welbike Posted March 18, 2022 Share Posted March 18, 2022 Hi all, Have never had a James ML, but 2 years ago, I was offered a lot of them, all in bits, and in a terrible state, but had the right numbers, so did buy 3 of them, 2 went to the UK, and I was going to restore the last one myself, so I started with that, but then was offered another one, so it had some parts that were missing on mine, and bought that too, so now am stuck with 2 projects! I had already bought several parts in the UK, even before this, like an NOS petrol tank, headlamp, cylinder, and more small bits, and a nice valve lifter lever from Ron, so had most of the parts grit blasted, and primered, the frame numbers suggested they should be painted brown, and it took a lot of time, to get the colour to my liking, but it's OK now. So hope to spray in coming spring, and assemble everything. But the thing that prompted me to start this, is, that I bought a second NOS headlamp yesterday (after I missed out on another one in Italy, last year), so I'll start with those pictures! wasn't cheap, but am very happy with it! Cheers, Lex 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welbike Posted March 18, 2022 Author Share Posted March 18, 2022 Some more random pictures, colour not 100% here. Lex Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welbike Posted March 18, 2022 Author Share Posted March 18, 2022 Some more, but still not the right colour! Lex 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Posted March 18, 2022 Share Posted March 18, 2022 Lex could you post a picture of a rear chain adjuster on its own please. Ron Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welbike Posted March 18, 2022 Author Share Posted March 18, 2022 Ok, Ron, have to search for it, they are quite substantial! Lex Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Posted March 18, 2022 Share Posted March 18, 2022 I can see them on the wheels in your pictures.....Mine don't look like in the parts list. Henri says they're MM's. Ron Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welbike Posted March 18, 2022 Author Share Posted March 18, 2022 Ok, here 2 pictures, don't know if they are OK? Lex Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Posted March 18, 2022 Share Posted March 18, 2022 Those look a bit more like the ones in the parts list. Now do they go on the inside or outside? Ron Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welbike Posted March 18, 2022 Author Share Posted March 18, 2022 Usually, always on the outside of the frame. Lex Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Posted March 18, 2022 Share Posted March 18, 2022 Yes that's what I told Henri, but he had trouble working it out. Ron Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welbike Posted March 18, 2022 Author Share Posted March 18, 2022 (edited) Most, like 95 percent of brit bikes had the chain tensioners on the outside of the frame. Except maybe the ones with the snails house cam tensioners. Cheers, Lex Edited March 19, 2022 by welbike additional info Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flyingfleasteve Posted March 19, 2022 Share Posted March 19, 2022 What a production line you have there, Lex. I too found a NOS headlamp for my ML, it’s amazing what turns up. I have a few small engine bits left if you need anything 👍 Keep us updated on the builds. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Posted March 19, 2022 Share Posted March 19, 2022 And mine, but never did find out what the markings mean? The white dot in a blue circle is on the left side of mine?? Ron 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WD Flea Posted March 19, 2022 Share Posted March 19, 2022 3 hours ago, flyingfleasteve said: What a production line you have there, Lex. I too found a NOS headlamp for my ML, it’s amazing what turns up. I have a few small engine bits left if you need anything 👍 Keep us updated on the builds. Hi steve by any chance you dont have a spare petrol pipe and a inlet manifold that you can sell many thx in advance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
radiomike7 Posted March 19, 2022 Share Posted March 19, 2022 Out of interest how popular were the James bikes, I remember my mother telling me about a 2 stroke James she used to ride from Leek to Manchester every day during the war to uni, I suspect it must have been an early Comet? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welbike Posted March 19, 2022 Author Share Posted March 19, 2022 That was most probably an Autocycle, Ron here has one, he'll post a picture. Cheers, Lex Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Posted March 19, 2022 Share Posted March 19, 2022 They were also known as a "midwifes" bike. Mine is 1939. Ron 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
radiomike7 Posted March 19, 2022 Share Posted March 19, 2022 10 minutes ago, welbike said: That was most probably an Autocycle, Ron here has one, he'll post a picture. Cheers, Lex You could be right, Comet was just post war. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
radiomike7 Posted March 19, 2022 Share Posted March 19, 2022 (edited) 27 minutes ago, Ron said: They were also known as a "midwifes" bike. Mine is 1939. Ron Good grief, can you imagine riding one of those 32 miles each way during the winter? Coincidentally my grandmother was the local midwife in Leek, perhaps it was originally hers. Edited March 19, 2022 by radiomike7 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welbike Posted March 19, 2022 Author Share Posted March 19, 2022 There were other prewar James bikes, so could have been anything, no pictures survived? Lex Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
radiomike7 Posted March 19, 2022 Share Posted March 19, 2022 59 minutes ago, welbike said: There were other prewar James bikes, so could have been anything, no pictures survived? Lex Afraid not, it was only the mention of James bikes that jogged my memory. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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