Ron

Just looking at mine. It's a cotton reel hub with the same size spokes on both sides. I make them about 11 1/2" (292mm). Anything like a motorcycle wheel, you grind any excess length off the spokes on the inside of rim. Ron

Yes if I were Oliver I would try and buy those fork blades in the hope that the other parts can be found or perhaps another complete fork turns up. Sometimes the only way is to collect separate parts at jumbles/ebay etc. At the right price some of these parts are better than money in the bank anyway. Ron

Do you mean these Jenk? http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Triumph-3sw-vintage-girder-fork-/261652925266?pt=UK_Motorcycle_Parts_13&hash=item3cebbacb52 I think they are from Dimitri in Greece and are of course just the blades, but look correct. Beware of Indian copies!! Ron

Hi Ian, I mostly have the bike stripped ready for some remedial work and a re-spray in Khaki Green. As far as I'm aware, RN and RAF vehicles were supplied from the manufacturers in the same colours as the Army. It's quite possible though that vehicles could have been re-painted at their bases with dockside blue or battleship grey, but I have no real evidence of that......So far. I had an enjoyable 50 mile ride when I first got the bike, but there was a terrible judder now and then from the back brake. On strip down, I've found that the brake shoe rivets are lose and that the shoe expanding cam bush is also lose on the brake plate.......An easy fix! Ron

Yes Oliver that is how I tried to explain it. The threads are running in opposite directions. I think if you get both links very hot at the spindles, then let them cool for a minute or two, then screw the spindle inwards with the square end, they should move. If the spindles are seized in their bushes, then the whole area will need heat. Or try swearing in English as I doubt they will understand or even want to respond to German. Ron PS. You can't remove the steering stem untill you remove the lower rear spindle, as it passes through it.

Maybe you should send me those forks to strip. You need to know that the threads are left hand on the right hand side and normal right hand on the left side. So screw the spindles inwards to undo them. Maybe with some heat to help free things up a bit. Ron

I fitted those Ensign tyres to a 5SW that I restored last year. Quite nice and easy to buy here. (I used Vintage Tyres at Beaulieu)) I also fitted the Indian Dunlop Universals to a C10 this year. The Dunlops are a very nice replica of the original period tyre. I've seen 79x100 riding on his and he don't wait for no one!! They are almost impossible to buy here in UK now.......These ones came from 'Peter's' in the low lands. Ron

Strange thing is, the previous owner said it pulls better than his WD/CO. So I took it for a fifty mile run last Sunday, and I have to agree, it does go better than my own CO. Yet when I checked the specifications and parts lists......The engines are about identical?? Ron

Not much happening on the motorcycles page. I have just acquired this rare bike. Royal Enfield Model G WD. Genuine ex Royal Navy and supplied to Chatham Docks in Fed 1941. Some of these early RE's had an anti clock speedo fitted and for that reason, a previous owner has put the wheel in the wrong way round to be able to drive a standard speedo. I will be correcting it and have just bought a correct speedo in readiness. Message to JENKOFF.....Are you opening your PM's? Ron

Or from the dictionary:- tender (ˈtɛndə) 1. (Nautical Terms) a small boat, such as a dinghy, towed or carried by a yacht or ship 2. (Railways) a vehicle drawn behind a steam locomotive to carry the fuel and water 3. an ancillary vehicle used to carry supplies, spare parts, etc, for a mobile operation, such as an outside broadcast 4. a person who tends Ron

Geoff, Andy. If you could please PM me with your email address's, I'll forward you his phone number to start with. He has lots of pictures of his restoration and other pictures and books. He is more than willing to help or take measurements or spend time with whoever wants to visit him. But I'm afraid it will have to be done by phone call or letter or visit. Otherwise I will need to go there and take pictures. He's getting on in years and both he and his wife have had some health issues. But the Morris has always been his love and hobby, and he likes to share it. Ron

I'll phone my mate today and find out how best we can do this. Ron

A friend of mine here in Dorset (Ferndown) has a Morris Tilly, He's restored, owned and rallied it for about 40 years. He would be happy to share time/pictures/stories etc, but he's not on the internet. I can act as go between if required. Ron

Of the four variants of 'Tilly's' .... Austin. Morris, Hillman and Standard. The Morris is the most rare. (Mine is an Austin). I suggest your friend contacts the "Tilly Register" who I'm sure will help with information and pictures. http://www.tillyregister.com/tt.html Here is a factory picture.

Hi Mike. The thing is with the professional engine machine shops, (like Cox and Turner, Robinson's etc) they have all the catalogues at their fingertips and can look up the necessary part or it's nearest equivalent. Cox and Turner have never failed to find me the pistons I require .......However obscure.......But expensive of course. With my own Morris Engine, Robbinson's acquired the correct pistons for a rebore, I remember that the valve guides came from a ford D series and machined to suit, the valves from something else and again machined.....again all very expensive. Rory Ballard had a batch of valve springs made............Maybe we should have bought a Bedford........Easy Peasy off the shelf!!! John Cox is well in his 80's and is still sorting through the millions of piston rings in his shed. Not to mention the cow shed he rents with pistons. I'll be visiting him soon for some rings for an Enfield piston. Ron

Yep! Probably from a Papoose!! Ron

Ah thanks for that Sean. I didn't look any further. Not sure about those solid wheels? Ron

Oh the suspension is rock hard...... An unbelievable amount of steel and tyres to carry the payload of a Mini Van. I'm told that the 2WD version is a much more pleasant ride. I gather they were built round an old London Taxi chassis. Ron

What I'm reading, suggests he's just asking for information about the bike. I'm not sure what he has though, as an Indian Papoose is a Corgi. Ron

Tom yes it's a PU8/4. Robinson's Engineering in Ferndown did the work but they have now closed down. The whole job was a nightmare as I had to remove and return the engine to them four times. Give them their due, they didn't hesitate to send a truck to collect the engine from my house each time and eventually the engine was rebuilt properly and the culprit machinist was sacked. The whole sorry tail was spread over more than a year. It's as sweet as a nut now though. Ron

So you haven't found the cause of the knocking yet? My own Morris engine (6 cyl) was not knocking but was very low on oil pressure and I had to get all the white metal bearings renewed. Also valves, guides, springs, camshaft bearings, new O/S pistons and re-bore, skim head and block and other work. My old and replacement head gaskets are copper asbestos. Total cost....over five grand.....Phew!! Ron

My name is RON. Sorry perhaps I should have stayed out of it! RON

PM= Private Message. Done through the form. If you click on your name, I think it should lead you to the message service. Ron

This is the early BSA type number plate. Here seen on a C10 but about the same as an early M20. Ron

The throttle stop screw is just that. The further you screw it in the further it stops the throttle slide from descending and increases your tick-over speed. I think you'll find that by the year of manufacture of your bike, number plates were deleted. The number plates as fitted to the earlier deluxe models require a totally different front guard with a spot welded channel to hold the number plate. Ron