technology ,probably could make one ......but why bother .

Everyone tells me that business has fallen in a hole ........not by old bike sales ,it hasnt.

I need to replace the mainshaft in the G 101 laydown box in my 1950 ES2 .......Ive sort of put this off for more than 20 years ,and at that point in time ,I couldnt identify the correct shaft without dismantling the box .........Anyone help with this ......I was in the NOC at that time ...........What I need is a length ...RGM offer a "pre AMC" shaft ......but there were a lot of pre AMC gearboxes ,not just the laydown..............I sort of know the answer .....pull the box to pieces ......but I dont want to be another silly old geezer with a dozen bikes in pieces......John-Whiting.

Ive sort of wanted a copy of "The JAP Engine " by Fenner for years ,but never going to pay a silly price .........then I just happened to see an as new copy with the red dust cover intact for $10 at a flea market .........anyhoo,this book includes a section by Wal Phillips on the speedway engines .........and thats where the photo of the timing gear comes from .

$52,800.