any vintage sunbeam fans on here?

[cardan]

I don't know my Sunbeam models all that well (without looking), but the presence of a Model 95 and Lion in your new book says later than 1930.

Leon

[R]

Bruce Main Smith Publishing used to do low cost photocopies of parts lists and owners manuals etc.
Be worth chasing up who has them now (the NMM ?) and see what they have for Sunbeams.
?

Yes, the NMM seem to now have a hand in it.
http://www.thenmmshop.co.uk/sunbeam

Looks like quite a range, without having seen it in the flesh, so to speak.

[iansoady]

Hi there.

Just joined this forum being the (very) new custodian of a 1931 Sunbeam Model 10 (the economy special that was only made for a couple of years).

I have a scanned parts book with details of the tool kit which I'm happy to pass on if it's any use.

And I expect I will have lots of questions here.......

[iansoady]

Scans of (poor quality) parts book:

[cardan]

Hi Ian,

That's a tidy-looking bike! I hope you are enjoying it. The Model 10 has one of those fabulous features that, somehow, never caught on - the gear shift lever mounted on the rocker box. The show Edition of The Motor Cycle (13 November 1930) had an artist's sketch of this feature, which it described as "unusual".

Leon

[iansoady]

Hi Leon,

It's not quite as good as it looks (are they ever?) but is almost all there and is very solid with no rust pits etc. Much of the paintwork is a very casual aerosol blow-over - my plan is to tidy it up, source / make the missing parts and go through the oily bits but am in no rush. I haven't managed to start it as the clutch is slipping in a big way.....

Thanks for the mention of the Blue Un sketch - I'll be going up to Allen House when I return from holidays and will look that issue up.

[mini-me]

I don't know my Sunbeam models all that well (without looking), but the presence of a Model 95 and Lion in your new book says later than 1930.

I realise that Cardan, but all is grist to the Sunbeam mill........


thanks Ian for that photo, it all helps,  a few of those tools are only pressed out stuff, the sort of  unmarked thing thats found in boxes of rusty old tools a jumbles etc. mostly asssumed to be push bike spanners.

[mini-me]

Heres the model 10 from  Bob Cordon Champs book, coil not hairpin springs.

yours doesn't look so far off.

[cardan]

Thanks for the mention of the Blue Un sketch - I'll be going up to Allen House when I return from holidays and will look that issue up.

I'm interstate at the moment, but will scan and post when I get home later in the week.

Leon

[iansoady]

Lovely photo, thanks - and mine does look very correct. I like the test comments.....

I'll have to get the Cordon-Champ book - he seems to be the acknowledged authority on all things Marston.

[mini-me]

You'll not find anyone with a greater depth of knowledge about  pre-war Sunbeams than Bob C-C.

Both his books are about but at wildly varying prices; When buying the ' Illustrated History' watch out for poor binding, its poorly produced and prone to falling apart, at least mine has.

I doubt even the VMCC has any more guff  re Sunbeam than Bob has written; the pitman book is but  a guide only,
Meanwhile I found this on U tube which is handy

https://youtu.be/sPxsZ_HxU1U,

Its worth while learning to set the clutch up,   and get the plates re corked; on my Model 1 I also got the clutch spring studs made larger, a worthwhile mod.

I see you have also found the yahoo group site, be nice to liven that up a bit.

[iansoady]

I haven't yet found the horrors that may almost certainly will be lurking in the primary chaincase but it crossed my mind that bonded surflex may be an improvement on cork (I believe that the 90 had Ferodo linings). I have no experience with cork (other than the satisfying plop as it emerges from a bottle of Bordeaux).

[cardan]

Cork in a clutch has all the properties you need: original (!), cheap, easy, satisfying, adequate performance and durability. I'm sure Mr Google (or even a search on this forum) will give a description of how to do it.

It may be possible to adapt a Ducati racing clutch but hey, what are we doing with these old things?

Had a long day tidying a huge shed and sorting Rudge stuff. Plenty of nice bits.

Cheers

Leon

[mini-me]

You'd be hard pressed to get Surflex inserts for a Sunbeam clutch; as Cardan says nothing wrong with cork, Sunbeam ones are small and round about the diameter of an old sixpence.

Mine were done by a chap who advertised in OBM, he specialised in just recorking. I have had no reason to look at them since. No idea if he's still around but someone will know.

Your Model 10 will just about pull the skin of a hard rice pudding so power  need doe's not come into it.

I also find a cork clutch to be quite sweet in action, but maybe thats just me.

If I were you I'd research setting the clutch stops up properly, and a picture of whatever horrors you find would be  interesting

[iansoady]

I have an idea that omission of clutch stops was one of the "economies" inflicted on the Model 10.

Rice pudding? That test you quoted says "fast .... and handles superbly at high speeds". I expect nothing less.

You're probably right cork it will probably be.

A bit of googling turns up the name Bob Metson for recorking.

BTW the wheel spokes look awfully thin to me (haven't measured them). Would this be normal or has somebody rebuilt the wheels with pushbike spokes?