welbike

Oh, wow Ron, you're not hanging about!! have to get of my arse if I don't want you to overtake me!! Cheers, Lex

You are cracking on! (Ron) I am building one too, got most of the parts now, so will see how it goes. starting with a frame I got cheap from Italy, where all the extra, unneeded parts had been cut off already years ago. Cheers, Lex

Thanks Mike, But the U boot engine is twice as big as this one, have seen the one at the Obersalzberg in person. Will search for MAN 8 cylinder engines though.

Ok, by accident, I found some more info, the seal with the BAL 457 stamped on the engine block, is a Luftwaffe Waffen Amt stamp, it means Bau Aufsichten der Luftwaffe, so Building Inspections of the Luftwaffe, now to see if I can find the 457. Lex

Hi all, Visited a huge German bunker awhile ago, and saw the remains of an 8 cylinder in line generator engine, is there anyone who recognises it maybe? I googled for hours, but nothing that comes close, next time I'm there I will see if I can measure the bore and stroke. Head and other parts were taken for scrap many years ago, guess this was too big! The bunker, called "Diogenes" was one of 3 in Europe, and was a Luftwaffe air directory bunker, hundreds of people worked there in shifts 24-7. Cheers, Lex

Hello Romeo, As far as I know there are no plans for these. I have a couple of detail parts drawings, but that won't help much, here the clutch lever mounting. Lex

Looks good, but why not spray the spokes too, as per originals? Cheers, Lex

I spoke to some Italians, and they all say to go to the Italian Jumbles, parts are around there, to have forks made will be thousands of pounds, better to plan a little holliday to Italy, around a big jumble, and enjoy the sun, wine and food! That's what I did when buying a Welbike! Cheers, Lex

Yes, it's come out very nice! did you run it yet? Cheers, Lex

Here you go, not the greatest quality, but still you get the idea. I would try on Italian forums, but some understanding of the lingo might help! Cheers, Lex

Hi Gary, I may have some black and white pictures, will check. The Front fork and wheel is from a DKW NZ model, that will be hard to replace. Petrol tank is from an NSU OSL. Could have been used in the desert, and parts replaced at the time. Cheers, Lex

Ah, please read everything again, and you can also see on Ron's bike, it needs to be black rubber. Below an original wiring loom, and seperate wires. Lex

I cannot see on that page, what is the outer diameter, and is the lenght only 1 meter?? you will need a total of about 8 meters, the longest piece to the taillamp is about 2 meter. Why would you want it covered with cotton, this is totally not original! Cheers, Lex

Yes Pawel, is postwar, for some reason they wired the bulb holder like that after the war, maybe to use up stock? (Lucas car wiring did have the braided wire) but that is just an assumption. Best is to find the 4mm. diameter, 25mm2 oil and petrol resistant Silicone rubber cable, let me know if you find some please! Cheers, Lex

Pawel, You will have to use the wiring diagram, as it is in the manual, but they are mostly the same for all WD bikes. All the colours are stated on there. For the sheating use the smallest size inner tube for a racing bicycle, and turn it inside out, to get rid of the markings and such. Let me or Ron know if you need more info, we worked this out some time ago! Cheers, Lex

Pawel, I mean the control cables, they are being made in Germany now , very perfect woven and lacquered fabric. The electrical cables is a whole different thing, only black rubber was used, can now be bought, if you're lucky as a fuel and oil resistant silicone rubber. Cheers, Lex

Did you get the cable from Stratil? they make the best stuff, and have the nickel plated endcups too, I will be buying some stuff from them again at the coming Veterama market. Regarding the wiring harnass, the "Lucas" repro ones are a complete joke, and totally wrong in materials and fitment, best steer clear of them. Ron here had posted on the WD forum, how to go about making one yourself (maybe he can post it here too??), I have done it many times, and it's easy enough. only problem is where to order the 4mm. oil and petrol resistant silicone rubber cable, as it's almost always out of stock. picture of wire, with the coloured markers, I use heat shrink for that, that looks very much like the originals. Cheers, Lex

Yes hardwood, a common material for shocks of the time, my Big 4 has them too on the sidecar. Cheers, Lex

Nice! is there a winch with it? a friend is looking for one. Lex

Only just saw and read all of this thread, interesting they used a US Waukesha engine! It might not be known to you that the FC series engines were also used in the Clark CA-1 Airdozer, follow my resto here: I have a UK source for headgaskets, and some US sources for other parts, but it aint easy! Check cylinder head for cracks, as they are usually cracked along the top. (see picture) Also some other engine info. Cheers, Lex FC_04-42-r specs.pdf FC151E engine specs.pdf

Julian, Great you found something! I'm not really into M20 stuff, just KC10 parts. Cheers, Lex

Nice work Julian, Did you go to the Netley and Beaulieu jumbles last week? I was there, and saw some Enfield parts, but my Model C is complete and running, but maybe should have bought the ribbed rear mudguard that was there, as Jan modified my non ribbed type, but it's done so perfectly, I can't really be bothered. Cheers, Lex

Well, you will feel safer after that! Nice to see it in person yesterday! you're not hanging about, regardless of your recent injuries!! Respect, Lex

Nice! On a Norton 16H. Cheers, Lex

Put a piece of wood under the casing, so now it sits better, also a picture of how the Optima fits in there. Cheers, Lex