Ron

Hi Steve, thanks for the kind words. I'm guessing this is post war damage! See that modern wire with blue crimp connector on the lamp, and the fixing screws were all different. Yes will straighten and repair everything to the best of my ability but leave the number plate face as it is. Ron

Things are a bit slow at the moment, what with ill health and the lack of fasteners. But i'm always determined to get on with something. Tank knee grips fitted and although I cant fit the handlebar, I've got the cable installation out the way (yee haa) Definitely not a job for a roadside repair!!! Ben has sent me his rear number plate which arrived today and it looks like it's been in a tail end shunt. I'm going to do what I can with the tail lamp (these are like rocking horse poo) and straighten up the number plate. Ben wants to preserve what is left of the only remaining original 1940 marking.... on the number plate. So I'll do my best at a sympathetic restoration.

After phoning HMRC about 2 years ago to ask about a NOVA certificate for a 1942 WD Velocette and explaining that to my knowledge it had never been out of the country, they told me I didn't need a NOVA. So I mentioned that in a letter to DVLA with my application. The registration was accepted and I received an age related number within a couple of weeks. I have subsequently registered two more WW2 military motorcycles with dating letters from MVT with no mention of the NOVA and both were accepted. However one of them did require an inspection by the DVLA appointed inspectorate (SGS) which I gather is called for on a random basis of about 1 in 10......Or if they have any suspicions about a vehicle. Ron PS Andy. Dating letter for the Velo was from Roger Franklin

Jenk, this deserves some debate, and the research is fascinating. Firstly I also wondered about the crankcase being 3SW with a 3HW top and having checked the parts lists, they did indeed share the same crankcase, so I'm quite sure that's what Andy has. The previous owner just obliterated the SW. As far as the frame goes. The forks are definitely 3HW Webb forks and the date given (if not altered) could be either 3SW or 3HW. But all the 3SW and 5SW frames that I've seen have the frame number stamped around the top bearing housing and not on the headstock like a 3HW has. (Of course I haven't seen all of them). The field stand lug was NOT welded to the early 3SW's. My parts list for contracts C8079 and C7162 shows the clamp plate F1938SW and bolts F1941SW. So I'm guessing they started welding them on at some point during 7162? My own 3SW is from an earlier contract and although it has the field stand clip lug welded to the frame, there is no evidence of a welded pivot lug. In this line up of 1939 bikes, you can see the clamp on the nearest 2-3 bikes if you zoom in. I can't imagine what the previous owner of Andy's bike was up to, but in the easier days of cherished number plate dealings, it was common practice to use the same donor vehicle and just adjust the numbers to match a log book??? Ron

Something is not right with these numbers? Frame TL 30307 is from contract C11465 which was 150 3SW.s supplied to the RAF The first 3HW frame number was 30841. The frame numbers are not in line with the TL as if the original number has been obliterated. and the number looks a bit crude to me. Engine number 36451 is also from a 3SW contract No C7162. Again the HW or whatever has been obliterated.. There is an original inspectors stamp on the crankcase. Maybe someone else would like to chip in? Ron

OK definitely a 3HW engine, forks and frame stamped TEC 7. 41 ('Triumph Engineering Co' July 1941) I think you need to clean up the frame/eng numbers and post pictures. Ron

TL 30307 is one of the last 3SW's from 1941. Engine '3SW' 36451 is from the previous contract in 1940. It sound like you have a sidevalve and not an OHV 3HW.........Need pictures! Ron

There were 82 bikes ordered for the RAF in 1941. Frame numbers TL 30841-TL 30922. Ron

Yes that is worth haggling over by starting with a lower offer. Not that it really matters, but there's no such thing as a pre-war 3HW! This engine is from the very last batch in 1945. Ron https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Triumph-Pre-War-3HW-350cc-Single-Cylinder-Pre-Unit/142709302142?hash=item213a23237e:g:O74AAOSwr21ammH2

Well I'm clutching at straws Steve, so got to go along with whatever is offered. Haven't tried acupuncture yet!! Ron

Not quite Andy. There's talk of an MRI scan to try and get a proper diagnosis. Ron

I put some heavy coats of primer on earlier in the week and after flatting down, I got the final parts sprayed today while the sun was shining. Ron

Funnily enough Steve. The first WD/C that I owned years ago, left a trail of oil up the hill from my house on it's first outing, I could see that it came from the rear crankcase vent. I never used that bike and eventually sold it in favor of my current WD/C which I considered a much more correct project bike. I wonder if my first one had an un-drilled cap? I have seen that chapter before though.....Maybe from Jan? Ron

Tell Vee to get her Stilettos on and come walk up and down my spine. Ron

Steve, I had an injection off the Doc last week and another session with the Physio today and spent most of the afternoon and evening on the bed again. Got the Doc again on Monday and hope I can talk him into referring me for some sort of Xray/Scan? I'm supposed to be leading two Motorcycle runs on Easter weekend and the following weekend????!!! Ron

Well Jan has confirmed that not all the early horns had a Miller badge fitted. I wasn't sure about this as I've seen so few and it's easy to swap the rear cover from a later horn. He's also thrown some doubt about the model number for that early model as he's seen one with HF320 stamped on it. So far after some time looking, I haven't found any numbers on the two on my bench. I'm still struggling with back pain Andy. It seems to be on and off all the time......It's no good I've got bikes to ride. Ron

HORNS.... The horn that came with Ben's bike had obviously stopped working at some time and had been gutted by a previous owner and cobbled up with a cheap Chinese horn inside it. However Jan has found a working original 'Clearhooters HF180' in Belgium which has just arrived here. I've been studying these horns over the years and have concluded that there were three types of Clearhooters HF180's. first pattern (pre- war up to about 1940?) is the type with the fine bezel with 6 screws. These often (maybe always?) came with a 'Miller' (lighthouse) medallion badge. I've acquired these Miller badges in the past by buying up old Miller cycle bells. second pattern is a similar horn but with crimped rolled bezel.1940 onward. third pattern is a cast iron type with 6 screws very similar to the Lucas Altette....These are post war. Ron

Nothing much to write about at the moment, still having problems with my back. But I did spend a gentle hour stripping the petrol tank yesterday. One tiny dent to deal with and waiting for my new bottle of 'Jenolite' to arrive before any paint is applied. Mostly the tank had been stripped before being painted black and red. But there was still original green paint under the knee grips, and as I've found on other parts, no primer was ever used on this bike. But still that paint is very tough and hard to remove. Something to be said for that old fashioned paint that we're now denied of. Ron

My thoughts too Rik. My eyes are probably deceiving me, but I think I can see something. Very difficult with a picture with scratches. Evan as I zoom in of course the scratches get bigger. But well worth discounting it for sure I think. Ron

Still worth sanding that frame area with some fine wet & dry to get rid of the scratches and look again with a torch and magnifying glass to see if the number has been ground off.

Yes Pierre, from early in the 3HW contracts the engine numbers were 10000 ahead of the frame numbers. I've no idea why? But yes your frame and engine left the factory together....Very nice to have. Ron

3HW frame numbers are usually stamped down the left side of the headstock. Ron

Hello Pierre Frame TL 50000 with engine 3HW 60000 was the 3583rd bike from 4000 built under contract number S5340 between June and October 1944. I calculate your tank census number to be C5570500. It's usually impossible to know what unit they served with unless you are lucky enough to find any old markings. Ron Pier (formally St Pierre)

Dave as far as I know, the dome glass was fitted to the ammeters with illumination slots behind the rim, which would then correspond with an illumination slot in the reflector. The ammeter I worked on didn't have any slots, but the reflector does, so I just made it look correct on this very early bike. It's a civilian left over and I'm sure it was soon deleted on military bikes. Ron

No problem on here if you want. Always good to hear other guys comments. Ron