Ron

Well I sent them an "I've forgotten my password" email using my email address as my user name, and they've sent me back a temporary password. I can click onto their site via the email they sent me. But I'll see if they reply to my email "ARE YOU SURE ABOUT THIS?" before I bother too much. Ron

Likewise Jerry I have no idea of my user name or password and have told them so. I gave up on this nonsense when it was declared that my only destination of France with an MV was exempt. I'll be happy if they revoke my license. Ron

I'm not sure if this is the correct location, but did anyone else receive one of these emails from Spire? I'd heard that it isn't relevant in France so I guess I must fill out a 'NIL' response?? Ron Dear exporter As part of the terms and conditions of your open licence you are required to report usage on a yearly basis. This e-mail is to remind you that these returns are due at the end of the calendar year and you will be allowed one month after this to complete your return. The following open licences must have returns submitted against them by the end of the calendar year: • GBOGE2009/00938 If you have not used your licence(s) this year, you are still required to submit a return against the licence(s), a 'Nil' response in this instance, should be entered. Please login to SPIRE and click on "Open Licence - Returns" in the left hand menu. Guidance can be found on our website. Failure to comply to any of the terms and conditions of this licence could lead to action including suspension or revocation of the licence(s). If you no longer require this or any other licence/s, you may surrender these on SPIRE by using the 'Search Licence Applications' function to find the licence/s you wish to surrender, click on the licence no longer required and on the next screen click the 'Surrender Licence' button.

Yes I was amazed! Three other companies had that same tyre listed at over £70 plus delivery charges. But were all "temporarily out of stock" This company charged me £53 with free delivery from Germany. It arrived in three days. Ron

Thanks Sven. Without the aid of a parts list or vehicle specifications, I can only make my best guess on lots of issues. Ron

Thanks for looking Sven and it is a bit ironic that I have had to fit a German tyre! But as far as I can tell, it is the only 325 x 19 trials pattern tyre in the World. It arrived today and is now fitted and I think it definitely looks better than the 300 x 19 tyre I had fitted. Ron

I have commissioned another RE silencer from Armours which they make to my pattern. Copied from an original but they can only make them with a round section and not the egg shape as originally supplied by Enfield. They are going to make a small batch and include them on their website. Mild steel for plating or painting and with a separate weld on fixing bracket. Suitable for WD/D-C-CO-G and 1940 civy bikes. They look much nearer the mark than the standard universal pattern they would normally supply. Ron

Ah well done H. That is the only 325 trials tyre I could find, but all the other companies are out of stock. It's probably an obsolete size. I'll double check with Sven before I order one. Cheers Ron PS. I've ordered one from that firm, and they seem to have the only ones left in the World! Free deliver too. Fingers crossed they don't let me down.

Rik my rear tyre is a 300 x 19 and I'm currently looking for a slightly bigger one. The front tyre size can be read on Jan's original pictures 325 x 19. We know the wheels are both 19", but so far I can't find a 325 trials tyre. I fear a 350 will be too tight for mudguard chain guard etc. Even though Sven Vossleman can supply me with proper Dunlop Speedways.....Cheaply! He's searching through his tyre contacts for a 325. Horror the bike is fitted with a centre stand, which looks exactly the same as my Model D. The loops you refer to are the stops that rest on the underside of lower frame tubes. It also has a side stand (if I ever find something similar). Ron

Rik I can't see any difference in the rear frame and I'd draw the line at trying to guess any modification to it. I won't be trying to fit a 400 either. The tyre is as close to the mudguard as I'd want. Strange that they didn't go for a gappy one like the front? Especially considering the mud that a knobbly could collect. I put a block under the centre stand to raise it up to get the front wheel in. I'll see what happens when I remove it, but could do with another pair of hands for that. If necessary, I'll do some alterations to the stops and/or feet. I'm not bloody well working in a vast factory you know! Where some draughtsman sends a drawing down to the factory floor and the shop foreman details this or that bloke to machine something up........I'm just me in my shed! Ron

And with the longer forks fitted and more Khaki Green. Ron

Ah, there you are Steve! I was beginning to worry! Ron [)]

My forks are back from the engineer and have been extended by 1" and I'm in the process of re-painting them. The petrol tank that I'm using is from a pre war hand change model D, and although it is the same shape and size, there are some differences to attend to. The rear mounting is different and there is only one petrol tap with balance pipe. I have made suitable brackets. Two petrol tap adaptors will have to be welded in, in the correct location. I will simply plug the obsolete tap and balance tube holes. Ron

All four Tilly's (Austin,Morris,Standard, Hillman) Used the same size 600x16 tyres. Ron

And this weekend I have fitted up the rear of the bike with the carrier and number plate that Jan made for me. I've now got to strip it all apart again. Ron

Ha Ha Niels! Altering the length of the forks, won't make any difference to the wheel spindle height! Look at the gap between the top of the mudguard and the damper knob. I hadn't noticed this difference in fork length until after I'd put it all together.....Bugger! Ron Ah sorry Niels, I get your drift now. Of course the frame height will alter. But we have done some scaling to find that the forks from the damper to wheel spindle is 1" longer than standard forks. And of course mine is sat on a log with no weight on the forks yet.

No problem Jenk. Now though, between myself and my Belgium friends, we have concluded that the forks on the original experimental bikes are actually 1" (25mm) longer than standard. So I must pull the forks off and ask my local engineer to lengthen them by adding a 1" spigot into the tubes......Bugger! Ron

Thanks for your input Jenk. I think I need to re-read your post and study the pictures at the same time to get the jist of your thoughts. I think Jan will agree with me that his first thoughts on how the oil tank combine air filter works is over complicated. If you simply pass a 40-50mm tube through the oil tank (welded at both ends) then you have a simple ducting to the gauze filter at the back. There's nothing new in that. Velo's have a tube for the clutch cable to run right through the oil tank and some BSA's have it for a speedo cable. Ron PS just to be clear, on the left side of the bike, opposite to the oil tank, is a standard Enfield tool box which has nothing to do with the oil tank.

Thanks for the votes of confidence Niels/Guy! Guy I thought an Ariel W/NG tank looked similar, but again, so much modification needed. Jan is using his metal working skills to help me with this, and he thinks that unless we find an almost perfect match in shape, it might be just as well to make one from scratch. In the mean time I'll concentrate on the mudguards and the model C front pipe that I picked up from Armours today......Which also needs modifying. Ron

Well no response on my last post. After lots of scaling and measuring and not without some patience from Simon "Renovation Spares" I have acquired mudguard blanks with a satisfactory look and radius. Especially critical for the front stand off guard. Yesterday I spent a full day on the front guard, fitting, fettling and making stays. I think it replicates the factory pictures quite well. Ron

It might be the one on Waterman's Farm, Dorchester. I actually drove it once in their field about 18 years ago. You can see it from Google earth and if you put in their post code ( DT2 8QN) it takes you to some farm land just south of them. Look for their 'Zorbing' site. It's no secret! They have public access all the time to the Zorbing and tea rooms. Ron

So can anyone out there suggest an oil tank from any make/model that looks something like this? Please don't be shy, any ideas will be gratefully received. Ron

Or maybe the air filter at the back has just got a tube running through the oil tank. Would that make it a lot simpler Jan? Ron

Model 'C' wheels and forks in a model 'D' frame. Ron

I've hung a few parts together this week. Ron