classic motorcycle forum

I have a new thought that fits in well with this old thread...

During the week a friend showed me photos of an "unidentified" frame, which the owner sort-of-thought was Excelsior but maybe not. It certainly looks Excelsior, style-wise, but the unusual feature is a "double tube" arrangement to support the tank. I went to my magazines but couldn't find a mention of this feature, which is presumably around 1923-24 since the final drive is by belt. For 1924 there were a couple of barely-mentioned models that are contenders: a 247 Villiers and a 250 (not the long-standing rather boring 293) JAP. My guess is that it is one of these. (Apparently Blackburne engines that came with the bike were clearly too large...)

I found one photo of a surviving Excelsior with a 247 Villiers https://www.carandclassic.com/car/C1468206 and I fancy I can almost see the front end of the "double tube" arrangement under the tank. Tank, fork etc look identical.

Can we verify that the "double tube" is an Excelsior feature? The frame is Excelsior 247 Villiers 1924? A couple of years later the Excelsior Minor (see above) used much the same layout, but with the 147 Villiers and a funny front fork  [edit: but without the double tubes].

Cheers

Leon

Even making your own nuts can become expensive nowadays. Sourcing Whitworth hex bar can be a drama and you have to decide between 26tpi carbon steel taps or high speed steel jobbies. Having long since built a good workshop range of 26 & 20 tpi taps I'm okay but I'd hate to be starting off now. It's great once you're set up but taps can get pricy if you don't watch out. I think I haunted every second hand tool merchant and machine shop clearance sales for years to get some of the more obscure sizes. Some of the various 1" plus 20tpi sizes for old fixed head side valve engines were a real find.
Any way, go to it Murdo. you'll be surprised how often having a tap of the right size gets you out of trouble. Just make sure you have dry long term storage for your hex bar.

Thanks for the replys. I looked at Nookys Nuts but the postage to Aus worked out to $25.00 for $7.00 of nuts. I think I will get a tap and die and some hex bar from steel suppliers and make my own.

Nooky's Nuts have excellent product. I haven't tried them lately, but mostly, worldwide, postage to Australia has gone from reasonable (pre-covid) to prohibitive. So many things I can no longer source at a half-way reasonable price. What a pity!

Leon

Thanks for the replys. I have been looking at  them (classic fasteners) and are a bit shocked at the prices ($2.70 each for plain zinc coated 3/8 nuts) compared to what I buy locally (either metric or unf/unc) for a dollar a handful. I guess that is the price of something rare. Was hoping to buy locally, or even in Aus, but the cost of postage is about the same from UK so will think some more. Other wise buy a tap and some hex bar and make my own.
This engine has been for a swim at one time and left with the water in it. My sandblaster is going to get a workout with this one.