Pre-65 Bikes

Never worked on one of these bikes before and I need to take out the kickstart shaft to see what is wrong with it. Are there any pit falls when stripping it or tips on how to go about it. Will I be able to get it out by just removing the casings or do I have to split the motor ! Thought it might be an idea to ask before getting the tools out. Any info would be great.

Just ordered this and have one more question for any one that has used one. Is it as easy as it sounds? Put the rotor on, mount the stator in the middle of the slots (that sets it at 8 degrees BTDC) and adjust that as needed, wire it up and you're done?? Sounds to easy. Also after installing it do you just take the points,advance unit and the backing plate out then put the bolt back in? Thanks in advance! Thom

Superb looking Matchless, believe the rider is a bit ropey mind you.

Just got hold of the results of the Manx Classic 2 Day Trial. Should be attached with any luck. Excellent trial - 45 miles each day with moors, tracks and sections you dream of! How can a guy who normally drives 3 wheelers do so well on a Cub borrowed from Mick Grant? First solo trial he ever won he said at the Presentation. Manx_Classic_Weekend_Trial_2005.doc

Assuming there is an alignment of the planets sometime in the near future and my new James frame materializes then i will need to get some wheels built so i'm gathering bits as i go along ready for if it arrives. So guys i've been offered alloy rims in both WM2 and WM3 but i dont know which to choose In the past i've never given it a thought and just used what was fitted, mostly WM2 i think, as std. I assume that WM2 being slightly narrower would give a rounder tread profile to the tyre and WM3 being slightly wider would give a more square or flatter tread profile. Would the WM3 however close the treads up and the WM2 open them slightly ? Which would give better gr…

For the pre 65 fans on here there are 3 British trials bikes at a local auction on Saturday. H J Pugh Ledbury Herefordshire. Google HJPugh you will find it, click on sales download catalogue. They are. 1959 BSA C15 T. XEW 30 inc V5. 1959 Ariel HT350 1957 Matchless G3 LC Works. EX Sid Wicken ? All bikes look up together from pics on the website. Go on get it spent...

Have recently replaced the Amal pancake air filter on my Cub with a new foam cylindrical type which I sprayed with Castrol filter spray. Now having ridden the bike I think it is running rich and very badly at lower rpm. I removed the filter which seemed to improve things but need more riding time before I will know properly. Do all foam filters need spraying or have I made a problem by doing so, anyone else had running issues after spraying a foam filter?

Is there anybody manufacturing replica hubs ? Any info would be appreaciated. Ross

Idle thought to which any comments or knowledge are welcome. You could tie knots in the forks of my '49 350, also the front brake inspires little stopping resistance; I've yet to incorporate the advice in this forum on tweaking performance of SLS. So was thinking that if I could source say AJS Stormer forks and wheel this would be an improvement. I was thinking that they are not too modern for year of bike and should not be too out of place. Any comments on down sides ie falling foul of compliance rules or being an engineering nightmare to fit?.

Those who know me fairly well know I have a thing about older Italian bikes especially the lightweights in addition to my thing about Spanish strokers. Looking for inspiration to get back into my 55 Morini 175 project I discovered these beauties. Most of course fairly "developed" This one I may have seen before Is it just me that likes this stuff here?

Anyone remember which issues Classic Bike mag featured a rigid Bantam trials build ?

Hi guys, I was helping my dad clear out one of his garages and in the corner lurking behind an enfield was a old BSA bantam rolling chasis, under a cloth there was an engine and other odds and sods looks like maybe 90% of the bike present. It is obviously a road bike and it is of the twinshock era rather then ridgid. My question is what work and cost would it take to make this basket case into a decent trials machine? Is it even worth the effort of should i do it back up into a road bike and flog it? If i could.convert it i would keep it but i dont have a road license.

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

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

I'm about to start doing my cub engine and will opt for an electronic ignition. Does anyone know where I can get the pillars welded for a PVL or HPI? While I'm at it, the bike was my old mans and he was going to do the window mod to access the drive sprocket. I believe Ray Small did this mod. If he still operating?

A chap was at the Exmoor on a 360 james, did they exist ?? Sounded really crisp. is it a griphon scrambler head ??? I need to know all about it , I could never be a rich man , i spend it in my head before i ever get it

Hello, I have a Wasp RT3 with a unit 500 Triumph engine in and would like to put a day light MOT on it. Has anyone used the mountain bike type speedo and horn with any success, if yes, what make are they. I have looked at a few on line but they seem to cheap to be any good !! but I would prefer a wire less one . I will have to fit a small battery for the stop light, so plan to used a led bulb to cut down on power drain (the electronic ignition has no charging provision), I could also connect the horn to it, so it only leaves the speedo to sort out. Regards, NB

Need a barrel.

Hello , Can anybody suggest the correct length spokes to use to offset the rear tiger cub wheel when used in a C15. I've already been told that a bantam hub would have been better but i would like to keep the Cub Hubs. Many thanks Mark.

There have been many questions over the years concerning carburation problems on 4 strokes (mainly cubs and B 40s) in which riders complain of a flat spot or hesitation on opening the throttle relatively quickly from idle. There seem to be two approaches to tuning a 4 stroke, namely fit the engine with soft cams and a high compression piston or with sporty cams and a low compression piston. I wonder to what extent the perceived carburation problem is also a function of valve timing. I would expect the sporty cams would be more difficult to setup at the low end and perhaps aggravate the problem rather than the soft cam approach. Does anyone have any opinion or direct exp…