classic motorcycle forum

That means that a twin cylinder magneto - say a K2F - with one +ve spark and one -ve spark
will spark stronger on one side ??

You should be able to just tread on the brake pedal and the rear wheel will stop (in neutral).

I see you've done the fresh oil in the gearbox.
That has worked for me with other bikes.
You'd wonder why it should make any difference, but it certainly can.

After that, all I can suggest is you check that the primary chain is not too tight.
The final drive chain also, come to that.

12 thou with the points fully open is the figure I've always worked to.
And thats for a variety of magnetos/machinery.

I've never actually measured what it might be at precisely tdc - that figure may be compatible with 3 thou,
depending on what the slope of the cam is.

Have they quoted what the spark timing number is, either degrees btdc or a distance before tdc.
FULLY ADVANCED. That is the important bit when all is said and done ...

Yes Reynolds Tubes also occupied Hay Hall in Redfern St for some years,  just a couple of numbers along.
Strangely, it mentions making tubing for Spitfires, but I don't think that is right.
Tubular frames for some of the bombers maybe ...

Graces Guide gives a bit of a rundown on the Excelsior manufacturing side of things.
Few errors there too, Excelsiors made their own twins, not Villiers at all.
https://www.gracesguide.co.uk/Excelsior_Motor_Co

Still no motorcycles and factory pics ...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Excelsior_Motor_Company


With all the recent chit chat about Excelsiors and Waratahs and assorted other imports into Oz,
I thought I'd have a look at a little booklet published on Excelsior motorcycles.
Excelsior the lost pioneer. Liversidge.

https://i5.walmartimages.com/asr/2ccaff5b-52ee-40ad-8e99-b9e4bdcecdd1_1.0c3765749aeb8a0d7680e3bd9b2462e8.jpeg

Now this budget priced book doesn't claim to be the complete work, and has a nice potted history of the maker,
with a number of b&w pics of varying quality. Many of them as the advertising posters of their time.

What it doesn't cover is the factory side of things postwar, other than a paragraph stating the state of the ex-factory site,
now a Rovex Business Park.  The factory advertising gives the address as Kings Road Tyseley, but in fact the factory appears to front
onto Hay Hall Rd in Tyseley Brum . (off Kings Road.)
https://www.google.com/maps/@52.4563032,-1.8414406,3a,75y,64.57h,96.85t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s4_tzxbcw0V0UDsj2WEsDiA!2e0!7i16384!8i8192

BSA and Britax were involved in the ownership in the final years, getting but a very brief mention.

Anyone got a photo of the factory operating as a motorcycle manufacturer in its heyday ?
Or have any texts on who the management or employees may have been postwar ??
Or former employees memoirs ?

I am thinking of just turning the rear frame into rigid not sure yet cheers for the help

I've seen that done with just a shaft and a few bits of pipe and chunks of welded steel to bolt the axle into.
Until/if the plunger units turn up, its not an impossible solution.
Some rubber buffer blocks could even reduce the solid nature.

At a pinch, you could probably have the plunger units remade, there is nothing complicated in there.
It would be an expense, obviously, but not impossible.
And hey, you could incorporate some little hydraulic/grease dampers in there. Improve the breed !?

This is one of the few pics of an OEC findable ?
A 1947 196cc

https://handh.blob.core.windows.net/stock/48048-0.jpg

Edit - no longer relevant, so clickable only.

A trace of burnt oil can leave a sooty or dirty plug.
I found this out with a Commando, where one oil seal had 'fallen off' the guide.
Usage was too small to be noticeable/measurable. And not noticeable to the rider.

If you have someone follow you though, they may observe a puff of blue smoke now and then.
If its on acceleration its rings, on deceleration its valve guides is the general guide.

It may improve with more running in though.
Have you given it a few BRIEF bursts of full acceleration to bed the rings in like the instructions say ?

Try swapping the plugs over too ...