Sacrificial cylinder barrel wanted

[iansoady]

There are a few broken fins on my ES2 which I'd like to tidy up in the fullness of time. I don't want to wreck an otherwise good barrel, neither do I want to pay much (anything?). So does anyone have a scrap cast iron barrel (not necessarily Norton) lying about, preferably in the West Midlands, that I could use as a donor? No rush as it will probably be next autumn before I'm ready for it.

Failing that I'll probably pop, over to Yeomans and see what they have.

[Rex]

I have a scrap A10 block and a similar condition pre-unit Trumpet 650 either of which you're welcome to have. I would think the postage would be prohibitive though.

[iansoady]

Many thanks for that, you're probably right about postage. However, a quick look at hermes suggests £9 or so for 15 kg although they do say vehicle parts are prohibited (no idea why). Would be OK if described as scrap iron perhaps.....

Ironically I did have an A10 block myself some years ago which I took some fins from for an A10 I had at the time. Foolishly I then took it in for scrap. There's a moral there somewhere.

[Rex]

Do you want me to take it any further then Ian?

[iansoady]

If you're happy to keep it for a while that would be helpful, then if nothing turns up I'll get back to you. OK with you?

[Rex]

Yep...it ain't going anywhere!

[iansoady]

Many thanks.

In other news, started the ES2 up for the first time since August this morning - running very nicely, just the voltage regulator to sort out. Always nice when they start first (or second in this case) kick......

[Rex]

I stripped down the WD/CO to find out why the scavenging was so poor. Finally parted the cases about an hour ago to find a thick covering of sludge blocking all the little oil passages that RE liked to use in the sumps of their singles back then. Bits of old long-gone piston, sand and grit etc...a tribute to the toughness of the old girl that she kept on running with the oil system compromised in this way.
Pleasingly the big-end and mains are perfectly useable.

[iansoady]

Does that have the often criticised plain metal big end?

[Rex]

This model has (what RE referred to as) a "floating bush" big end and caged roller mains.
Must admit I've never seen it criticised...what's allegedly wrong with it?

[iansoady]

I must admit I never had problems with the big end on my pre-65 Bullet trials iron. However, people do say that it's less robust than rollers. I suspect because rollers will happily put up with a mere trickle of oil whereas the bush is more like a plain bearing so needs a plentiful supply.

[Rex]

Like a plain bearing in that it's one lump, but this is a machined steel sleeve with radial holes etc in it. More costly to produce than a roller big end, that's for sure.
I'm far from being anything like an RE aficionado, but those that are speak highly of this design of RE big end. Unlike true plain bearings this one also only receives a dribble of oil, it seems to last though.

[iansoady]

Steve Linsdell seemed to do quite well with them......