looking for rear plungers for james cadet j5 1952

[dickie12]

Hi iam new here iam finding it very hard to find a  set rear plungers for james cadet j5 1952 would anybody on here be able to help cheers

[R]

Blimey - thats the sort of uncommon thing that may turn into a lifelong quest !
Can you track down the originals ?  Always a good line of enquiry.

Are you a member of a James Club /Forum.
A direct connection to other owners may turn up a spare set.
Probably cost you to be a member though.

Diligent searching on ebay, gumtree, car&classic etc may turn up a set.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/131090/i.html?_from=R40&_nkw=james+cadet
Every time you see cadet parts advertised, ask if they have any plunger parts.
Don't be a pest in this though, use moderation !?
Surprising what this will turn up though.
That 'diligent' needs emphasizing though, it may take years, searching every few days.
Ask me how I know this....  But unicorns and hens teeth do turn up now and then.

Good Luck. !

[dickie12]

ive been searching and asking on ebay adds for about a year now no luck. thought i mite have some luck here

[R]

Fair enough. You don't know if you don't ask.

I think a readership of millions is probably your best bet though.
Is Old Bike Mart still going ?

And I see that a James Forum is free to join.
https://famousjamesclub.board-directory.net/
Not big, but folks who speak the same language.
And might well have stray bits under the bench, or know who does...
Good Luck.

[33d6]

I’d do the obvious. Hunt for a complete frame then sell off what you don’t want. As a past owner of a plunger frame James I can say I never saw plunger units sold as separate units from the frame they left the factory with.
Much easier (and probably cheaper) to buy a tatty frame with plungers in place.
Can I ask why you need them? What is wrong with what you have?
Cheers,

[R]

Can I ask why you need them? What is wrong with what you have?

Perhaps that is the question we should have asked to begin with ?

[Rex]

Going for a complete frame is probably the sensible option. Even for BSA plunger-framed bikes (which are obviously much more common) there's rarely plunger units for sale.

[TGR90B]

Sensible suggestions, otherwise you're going to spend the rest of your life peeing into the wind.

[dickie12]

i bought the bike in bits the only parts missing are the rear plungers. I have been looking for complete ruff  bikes and frames no luck, ive already bought a set of bsa d1 rear plungers totally different alot bigger. ive been putting off building it until i could find some but no luck iam thinking of just turning the rear frame into rigid not sure yet cheers for the help 

[R]

I am thinking of just turning the rear frame into rigid not sure yet cheers for the help

I've seen that done with just a shaft and a few bits of pipe and chunks of welded steel to bolt the axle into.
Until/if the plunger units turn up, its not an impossible solution.
Some rubber buffer blocks could even reduce the solid nature.

At a pinch, you could probably have the plunger units remade, there is nothing complicated in there.
It would be an expense, obviously, but not impossible.
And hey, you could incorporate some little hydraulic/grease dampers in there. Improve the breed !?