Ron

I've primed and flatted back my tank, and put it out the way for the time being. I also managed to find a correct (Non Indian) two plunger tap in USA. Apparently the nice British made taps are not available any more. I've also started to clean up my forks which I'm sure are NOS. My mudguards are also NOS. I've got to fabricate the brake cable adjuster lug which is missing off the fork blades. Ron

I've been concentrating on my Catalina tank. I cut out some front mounts (ears), positioned the tank in its correct location and tacked them on. Darren at Armours finished the welding for me with a neat TIG weld. I then cut two rear corner pieces and shaped them to match the curve of the tank, drilled and welded in a couple of bolts for the rear mounting studs. Welded the pieces in with extra vertical support. The next awkward part was welding in some sides to the rear of the tunnel, which for the Catalina is the wrong shape. All tidied up with a smear of body filler and ready for priming. Ron

Thanks John, nice set of pictures and great to have an original stand. Mine of course is a compromise, but stronger! I also beefed up the frame at the pivot points too. Keep up the good work. Ron

Hello Clive. Good to see you on here. I'm not good with FB I'm afraid. I find it a bit confusing and frustrating. All the best Ron

The BSA Catalina used the same shape tank as a WB30, but has other features that are not required. So I took a chance and ordered one from India and asked for those features to be left off. I am extremely pleased with it, Very well made and even has the correct side hinged 2 1/2" cap orifice. However I have fallen out with the seller who didn't send two other items that I paid for and is totally ignoring me. Why do they seem to feel the need to cheat in some respect? The mountings to come next. Ron

Like Lex I've been going since the 80's and every year for the last 20 odd years (Had to miss the covid years). Always the same camp site. I'm growing old with the third owner now.👍 Ron

Hi John. Just click the "reply to this topic" box and type away... and add any pictures. Cheers Ron

I've put the frame together and fitted the rear stand which seems to work OK. It was a struggle fitting the stand spring, even with my special spring stretcher. It's all had plenty of primer and will eventually get top coats as it is. Ron

I've got some NOS WM20 riders footrests coming from Greece which will have to be cut down and re welded😖 (It has been done before) The black one at the top is an original WB30 footrest. And I bought some original pillion footrests off ebay. Ron

Hello chaps. I've reconfigured an M20 rear stand to fit and hopefully work. I had to narrow it by cutting a piece out of the bottom rail and weld it back with a spigot inside it. I tacked in the two diagonal struts and taken it to a professional welder for neat TIG welding.

I'm not sure you can atribute black smoke as a wrong jet, There is only one main jet which is hard for them to get wrong. (it's a 150 and easy to check). It's possible that you may have other issues. Have you run the bike on the road to clear any backlog of oil and get things properly up to temperature? Has the piston to skirt clearance been messured accurately? Has the bore been rebored or honed or deglazed? Valve stems to guides clearance within tollerance? Lots of soot in the silencer? Ron

After restoring two of these for others and housing another one in my shed for a mate for 4 years, I finally have my own WB30 project. The bike is a basket case with lots of the original parts lost or used elsewhere over the years. I've started by stripping and priming the frame. I also used the opportunity to install a modern sealed bearing kit in place of the missing original cup and cone steering head bearings. The hunt for donor parts begins. Ron

Well someone asked me why I have 25 bikes?........Because I sold three last week!😆 Ron

A friend has decided to sell his MDD. Email him directly for details. Stevan Bennett billfrog@sky.com Ron

Nooky has them. English made, bright zinc plated. Can be gently blasted to dull them. http://www.nookysnuts.com/ Ron

Well done Steve. This one is an HF1141 which I think shows the same bracket as fitted to the 1939 HF1140. Ron

Yes it arrived yesterday Lex. I've informed Calvin about the 640 carrier in case he's going to Kempton......What springs? Ron

I now have the bush and spring toggle kits to go with the stands, courtesy of Jan. Ron

Kostas just search for webbing back packs, they are the correct canvas:- https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/165868700344?hash=item269e8b82b8:g:xEQAAOSw2cBjtdop&amdata=enc%3AAQAHAAAA8MkTpvI5OjWim1tfZlxz2fISHE6iyO%2FXIUPT1lxEOhdaFGWE5Z2lngovh5ihOFAwg5Ji%2BHW8r95UylptyDEFdDNURszsOnjU9yoK%2BNGd68eLjXaSzTFVLxUTf7O9KI%2B6Bkc8CmE2zMw5AIyzp6SiwhfewXGuEwQGT%2FI0Po1DPQL69IR9juIAeiWnszqd0Y1nkPmnzdNib7bouOOgVGebemDR5wyYIQzg4WSHEfQVUqurcnTU2RUCX4Wk6ZldIsleqchPlN%2Fyh6p4oRr5mY%2BdmXpMHaIuzIBWq%2BjTclwwXlxZTbha%2Fs81Xw0K%2FqT1TNy3oA%3D%3D|tkp%3ABk9SR5KWsKuxYQ

Yes Triumph used those longer grips like Ariel. From memory 7" long, (6" on the twistgrip) I'll measure later. I also added cable info on the other thtread. Ron

Kostas, looking throught the 1939 civy lists, all models had a 20" X .087" ( 2.13mm) wire and a 16" outer cable. I think the same part numbers apply for the 3HW with 1" bars ie D76W and D76C When the longer M20 7/8" bar was used, the list calls for an 18 1/2" outer so I guess the wire would be 22 1/2". I might have to study more lists on this though. Ron

I fitted a brand new Amal 276 to a friends 3HW, purchased from Hitchcocks. I assumed it was set up ready to go, but there was all sorts of issues....even flames. When I stripped the carb, everything was assembled loose. The jets were in just a couple of threads. I reassembled everything properly and on the following working day, I spoke to Alan Hitchcock about it. Apparently they build the carb to your spec from boxes of new parts, and this guy had just thrown it together under the assumption that the customer would take it apart for checking. I don't think Alan was very pleased with him. Ron

Hi Chris. They are cast in malleable iron from an original "short" version by the foundry I use in London and I got the machining done locally. They are £240 if anyone needs one........ I won't be repeating the process. Happy new tear. Ron

Of course you did Paul. Silly me! Lots of parcels here for Lex and others. Ron

I've had a small batch of center stands made if you need one Paul. I have two left. Ron