classic motorcycle forum

I've heard of a lot of folks who run 2 stroke oil in their old drip feed machines.

Not sure what I think of this practice, not having tried it, but their rational is that modern synthetic 2 stroke oil in particular has almost eliminated seizures in modern machinery - and it lubricates well in small quantities, and its smokeless (or almost so) so its a lot less offensive to those following, and the natives.  It also keeps engines remarkably clean inside, and being ashless never needs decoking.

Be interesting to see a motor with a lot of miles on board, to see how the cams and big end rollers survive.... ??

What do other folks use in their drip feed machines ?
The really old handbooks call for "water-cooled oil", which is an odd name for something that has nothing to do with water ?

The odd thing is that ethanol (ethyl alcohol) is one of the most inactive substances known to man.
( unless you drink it to excess !!, because it is the active ingedient in beer wine spirits etc ).

So why is it so different when its bio-ethanol  ??

P.S. The last time my throttle stuck open, just pulled in the clutch.
While not all riders may be this alert, this is always a cure for this malady.
May not be kind to your engine though....

With aluminium rockers, it has to be an AJS head.
Someone who knows their Ajays can pick the year and model.

BTW, there still appears to be a bit of swamp grass attached ?

Its hard to see from the pic, but yes, Nortons did make Big4 sidecar outfits during the war, with a driven sidecar wheel.

The story told in history books is that the driven sidecar wheel was for dirt use only. On tar roads, if engaged, the outfit was impossible to steer around corners - it wanted to go straight ahead. So when these machines were sold off after the war, the drive to the sidecar wheel was cut off. To prevent accidental use on the road...

You sometimes see pics of the other side of your bike, with about a 1" diameter axle sticking out of the back axle - roughly sliced off.

Reportedly, a few have survived. ?

If you have ever tried to drive a vehicle on a tar road with the diff lock engaged, its easy to believe this story...

If you zoom in under the tank, well before it pixilates, the sidevalve head fins and that fir cone are visible - the fir cone is directly behind the white blob (spark plug).
Think fir cone, rather than rocker post supports.

http://www.cybermotorcycle.com/gallery/matchless/Matchless_1930_ohv_14-802.htm
http://www.veteran-motorcycle.com/images/Matchless/29X/MATCHLESSX29.jpg

wish it was mine

Ditto.

Nobody has mentioned that the very unique toolbox just in front of the saddle springs, which is oval in section, & is the same on both bikes.

Useful comment, just another plank in a raft of the same.

I think the bike is definitely a Matchless (or AJS equivalent).

Nope, in 1929 AJS and Matchless were 2 quite different companies.
This was built as a Matchless.
Someone who knows these things says the forks were altered for 1930, so 1930 its not.

If it was made into something different after the AMC takeover, then that is something else again....

Wish we could see the other side...

this bike is NOT a Matchless

This is a very strange statement.
Compare all the bits.

Same forks.
Same 3 bar frame (which CANNOT be a co-incidence).
Same wheels.
Same brakes.
Matchless paint scheme on the tank. (but no visible logo ).
Same bolt pattern/location on the visible engine bits.
Rear cylinder and nuts just visible under the riders coat.
Magdyno in correct location for a v-twin 990cc.
Twin fishtails just visible through the back wheel - top one quite high, as v-twin.

 that Matchless is not a mislabelled 990 sv but a series D ohv single; sloper engine as was the fashion then, certainly wouldnt average 60mph either

Have another look at it.
Its a v-twin, you can (just) see the base of the rear cylinder, magneto is behind the riders leg where you'd expect it on a v-twin. So a stock standard 990cc 1929 Model X with electrics, exhaust pipe at the front is where you'd expect it on a sidevalve.

http://www.cybermotorcycle.com/gallery/matchless/Matchless_1930_ohv_14-802.htm