Davey089

Two of the Welbikes were replicas , the one on the stand which Dennis (old comrade of my Dads) was sat on is my 1942 Mk1 Series 2 . We had a really good day out ,wined and dined for the day by the BBC and paid too:D . To say we were there all day they certainly edited it , but some of the things which were funny I would have left in .

These people have some awaiting custom clearance , also do the flaps and tubes http://www.totectyres.co.uk/

I'm going to us the Morris Traveller rear lights and paint the chrome bezel .I have detachable amber strobe lights on a bar which I'll hang over the tail board when on the road . I use the same method on the Jeep . http://morrisminorspares.co.uk/shop/product_info.php?cPath=810_840&products_id=713&osCsid=bac99a12f1aaf7078a2371f659a71615

Does anyone know what type of bulb fits the Ignition switch assy warning light and where they can be purchased from ? Thanks Dave NB . Jeremy I don't know if you got my message but Pete Gaines has 3 MW wheels with tyres on stock , don't think the tyre's are any good though £40 each

I brought a 42 Willys back for renovation ,same thing French speedo, not a problem . Tell you the truth the no one was really interested including the HMC . The only thing they were concerned about if some undesirable had hidden themselves away under the Tarp , that's all they checked for never even asked for any paperwork.

I bought an original about 5 weeks ago for £16.00

I rang Pete Gaines and he happened to have one on the shelf . I managed to get a few bits off him . I must admit I'm getting into this vehicle and enjoying the challenge of sourcing the bits, and upto now have done quite well . The Jeep was too easy :laugh: . Forgot to mention the lever switch and the bezzle on the ignition assy is brass , don't know if that will date it more accurately ? I was starting to worry about sourcing the parts, but since I've been on the forum and got names from people its helped alot . I've been offered an Engine and gearbox , back axle , steering column ,steering box and diff , so just wondering whether to purchase, and also have the chance of 5 wheel rims. I'm just wondering whether to build up some spares ? Thanks for the pointer for the "Stencills" .I've looked on Evil bay but the smallest Letraset I can find is 5mm , I'll have to have a scout around the craft shops .

Picked up a horn push and an ignition assembly yesterday . I was wondering if the ignition assy is early or late war . The switching is good just one of the long fixing screws that hold the bracket on needs replacing . Is there anyone who supplies stencilling suitable for the switch ? Dave

I was curious as to why myself .I thought at some point it had been "played" with, I was going to remove the extra strap when I had got the steering stem replaced .When I took it to Welbike UK to have the steering stem replaced it was then that they told me about the "mistake" , and it being one of the early batch , so I left it as it was .

I was told by Welbike UK that it is an early Mk1 . They told me its the 2 straps that make it an early batch in production,and how it came to have the 2 petrol tank straps. Quote: The first batch in production they found they had put the tank straps at the wrong angle and too far forward so the wheel caught on the tanks . They returned this particular batch back to the workshops ,rather than cutting the wrongly placed one's off they just placed a "new" strap at the back of the existing one and drilled it accordingly to accept the tanks.

Yes , this lad bought it through the museum along with the certificate . He has quite a collection of Denison's through the years 1st and 2nd pattern's, very knowledgeable lad on airborne and Special forces kit , he also has a nice collection of original BD's .

:wow: I've just sold one for £40 to a mate of mine, this particular lad collects Denison's ,he has some rare bits of kit and has just paid £1000 for one from the Hartenstein Museum with certificate of authenticity.

Hi Just seen this thread my Welbike Mk1 Series 2 Frame number 1260 Renovated 2 years ago

I rang Chris this morning and ordered up all the bits for the clutch etc. I'm going to go with the "modern" oil filter I think it will be better in the long run (better filtration )? .I'll re replace all the core plugs and swop the one behind the water pump with the correct brass one as this one has had a steel one put in . The others that have been done at some point I'm not happy with ,one is weeping so all out new in :-). Engine goes Monday for the block , head and manifold skimming and the bores glaze busting . Dave

I'll check those out , sounds a good idea to replace the external oil filter with a modern version ,be alot easier and cleaner to maintain , good idea . I'll check that diaphragm out too or replace it anyway to save any problems later . Thanks Dave

Two core plugs had been replaced in the side but one is weeping , the one at the front also has been replaced , but the one behind the bell housing which was leaking badly had been left (I wonder why?) , so I'll replace them all .I'll just replace the fork then its done . I don't think this one has had anything done to it for a good while ,the oil in the sump was like treacle full of crud , so no doubt the oil filter will be blocked , so might be better to replace it ? Thanks again its appreciated Dave

Happy about that , I was starting to wonder if it was a replacement engine (engine No MW 57821) with it being black . We contemplated getting the manifold skimmed , so I'll get that done along with the block . Thanks for your help Dave

Well its now under way :)engine out .I'm going to get the head and block skimmed the head gasket was starting to de-laminate few rough edges around the waterway's , bores are good though they just want glaze busting . Tried to drain the oil nothing came out , it was like treacle sat in the sump:wow: , can't have had an oil change since I don't know when. The clutch plate has chunks out of it so new clutch and release bearing ,the pressure plate seems to ok . A few more question I have the engine is black .Did these change colour out of the factory late war from the Turquoise Green to black ? the only thing Turquoise is the Dynamo . Is there a colour code for the engine paint if I need to re paint it Turquoise and who is the best supplier for the paint . Is there anything specific to look out for when rebuilding the engine , problems etc . Again thanks for any help its much appreciated Dave

I've always gone Portsmouth Ouistreham (Caen )

Wish I could have got mine there . I cant logisticly get my MW to Normandy its too expensive to ship down to Portsmouth from North Yorkshire, so I'm taking the Jeep on the trailer......British marked of course , where camping with the IMPS at Port-en-Bessin . Dave

:clap::thumbsup:

Yes I agree .I have been going to Normandy for the last 30yrs taking my father back for the Anniversaries up until the day he passed away .On these visits he would place a wreath at Hermanville and wooden cross's on his "pals" who didn't make it, and a wreath at the Château's La Londe and De La Londe . I and my family have continued to place a wreath and cross's at the cemetery and visit the Château's as my father did . We took the Jeep which is marked up to the 3rd Div to enable us to get around. When I visited with my father I wore "Civis" , when I go across now with my family we wear the P37 BD marked up to The 1st Bn South Lancashire Regiment , Why?.............to honour my father and all those "kids" that didn't return NOT to play at soldiers, remember these anniversaries are all about those that gave their lives and not forgetting all those that returned as they all went through hell. In my opinion by having all the vehicles present ,it also gives an atmosphere which enables people to grasp some idea of what it was like , obviously not on the same scale but still gives people an idea , also its a way of vehicle owners to show their respect by being there , and to show their renovated vehicles which they have the right to be proud of . I will say someare areas of Normandy are a circus "Hollywood" impressions etc etc , sorry this isn't the place. Cigar smoking Americans , sunglass's , more medal ribbons than a Christmas tree, stars a tripe flags bigger than the vehicle there hanging off ,riding around with wailing sirens (this year some clown (French) dressed in his Hollywood regalia rode through Arromanche with his sirens going while the remembrance ceremony was taking place !!!) Nah sorry wrong place wrong time , that needs to be saved for the arena events not an Anniversary of remembrance on the scale of D Day . The 6th of June and plus is a day for remembering and paying respect , also for meeting up and socialising not for .............ooooooh look at me I look cool , don't I look like John Wayne ? Sorry ,I maybe a bit bias maybe because my Dad was there ? Thanks for letting me have my moan/whinge

Well , sorry if this post has turned into a debate over whether Adrian is the mayor of Arromanche or not . I was simply trying to pass on info which I got from Adrian when speaking with him this year .I thought it would be of interest to those attending the 70th anniversary to enable them to organise/sort something to save disappointment on the day .

Strange the e mail I received from him is signed as ............copied from the actual e mail ........... Keep in touch, Best regards Adrian Scott-Cox Mairie d’Arromanches

Thanks , looking forward to it .............I think :-D , I'll let you know 6 months down the road :-)