Ron

My brake shoes finally arrived this morning, so despite the freezing conditions, I've started to build up the rear end. I've also already fitted the Amal handlebar controls. 

I've no idea why there is such a long speedo cable. I'll see if I can re-route it to loose some of the excess before spending out on a new shorter one. 

Me too!  Ron

That would be nice Lex. Can you bring one next week? I don't know how the original was removed and still left the rivets. I'll have to get them out somehow.  Ron

refurbed dynamo fitted and the  primary side is built up now. Some new friction plates, clutch rollers and cable are installed. I'm still waiting for my rear brake shoes to come back from being relined by Villiers Services. They received them on December 15th and are supposed to be a 7 day turn round. The Christmas and New Year break can seriously cause some hold ups. Ron 

One thing that came to light recently that I'd missed, is the hole with grommet in the top of the number plate that the wire for the tail light goes through. Lex gave me correct position and diameter, so I've drilled it and re-routed the wire to it's correct location. Ron

From 1944 in readiness for the invasion and to sort of comply with the US Olive, The British version was introduced. Before that from some point in 1942, Service Brown was the service colour. From the BS 381C colour range 298 is Olive Drab and 499 is Service Brown although I prefer the slightly darker 436 Dark Cammo Brown. I buy mine from a local auto paint company in single pack polyurethane matt. But they can add less matting agent for Eggshell, Satin, semi gloss or Gloss etc. 

Here's a 1942 bike I finished recently in 436.  https://www.paramountpowders.co.uk/colour-charts/bs381c-colour-chart

Ron

70mm? The size should be imperial 3" I have 3 WD Triumphs and all have the same 3" silencers. The twins had a bigger silencer 3 1/2" I think. The bigger silencer might have an issue with your kick starter?......Did yours come from my friends at Armours? 

Originally they were dull plated on the 3SW and 5SW and black painted for the 3HW. Ron

Not very clear iin this scan, but when I zoom in on your picture, I think I can see two filled in holes?? Might just be blemishes in the paint?

You will be very hard pressed to find Triumph forks. There are crap 3HW forks from India on the market. Maybe Jan can offer a suggestion. If it was mine I'd first take it to my local tube guys, who have helped me for years, to see what they say, otherwise I'd be googling up "Ray Daniels" (I'm not sure what is going on with Jake Robbins these days??)

Ron

Definitely the economy version. It's the only one under 9000 Francs. Ron

Yes please Chris. The main dimensions will do.  Thanks Ron

As I said before. The 6 figure frame number dosen't make any sence to me? Maybe a 5 figure number starting 27, but there's that strange gap between the last two digits??

The only engine logo that I can think of is the one on the oil pump cover, which would be easy to remove. Another small feature between the WD  3/5SW's  and civy, is the single metal badge in the centre of the tank, whereas the civy bikes had a badge on both sides of the tank.......Any tell tale holes?  Ron

Edit:- Oh and the hot cross bun petrol and oil caps versus the civy shark fin caps. 

Dose anyone have the dimensions for the 12V 22ah wooden batteries as used in WW2 please?

Ron

Ha Ha! I've been expanding the picture and straining my eyes too Jan. Would the Germans have ground or peened the numbers out?

As another aside. I've noticed that these early 3SW's awaiting dispersal have the 6" DU 42 headlamps and the forward facing horn, which is a feature on the civy bikes. I've wondered if these were initially 3SE's?  Later 3 and 5SW's had an 8" headlamp and side mounted horn as in the last picture.

Note the the row of civy bikes in the middle. Ron

Yes and there are reems of them in the back pages of O&M with serial numbers but not many specific makes or frame numbers. 

I have a compresensive list of 5 different models of impressed AJS for 1940 which includes their frame/eng numbers. 

Ron

Brian Tillin the Triumph singles guy just phoned me with this info. He actually studied German and has researched the subject.

Nothing carved in stone of course. But it makes some sence to me now.  

Ron

I'm just found out that the Germans did re-stamp vehicles as follows:-

Army (Das heer) =H

Navy (Krieg Marine) =KM

Air force (Luftwaffe) = LW

Waffen SS = WSS

Afrika Corpse = A (palm tree)K 

So I think this solves this one. But as Lex mentioned, the original frame number was often stamped again on the top of the saddle tube lug. The 3HW's had a date ie TEC 6.44.  

Ron

PS typing together there Jan

Hello Rus and welcome. The frame number is located on the right hand side of the lug at the bottom of the front down tube. Some pictures would be good. Ron

Regarding your frame number? There seems too many digits for the period. The 39 and 40 3SW's only had 4 or 5 digits and that H is a different font. I don't know if the German's bothered to re-stamp anything? But as Jan might confirm, machines taken on by the locals have been known to be disguised and to even to match foreign documents.  Ron

PS. Your frame looks right for the 3S the TH frame was for the 500 and 600cc models and would have been fitted with the bigger forks and tank. The ally parts are correct for a 3S. I think the 3SE (economy model) had tin parts.

As an aside. After the losses at Dunkirk with a serious need to re-equip. Triumph offered their 5S (500cc SV) engine from civilian stock. The 500 SV had initially been rejected by the WO. But an order was placed for a few of these to be built exactly to the 3SW spec. Although these were officially ordered as the 5SW, no W was ever stamped on the civy engines. We also discovered that the frame number was moved to the left side headstock, somewhere between TL 19354 and TL 19652.  Ron

Military vehicles were ordered under contracts to all the manufacturers to War Office specifications. But to satify the imediate demand (Especially in light of the initial "invasion" by the BEF in 1940 and the subsequent losses) civilian vehicles were taken (impressed) in their thousands, from the factories or dealerships. 

They were given a census or serial number like any other vehicle, which is esentually its WO registration number. The prefix "C" denotes a motorcycle. This is usually seen painted on the sides of a motorcycle petrol tank.

The impressed motorcycles were often still in their civy paint and chrome. Like this AJS which has also had it's serial number painted on the number plate.

I'm sure Rik and Jan can add to the information. Ron 

Yes Lex is right. It's an impressed civilian model 3S (Not a 3SW) The Census number with a large C stamped on the crankcase is how they seem to have done it on the impressed bikes. However I'm mystified by the frame number. The lightweight Triumphs were stamped TL and the heavyweight bikes were stamped TH. 

It must have been captured after Dunkirk and the German parts added as usual.  Ron 

Hi Andy

I've got to crack on as DVLA have decided they want to inspect it. I'm not sure they're prepared to accept the mistake they made in the 60's on the old green log book . They got a 1&9 transposed for the frame number. So I might have to except an age related number.......Which is fine as the N Irish number is strange anyway. But of course the bike has to be complete for the inspection which they've deferd till early Feb.  Ron

I've re-bungee'd another saddle. Courtesy of Josef and Anna in Czech Republic.  Ron

You're welcome. Email Bastiaan about the covers at wdmotorcycles@gmail.com Mention my name.  Ron 

I've got all the spraying done and started the buildup and sorted most of the wiring. I'm waiting for the dynamo and brake lining firms to wake up after Christmas! These items will be holding me up soon. 

I've resolved my bent front hub issue for now, but I have got another one coming from NL in the new year.....Just in case!

I usually fit my own tyres, but I'm going to nip them down to Poole Tyres this morning. They are always friendly and helpful and the boss is a motorcyclist anyway.  They'll probably charge me a tenner for the coffee fund. Ron