welbike

Ron, sorry, here the explanation, and everyone who reads this, please ask questions, I will try to explain! So, the pre-cleaner, on the airfilter system, was of the centrifugal type, any bigger dust particles settled in the glass jar, so you could see them, and empty it, really works! had to empty the jar twice already! below that is an oil bath filter like on the Jeeps, but different make, the engine breather also was connected to this filter, really well thought out! Cheers, Lex

Ron, the make is Ball, I think they're still in business, they make glass jars for about everything, but mostly to make home preserves, see here: Ball - Canning Jars On the dozer, and they were used on most makes, in different sizes, they were quite vulnerable, so difficult to source the right one! Cheers, Lex

More stuff done in December 2017. Got the bonnet/hood a bit better in shape, something heavy must have fallen on the r/h front corner, as very dented, will not use bondo, as it's part of it's history! Also reground welds on fuel tank, and rewelded it, finally not leaking anymore! cost me a lot of time and effort, also added dash, and NOS instruments (all same as Jeep, except switches, they are special, but can be bought NOS, just like the special starter switch, with relative ease), oil pressure guage needs a new line. Hollowed out an old battery case, and bought an Optima 6Volt battery, engine turns over very good with it! Reconditioned and fitted original fuel petcock and filter, so far so good. Alex

Ok, some more pictures, got the decal for the pre-cleaner in, some antique tractor places in the US sell these, it's the wrong one, but the only one available right now, it should be more oval. I got the Ball glass jar from a friend in Holland. From manual. Remains of Donaldson decal. Repro decal. And fitted, not very happy with it, but will have to do for now. Alex

Be carefull with these, 99.9 % of what is being sold is postwar, they were still manufactured in the US until at least 1985, so drop me a line if you're after the WW2 model, they changed after about 1950. Cheers, Lex

I think Deepcut, the RLC museum have digitalised the Jeep ones now, not sure about the others. I own the motorcycle Key Cards, and they all have been digitalised, a chassis/frame number should be enough, or the postwar ERM number, sometimes can be found on number plates, or rebuild plates. Below a stack of cards, like Wally mentioned, the EY series, BSA M20, the cards give a wonderfull insight, as to sometimes the last using arm, the original wartime registration number (Census number) and date and place of sale. I am asking 20 euro's for a scan, to cover costs of aquisition and digitalizing, this had all to be done by hand, and was a tremendous work, luckily had some volunteers. Also added a brief list of the ERM numbering system as used from 1949. Lex

Auch!! but that was to be expected I guess..... Lex

Yes, she's nice, but doesn't ride bikes anymore!! Lex

Haha, Ron, beauty comes at a price, as they say! the only way to change the throttle cable on a G3 is to take the petrol tank or the carb off!! been there done that! Lex

Yes, I think it's one of the most stylish bikes of the war!! compared with a late M20, now that's an ugly ducklin!! My goal is to find a 1939 G3WO, as that is even nicer, with the twin downtube front frame. Lex

Nice work Steve! Hope you get your tank soon, seems like it was a good deal! I'm not keeping a register, but G3WO's are very popular in Holland, there are about 30-50 here as a wild guess, but in the UK?? Cheers, Lex

Here's 3 more shots of that crossroads, it is certainly no improvement, what it has become now! Lex

Yes, it could have been a crate with bikes, that got damaged during shipment, and in their free time they made this tandem with the left overs, to go to the pub with! Now to find 4 more bikes to replicate it! (honly joking, not gonna cut mine up!) Good to know the date of the pictures! Cheers, Lex

Good show! I looked at that one, but it's so different! But the date they state, 1940, cannot be right, so could it be a different monument after all? OK, I see now, it was damaged in the 80's and now restored to original height! Why a war memorial has suddenly doubled in height - Gloucestershire Live Lex

I found this snippet of information, "Cheltenham - Wikipedia In the Second World War, the United States Army Service of Supply, European Theatre of Operations established its primary headquarters at Cheltenham under the direction of Lt. Gen. John C. H. Lee, with the flats of the Cheltenham Racecourse becoming a giant storage depot for countless trucks, jeeps, tanks and artillery pieces. Most of this materiel was reshipped to the continent for and after the D-Day invasion." So I would think it was near the racecourse. Cheers, Lex

Nice picture! sorry, am not too familiar with the area. Is it possible to find out where there was a US base or airfield in the vincinity? Cheers, Lex

Yes, nice clip, Phil! they are loud though, and driving on paved roads, not comfortable, mine is completely roadworthy, with registration and insurance now, but on the grass it's much better. Grtz, Lex

Well, small pitting I don't mind, but where is the line? I would have welded the hole in the rear mudguard stay, it takes quite some force to get it on the rear stand, and might bend? Had the same problem with the rear brake pedal stop, if the bike falls over on the near side, it will break off! Cheers, Lex

Here it is, send me a message if you want the whole manual. Lex

Yes, there's a knack, it's in the actual manual. Lex

Ron, it is certainly US made, but mine, as were probably only maybe 5-10 were used by the Brits, so, extremely rare, and maybe one of 2 British used survivors, it's quite nice! but required sooo much effort to restore, it's not even remotely funny! Well, maybe afterwards...... On the picture, the original shipping markings, with CWT. (Centiweight) not a US marking, but typical British. Lex

Ok, but Grousers is (to me) a US word, for extra track grip, Shermans had them, also called "duck bills" let me know what you think please! Lex

Ok, but some Froggy, oh sorry, nice Frenchman had already done that before me, after he had "found" the Clark on the battlefield, and made sure it was under a roof! So glad he saved it! Lex

Haha, nothing broken yet! only the forks (twice....) but the fully kitted infantrymen of them days weighed more than me! Cheers, Lex

Nice, but now you need a new registation? I sent you an email about my frame, but if it is this easy to take the front part off, I am sighing with relief! Cheers, Lex