Pre-65 Bikes

I currently have my 350 Ajay motor in bits for a full rebuild,tis in a bit of a state after doing a lot of hard work.I also plan to rebuild my HT motor as a short stroke 500 as soon as the Ajay is back running. I want both motors to run as well as possible,be reliable and long lasting.So as much care as possible will be taken in building them... So my question is,what balance factor is best to use,Don Moreley suggests using a factor of 60%, is this still the sensible number ? Both bikes will be used for road based trials,but I'm not worried about vibration at higher engine speeds on the road,I'm happy just to pootle along between groups of sections and enjoy a smooth a…

Just got my grubby mitts on two issues of the 'Offroad Review'(Nos 70 and 71 to be precise) published 1999 by Ariel Publishing. These are excellent, offering a wealth of interesting articles and superb quality photographs of classic off road action from ancient to more modern times. I've never come across these before and I'm just wondering if anyone can tell me if they are still published. I can't find any reference to them on Google so I suspect they may not be but does anyone know for sure? TIA for any info, and happy new year to all...

I have for a while been experiencing false neutrals on my tiger cub gearbox ,has anyone else had this problem,what was the fix ?

Hello does anybody know where I can get the drawings/dimensions for a Ariel HT 1954 rigid frame, I have found a website which mentions Jim Susan's Bikecraft and it says he has retired. I have attached a picture

here you go a shot of a pre war Panther Stroud. I do like the holes on the mudguard stays. This is taken at the factory in Cleckheaton in 1946

Hi,I have recently acquired my Uncles 1956 Ariel HT5 which he used in the late fifties and early sixties,as far as I can tell the bike has been unused/untouched since 1962. I would like to restore the bike but do not have much Knowledge of older bikes (magnetos etc.) and was just wondering if there is anyone local to me who could offer any advice. I will have to progress quite slowly with it as I do not have loads of money to throw at it,I am also unsure whether to try to return it to original spec.or just to restore to the spec,he used the bike in (seems to have several 'homebrewed'modifications).Any advice would be welcome.I am located near Leeds.

Hi Guy's, I own a beautiful 1961 Matchless G3C that isn't running at it's best. I think it's the carb but before I go out and buy a new carb I wondered if anybody could recommend somebody in the midlands that would be able to tune my bike? It ias a AMAL MK1 Concentric carb, after about 5 mins of running it appears to run out of fuel and you have to tickle the carb again to be able to start it as if it is getting air into the carb from somewhere. I have a Domino fast action throttle on it and wonder if that contributes to the problem as when you open it up quickly it appears to jump straight to the main jet. Desperately want to get her running nice as at the moment she i…

Hi all, a friend has these on a Bantam but what are they exactly? He needs some parts and wants to be sure Thanks in advance, Dave

hi has anyone got a number for roger heap frame builder think hes in the preston area cheers kev

I am a new member on here. I am also a member of the Francis Barnett Owners Club and through this have now taken ownership of a converted FB trials. Its based on a 1959 FB Falcon. What i need help with is to identify the conversion on the engine. The bottom end is a Villiers 9E but the top end I was told is a 250 conversion. I have attempted to recearch this and the nearest I can find is a Marcell conversion. Can anyone confirm this or knows more about this. Its all alloy and the inlet stub is deep into the fins with 3 screws holding it on .The exhaust is held by 2 screws The only marking is at the base of the barrel and I think it MB My second attempt to do this as the…

Hello, my first post on here but been lurking around the forum for a while. I'm in the middle of restoring my 1962 C15T and have come across a bit of a problem. The rear wheel is quite a bit out of line with the main frame loop and after a lot of checking and measuring it seems to be that the whole swinging arm is out of line. The lug that the swinging arm spindle goes through is twisted over to the left of the bike compared with the bottom frame tube. I've found a thread on here with someone with a similar problem, in fact it looks exactly the same in the photo. Here is a link to it: http://www.trialscentral.com/forums/topic/27793-c15-frame-alignment/ All the brazing …

Riding round the garden today on the C15 and had to reverse the bike in gear with the clutch pulled in and it wouldn't go backwards unless it was in neutral.The clutch is fine and clears all the gears,is this normal????.I have never noticed this before (recently changed gearbox camplate with upgraded part,gear change is fine),could it be something to do with the kickstart/pawl as it's action now seems further forward than it used to be. cheers the noo Brian

I have been building a replica Norton 500T for the last seven years and finally I am getting enough time to finish it. I plan to use a 26mm Mk 1 Amal concentric carburettor and would like to understand where to start with the jets, needle and slide. A good starting point would be what do other riders use on Ariel HT5 or similar 500 cc singles, I plan to use a simple foam air filter mounted on the inlet without an air box. Also how do real Amal and similar replica parts compare? Any feedback appreciated

Hi, I have a 32A engine with a light clutch which doesn't slip or drag but I ride a lot of modern trials and would like the clutch to be smoother rather than on/off. Can anyone help please? There must be better springs, plates, baskets etc. or even, heaven forbid, a more modern clutch. Am I asking too much from my bike as it's pretty good? I only use 6 springs. Merry Xmas everyone, Steve

Hi Guys, I know this sound stupid but GOV132. is lost. I thought it was still at the National Motor Museum, No reference. Sammy Miller Museum, No reference. National Motorcycle Museum. No reference. The last time I saw "The legend" was in the spring at the Classic show at Malvern. Where is it Now, Has Colin Dommett got it back? Scott was garding it at the show. PS, Did'nt a young man named, ? Clarke own it at one time too. PS<PS Just found a picture of Mick Clarke riding GOV 132, in ORR number 38, will post it when I have zaped it on to my site. Regards. Charlie.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/76022002@N08/11015201966/ Original frame (modified). Lots of work but looks pretty and seems to ride well....

Have just purchased a 500cc Ariel and I'm wondering what gearing people are using. Currently its Primary drive 14/42, Final drive 16/48, gearbox described as standard GB47 It feels high geared to me (across the garden), just don't know how much to lower it

hi, i have a bsa c15s that i am looking for info on. the bsa records have the frame number each side of mine but mine is a blank. i was told that this could be because it went to the compertition department. its not shown on vmc bsa records. any ideas were to go next??

Just looking for some advice please. Had a quick look on the Internet regarding the fitting of bronze little end bushes and what I thought would be an easy job of drawing in a new bush an sizing it using an adjustable reamer is in-fact not so simple. Concerns are keeping things true, not taking out too much with a reamer and so on. Any advice would be appreciated.

Hi all, any advice for setting the tappers on an Ariel 500 short stroke? Does it Mae any difference if you have ally push rods?