Ron

OK Lex....Her name is Judith. Ron

Lex Tim bought the bike from Michel Clements at W&P a few years back. I think the previous Dutch owner had died, but the bike was used for a Dutch calendar while he owned it. Ron

You've got the biggest one I've ever seen.....ooooow Matron. Who knows were the myth will end? Canvas covered petrol tanks??😄 Ron

Graham you will need one to be a member of 'Ring Piece Club'!!! Mine's been on my M20 for 10-12 years now. I got a lady to sew some blanket stitching around the edge. No date or broad arrow! The myth is escalating.😕 Ironically my filler cap with the new leather seal I fitted years ago doesn't leak anyway. Ron

I think it's safe to say that the 'Broad Arrow' is based on the Pheon😊 Ron

Maybe the number plate on my mate Tim's Harley might interest you? Ron

Thanks for that! Just looked it up. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Broad_arrow Ron

The circle piece around the filler cap is pretty well pure fiction. A couple of us started it years ago by refining the rough shaped piece of canvas that a DR had fitted to his tank to obviously mop up the drips. Seen in an old B&W picture taken during the war.(16H from memory) I think I have that picture somewhere and I'll post it when I find it. As more blokes have taken to doing it, we jokingly refer to them being a fully paid up member of the 'Ring Piece Club' Frank Brown has even added it to the motorcycle canvas parts he makes (email him for pictures :- ................ pegasus-drive@sky.com) I see that he is adding a date and broad arrow........I hope it doesn't turn into a folk law myth. Ron

What bike is it and how are you trying to portray it? I'm not aware that any broad arrows were stenciled onto motorcycles, but you will find help and assistance for stencils here. https://www.axholmesigns.co.uk/ Ron

A bit like the much criticized Henry Cole and his series 'Shed and Buried' I watch them all and treat the silly bits and bad acting as pure entertainment. At the very least I get to see places and equipment, and into corners that I'd never see otherwise. Also quite often learn something I didn't know about. Ron

The Chief is nearly ready for Tim to take home and finish off the bits that I don't have. Ron

Nearly everything is sprayed KG3 now, just the tank to do and a new rear tyre to purchase at Kempton. So mostly just assembly now. Ron

While I've been waiting for the Chief parts to arrive, I've renewed the small end bush, fitted the cleaned up piston with its new rings and put the freshly honed barrel on. I had to get a special hardened washer made for the valve lifter as the soft mild steel one fitted was already showing signs of distress. I also fitted a spare rebuilt mag which is not timed up yet. The steering felt a bit notchy so I decided to replace the cup and cone bearings. Good job I did strip the forks, as the spindles were full of sand blasting grit. I managed to clean it all up with white spirit a teapot spout brush and an air line, polished up the spindles and all greased and adjusted now. Back to the Indian now though. Ron

Well the parts finally arrived from Germany after Jurgen made up a fresh parcel. The first parcel is still out there somewhere? I was now able to rebuild the knackered speedo drive and get the rear wheel bolted up, trued with the front and and chain adjusted correctly. I started to fit the front brake cable, only to find he's sent the wrong inner😖 I struggled for about 2 hours fitting the exhaust down pipes. I've said it before "These are the biggest bikes in the World with the minimum amount of room to fit things" and as is often the case, someone has dented the pipe to clear the kickstart....but it still rubs!! Ron

I've been told that the switch under the saddle was to turn off the brake light during blackout conditions. Which makes sense! Lots of other countries would not have needed that facility of course. However, I don't know why they didn't just disconnect the brake light........The British made bikes didn't have them. Ron

Yes! I try to snaffle the skinny inner tubes from my mates road-race push bike before he bins them after a puncture.....I think I was about 16 when I last rode one. Ron

The wiring for most of the WD bikes is pretty well identical ( Miller and coil ignition accepted) . I don't know why anyone would waste their money on a pre made loom (which is never correct) when the wiring is so simple to do by just following the wiring diagram. Black cable (preferably rubber) and lay each wire and label the ends if you are not ready to fit them. There are only 3-4 wires along the length of the tank tube to the headlamp. I usually start with the regulator. Four wires F.A.D.E. F&D go to their respective terminals on the dynamo, A to the ammeter and E to Earth. Once you have performed that simple task, you will probably agree that the rest falls into place. Granted the WD four position switch terminals are a bit of a work up, but that applies whatever loom you use. Ron

The M20 is the most prolific and robust amongst the WD bikes and reasonably easy for parts. I've had mine over 30 years. (it's 600cc now) Like Steve, my 741 is not my most favorite bike to ride. You could do worse than join the MVT and get military vehicle insurance deals from firms like 'Roadsure' Adrian Flux' Cherished vehicle insurance' Ect. Ron

Just to confirm. These are the Ariel W/NG spring clips. Ron

Well, fitting the barrels, heads checking timing and tappets and cleaning all bolts and threads has been more than a days work. I would definitely not go about fitting the barrels after the engine is in the frame again. Best to build the engine up complete, on the bench, and then somehow deal with the monstrous weight issue. Ron

No they're not the same as W/NG Steve. I already bought a pair for Peter Brown with my last ones from Peter Long. I also offered to get a field stand clamp made (copied from my original) as a couple of other guys wanted one. But Peter rather let Terry and Drew (Metal Magic) make one ........Now they want to borrow mine😄 😆 Ron

As far as I know, the only guy who sells the correct clips is Peter Long' Cornucopia' In Germany. (I've bought them before for my other Triumphs). I've emailed Peter, but he's on a two month holiday in Australia and back for 1st December. I'll contact him again on his return. I might have to buy two pairs anyway to meet his minimum purchase requirement. I'll keep you informed. Ron.

No it hasn't got a contract plate Lex. The plate you show is from a 100 military Chief's in 1942. Tim's is from part of the 1940 ex French bikes and was designate a strange contract number 'Dds 1624 V4042' Tim is not such a purist as to buy NOS parts from USA!!... His bike came with a tan pan saddle and he wanted me to match the pillion as best as poss. But I've seen them in black, like Arnaud's friend in France. Ron

I'm waiting a month now for parts from Germany. According to DHL there was a problem with the address label and the parcel has been returned to Jurgen. He says the address label is correct but will have to pay again to resend it???? In the meantime, I've got the barrels finished at last. Broken fins repaired, bores honed, new valve guides fitted and valves refaced and seats re-cut. The valve seat angle on these are 30 degrees as opposed to the normal 45 and the only place I could find a cutter for the seats without taking out a mortgage, was India. It's 57mm and was less than £20 with post and did the job ok. The heat resistant satin black has air dried nicely. I'll have to wait for a buddy to help me on Saturday, as since the engine is already in the frame, we will have to install the pistons in the barrels first and then offer the whole thing for putting the gudgeon pins in. I've done it that way on smaller engines...but these are right old heavy lumps!! Ron

Hi Kit. I've got a couple of small end bushes being made and the bore has been measure and is a bit tight for the piston, so it's going to have a couple of extra thou' honed out. I've also ordered a new set of rings from my piston guy and I've filed off the scuff marks. All in all.....Hopefully it will be like a Poodle with a new bow. Ron