Adventures in Gearboxes

Made more progress putting the 28 Ariel gearbox together.

Got the front casing fitted as its now repaired. All the gears change now I've assembled it correctly. All studs are present and correct.

Gearbox with the end casing fitted showing the kickstart mechanism and gearchange lever (its a 3 speed handchange Burman Q-box)

I filled the gearbox up with a mixture of moly grease and 50wt oil. You can see one of the gears on the mainshaft and the change mechanism all covered is grease.

Just waiting for some of the painted bits to dry and it should be finished. Next is the engine.

1928 Ariel Gearbox

After riding Welchys 1926 Ariel in Ireland I'm keen to start making progress with my 1928. I've only had it since 1996 so really theres a few more years before it needs to be ready...

So, I made a huge project plan with all the jobs listed. And theres quite a lot to do.

First off - gearbox - the kickstart casing needs repairing and the whole thing needs assembling and sealing up. Its actually a 1929 Burman box (with speedo drive) but I have a sports ratio gear set that will not fit the 28 box so it'll do.

So, there is a broken bit on the kickstart casing - now bodged with a strip of ally and some Araldite - its in a place that can't be seen so should be OK. Note use of not one but two sets of Moleys.

This is the gearbox with the endcover off. Physically quite small.

These pics also make me realise I need to tidy up.

Overlord

More `world of tanks' type events - Overlord was last Saturday down near Portsmouth. Not a bad show, but it could have been warmer. Good old British summer:-(

Matchless G3L and BSA M20 ready for dispatch duties.

The local SchutzStaffel was out in force. LAH re-enactors were well equipped and looked like they won the mock battle (for a change) beating the Americans.

Not quite sure where the humble Trabant featured during D-Day but I thought Gaffer would like this. Ring-a-ding-ding-ding...
The LAH SS encampment also had a PAK. And a fahrrad fahrer complete with two panzerfaust.

Not too sure about the UXB tho - surely smoking would be least of your worries...

How F@?kin Much?

Most expensive bottle of coke in the world?

Euros 3.50 for 0.5l!!! Big hand for Movenpick, Gate 77, Dusseldorf Airport.

Robbing bastards.

Slievenamon 2011

Me, Huw and Welchy went to Kilkenny last weekend for the Slievenamon rally. Welchy kindly lent me his 1926 Ariel for the weekend. The rally is for pre-31 bikes so there was some nice stuff there.

Some pics:-

My steed for the weekend - 1926 Ariel Model B - 557cc sidevalve single

Couple of old uns - veteran Humber and a Revere.

Early 20's AJS Big Port 350cc

Mid 20's Royal Enfield v-twin

Early Scott 2-stroke

Welch prepares to prepare - 1913 Triumph 500

Early 20s Indian Powerplus with sidecar. This bike has shocking brakes despite being very powerful. Failure of said brakes resulted in Paddy Guerin putting it in several ditches on the Saturday and taking a trip over the handlebars. Mrs Guerin, in the sidecar, wasn't amused.

Another shot showing the complex lever arrangement on the tank.

Flat tank Norton sidevalve - Big 4 or 16H - not sure which.

1920's Rudge Multi

Outside the `coffee' stop in Inistioge on Saturday. We visited this village several times during the weekend. The last time, on Sunday morning, we arrived about 11am. The pub was closed. The owner popped his head out and said `will you be wanting a beer lads? We're not open til 12 but if you come round the back door you'll be alright. Just incase any Garda are about...' And he was right. The pub was quite busy.

All in all a cracking weekend.

DoomRamp

The mini is finished and ready to rock. Walls are painted white, which should show the blood nicely.

Had my first proper roll there today - first pumping up the transition from the flat just to see how it rides. Been a while since I've had to do that, since I learned to drop in anyways. Managed a few sketchy kickturns a way up the transition but it rides pretty well. I was a bit concerned that the middle section isn't the best join but it makes no difference.

So, time to drop in - there is more head clearance at the far end of the garage so I tried that first. Drop, accelerate, bloody hell!! Dropping in - no problem, being fired at the other transition like a bastard cannon ball - a tad more difficult. Fookin fast as fast. Kinell.

It'll make me a better skater or kill me.

Pot Hunter

The Ariel Club wanted my 1913 TT Ariel on the show stand at Stafford. Imagine my surprise when it won 2nd Place in the Veteran class - can't have been many vets there this year...