Sturmey Archer engine settings.

[john.k]

Yes ,obvious the engine is a clone,as there is no monogram on the cover.......OK,Ransome ,Simms ,and Jefferies and Ransome and Rapier ,both of Ipswich,both said to have a family connection going back to the 1700s.........I always thought Ransome and Rapier made the little crawlers with the SA motor.......one thing tho,Id much rather have one of the crawlers than an old motorbike........mean to say,but I think Titch Allen would comment about inability to influence a pudding skin.

[R]

Well thats interesting stuff.

Re the Sturmer Archer and Dollshead gearboxes, it was my understanding that it
was somewhat redesigned - and to use for example of off the shelf bearings etc.
Nortons didn't actually make them, but had Burmans do that for them

I've not closely examined a late 4 speed SA box, but all the different numbers on things
means that nothing much was actually interchangeable with the dollshead ?, quite apart
from that the positive stop action was added.
But we diverge from engines.

We'd have to wonder how it ended up in those cycleparts then
Unless this is a more recent marriage ?

[R]

Sturmey Archer engined lawnmower.
Circular thingy is fan cooling.
Green colour is becoming rather apparent.

https://www.oldlawnmowerclub.co.uk/sites/default/files/resize/memberuploads/user6893/20161011_130621-600x450.jpg
https://www.oldlawnmowerclub.co.uk/sites/default/files/resize/memberuploads/user6893/20161011_130538-600x450.jpg
https://www.oldlawnmowerclub.co.uk/sites/default/files/resize/memberuploads/user6893/20161011_130609-600x450.jpg

This little tractor thingy would be well post Sturmey Archer
https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/tractors/images/6/65/Ransomes_MG_2_sn_663_at_Astwood_Bank_09_-_IMG_3779.jpg

The old lawnmower folks have endless details/stuff...

[john.k]

True ,S Burman & sons made the boxes for Norton after 1934,not just the doll head,but the tombstone,and the laydown.All these boxes have many common parts ,and common with the 4 sp SA.......Burmans were rewarded by being double crossed by AMC,back when it was run by Charlie Collier.....even the AMC box was just a copy of the Norton box,with modifications to allow oilseals to be fitted.Nortons owned the design,Burman made the boxes,and AMC owned Norton.

[smartfella]

I had a chap from The Classic Motorcycle club visit me to confirm the bike for registration and he confirmed it was a Sturmey Archer. I have a Burman gearbox fitted to the bike just as was fitted back in 1928.
The bike is a New Henley 1928.
If i could get or afford a J.A.P 350cc in would. I don't think the casing is the original one as its been repaired.
Getting back to the original question! What would the timing settings be?
Very interesting conversion all the same.

[chaterlea25]

Hi Smartfella,
Set the timing at TDC on full retard of the mag (or as retarded as still will give a good spark)
Run the engine/ ride the bike and play with the ignition lever until you find the best "performance"
Then (if you want to) measure this amount of advance on the piston, then reset the mag timing to its full advance position
Timing on these old yokes is not rocket science

John

[R]

Yes the conversation was for our interest !

As chaterlea sez, just set the timing to be about tdc on full retarded.
This should get it running.

A sturmey engine and burman box sounds an interesting combination,
you'd think they would have gone with a sturmey box as well.
Maybe the economics dictated otherwise.

You would usually expect the timing cover to say Sturmey Archer, or SA, if it was built by Raleighs, so what is going on there ?


PPS I see we have also covered this before, in part.
http://classicmotorcycleforum.com/index.php?topic=5005.0
Ya shoulda mentioned ...
What happened to the Albion ?

[john.k]

notice the engine in the pic has space under the intake pipe for a Magdyno.........most of the industrials dont,but have the upright timing case of the overhead motors......JAPs typically.........the other factor with the industrials is the drive side shaft is close in ,and needs a 3 speed box,otherwise the motor must be offset to the left....most bikes went over to two driveside bearings to suit 4 speed boxes around 1934/5.

[R]

That must be one of the longest inlet manifolds in single cylinder motorcycling !

Yes we know that some of the veterans had plumbing nightmares,
and duggies had one carb far from its 2 cylinders...

[john.k]

i notice I said back in 2014 that anyone with a lathe could cut an accurate taper........this is obviously wrong,and it seems impossible to get a replacement Norton engine sprocket ,or a mag sprocket where the taper is even close.