need some help with a raleigh

[daniel cabeceiras]

hi.
first of all, my name is Daniel, i'm 19, im from terceira island in Azores, but i'm currently studying mechanical engineering in Porto.
i started to show some interest in classic motorcycles when i was 16 or so, and i restored a 50cc "moped" to use in my daily live before going to university.
currently things evolved and now i have several bikes and all very interesting.
a few day ago i bought a 1930 raleigh mg 30 2.25 (?) and started to do some cleaning.
the thing is that i cant identify it as a mg30 2.25 using some manual from that time, and there are some aspects of the bike that arent consistent with that model and i cant find any similar model.
it is probable that those parts were changed during it life....i will stop here.









sorry for my english and i hope you guys can give me some advice
Yours sincerely

Daniel Cabeceiras

[R]

Daniel,
          A problem you may have identifying your bike is that Raleigh also sold a large range of engines / gearboxes under the Sturmey Archer brand - your engine has SA on the timing cover so its in that category. Your engine looks earlier than 1930, did external flywheels go past the late 1920s ?
Raleigh were one of the first makers to fit saddle tanks (After Brough Sups, of course).

Does this look familiar , although not exact ?
http://www.cybermotorcycle.com/gallery/raleigh/Raleigh_1928_250cc.htm
Is your engine bigger than 250cc ?

There is a website with some with detailed Raleigh and Sturmey models.
http://www.sturmey-archerheritage.com/

Also
http://www.cybermotorcycle.com/gallery/raleigh/

And looking more closely at all your pics supplied, it is quite possible that someone has fitted other cycleparts, like you say. Very possible, in fact...
P.S. I notice in an earlier Raleigh brochure, it mentions that valanced mudguards are available as an extra for some models, so this needs to be carefully investigated before you ignore those mudguards !!

Nice find, should restore up well.
Opethiselps, Havefun !

[33d6]

Hi Daniel,
Easiest way to identify your bike is for you to post the frame number and engine number. I'm sure we can then help.
Cheers,

[R]

Are there details of numbers for Sturmey Archer engines and gearboxes ?

I notice that Monet & Goyon licence built Sturmey Archer gearboxes - are there any numbers for these ?

[daniel cabeceiras]

        I notice some mumbers on mine but i still have some cleaning to do, maybe tomorow.
were should be the frame number? near the front suspension?
in fact the bike is similar to the 1928 raleigh of the first photo, though some thing are off...
       I have some paper that were found associated to the license plate, its says that its a raleigh with a 225cc engine from 1930 and engine number 292, but when i have a chance i will confirm it.


Yours sincerely

Daniel Cabeceiras

[daniel cabeceiras]

      other thing, i have the cover for the flywheel, it is just to damaged to fit.


Yours sincerely

Daniel Cabeceiras

[33d6]

Yes Daniel,
Some information is available of numbers for Sturmey Archer engines and gearboxes.  What you have is easy to identify and restore but it all starts off with the numbers.
Cheers,

[R]

It sounds like the documents you have don't quite match the motorcycle. ?

Raleigh or Sturmey didn't make a 225cc engine, it was 248cc ?
And by 1929 the magneto was behind the engine
http://www.sturmey-archerheritage.com/images/photos/pic-213.1.jpg
(I think, there may be other models not shown ?).
It may well be an earlier model, not sold, or registered, until 1930 either.

Plenty of folks have just restored what they have, and worried about the finer details later. As long as you don't alter anything permanently along the way - since you appear to have a whole bike. Handlebars look dangerous like that !!

Cheers.

[yebbut]

I dont think this bike is so far wrong as you think. I have had a couple and indeed the last one I had I sold to a Dr in Madrid

Raliegh also made a 300cc version.

The SA on the engine does not  necessarily mean it is ex lawn mower or similar.


I had a lot of dealing with vintage bikes in Spain in the 1980s.... I hardly ever saw one there that had not been heavily modified in some way, mostly crudely, I think the valances are of that sort.

Raliegh seem to have sold a lot of bikes in Spain prior to the civil war.
A lot of vintage bikes in Spain were taken there by me!! mostly to the Puig family.

[33d6]

Raleigh did make a 225cc engine. They did catalogue the Model MG-30 as Daniel says his is, it did have the 225cc engine. Raleigh did supply a valanced front mudguard in 1930 (the year of the MG-30) and the MG-30 did have a front mounted magneto. There is every indication his information is correct but as always the numbers provided firm confirmation.
The engine may have an SA timing cover or it may be a complete SA engine. The numbers will tell the story. Either way it doesn't matter as there is no mechanical difference between a Raleigh or SA engine. The cosmetic difference was for commercial reasons only.
Cheers,

[daniel cabeceiras]

i notice earlier in a spare parts manual, that it was made a 248cc export model, the mj30, so i might guess that mine might me this model. i saw photos os the 225 ans 298, and my engine as similarity with both, but it wasnt any of then, so maybe this 248 might be it.
tomorow i will continue with the cleaning and check for the mumber

i have to thank to all of you for the help


yours sincerrly

Daniel Cabeceiras

[daniel cabeceiras]

oh and about the handlebars, i dont have both suports, and i only have one bolt so the gravity gives it the racer look.
any idea were i cand find the missing suport?

[R]

Don't forget that an earlier Raleigh brochure mentions that valanced guards are available as an extra for some models.
And the 1927 brochure lists no less than 5 different versions of the 248cc model, some with different wheel sizes, different seats, etc.
So this bike just could be entirely correct.

Is there a photo anywhere of a 1930 225cc Model.
Was this engine size for tax purposes ?
Are Sturmey Archer engine numbers related to Raleigh engine numbers ?

Can you do a photo of the handlebar support ?

[daniel cabeceiras]

i scaned some pages os the manual i have.
they could have made a 225 for taxes, like other did in other countries.
later on i will post a more photos of the bike, and im hoping to do some more cleaning.