Ron Posted February 14, 2023 Share Posted February 14, 2023 After restoring two of these for others and housing another one in my shed for a mate for 4 years, I finally have my own WB30 project. The bike is a basket case with lots of the original parts lost or used elsewhere over the years. I've started by stripping and priming the frame. I also used the opportunity to install a modern sealed bearing kit in place of the missing original cup and cone steering head bearings. The hunt for donor parts begins. Ron Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welbike Posted February 14, 2023 Share Posted February 14, 2023 Good show, it finally worked out! you owe me a ride on it when finished! That rear frame looks very much like early Matchless G3L! Cheers, Lex Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rewdco Posted February 14, 2023 Share Posted February 14, 2023 Can't wait to see the progress on this one Ron! 👍 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flyingfleasteve Posted February 15, 2023 Share Posted February 15, 2023 Brilliant, well done Ron! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Posted February 15, 2023 Author Share Posted February 15, 2023 Hello chaps. I've reconfigured an M20 rear stand to fit and hopefully work. I had to narrow it by cutting a piece out of the bottom rail and weld it back with a spigot inside it. I tacked in the two diagonal struts and taken it to a professional welder for neat TIG welding. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Posted February 15, 2023 Author Share Posted February 15, 2023 (edited) I've got some NOS WM20 riders footrests coming from Greece which will have to be cut down and re welded😖 (It has been done before) The black one at the top is an original WB30 footrest. And I bought some original pillion footrests off ebay. Ron Edited February 20, 2023 by Ron 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonnyob Posted February 16, 2023 Share Posted February 16, 2023 On 2/15/2023 at 8:09 AM, Ron said: Hello chaps. I've reconfigured an M20 rear stand to fit and hopefully work. I had to narrow it by cutting a piece out of the bottom rail and weld it back with a spigot inside it. I tacked in the two diagonal struts and taken it to a professional welder for neat TIG welding. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Posted February 17, 2023 Author Share Posted February 17, 2023 I've put the frame together and fitted the rear stand which seems to work OK. It was a struggle fitting the stand spring, even with my special spring stretcher. It's all had plenty of primer and will eventually get top coats as it is. Ron 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Posted February 17, 2023 Author Share Posted February 17, 2023 Hi John. Just click the "reply to this topic" box and type away... and add any pictures. Cheers Ron 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Posted February 18, 2023 Author Share Posted February 18, 2023 The BSA Catalina used the same shape tank as a WB30, but has other features that are not required. So I took a chance and ordered one from India and asked for those features to be left off. I am extremely pleased with it, Very well made and even has the correct side hinged 2 1/2" cap orifice. However I have fallen out with the seller who didn't send two other items that I paid for and is totally ignoring me. Why do they seem to feel the need to cheat in some respect? The mountings to come next. Ron 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
csbajku Posted February 18, 2023 Share Posted February 18, 2023 Well done Maestro! Really glad for you and good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Posted February 19, 2023 Author Share Posted February 19, 2023 Hello Clive. Good to see you on here. I'm not good with FB I'm afraid. I find it a bit confusing and frustrating. All the best Ron Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonnyob Posted February 19, 2023 Share Posted February 19, 2023 On 2/17/2023 at 10:55 AM, Ron said: Hi John. Just click the "reply to this topic" box and type away... and add any pictures. Cheers Ron Hi Ron First time posting on this site - I find it very cumbersome I will try to post photos but if I fail / I will send to you Hopefully you will see from this original rear stand only the spring side is double forked the near side is single sided - the stand has been hollowed out in areas in order to reduce weight making the stand in it original form flimsy & perhaps if the bike had seen mass production - an issue in service it could do with heavier tubing - this you have resolved by using an alternative & modified component 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Posted February 20, 2023 Author Share Posted February 20, 2023 Thanks John, nice set of pictures and great to have an original stand. Mine of course is a compromise, but stronger! I also beefed up the frame at the pivot points too. Keep up the good work. Ron Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Posted February 20, 2023 Author Share Posted February 20, 2023 (edited) I've been concentrating on my Catalina tank. I cut out some front mounts (ears), positioned the tank in its correct location and tacked them on. Darren at Armours finished the welding for me with a neat TIG weld. I then cut two rear corner pieces and shaped them to match the curve of the tank, drilled and welded in a couple of bolts for the rear mounting studs. Welded the pieces in with extra vertical support. The next awkward part was welding in some sides to the rear of the tunnel, which for the Catalina is the wrong shape. All tidied up with a smear of body filler and ready for priming. Ron Edited February 20, 2023 by Ron 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Posted February 21, 2023 Author Share Posted February 21, 2023 (edited) I've primed and flatted back my tank, and put it out the way for the time being. I also managed to find a correct (Non Indian) two plunger tap in USA. Apparently the nice British made taps are not available any more. I've also started to clean up my forks which I'm sure are NOS. My mudguards are also NOS. I've got to fabricate the brake cable adjuster lug which is missing off the fork blades. Ron Edited February 22, 2023 by Ron 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Posted February 23, 2023 Author Share Posted February 23, 2023 I've primed my forks and done a dummy run fit. Hopefully this will enable me to see about lining the mudguard up. Ron 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welbike Posted February 23, 2023 Share Posted February 23, 2023 Ron, this probably wouldn't be a brake plate for the WB30? Cheers, Lex Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Posted February 23, 2023 Author Share Posted February 23, 2023 No Lex. With the speedo drive through the brake plate, it's probably some other 1939 model. Leon will know. This is the early WB30 5" hub, then the later 7" hub. Both are unique to the WB30. Ron Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welbike Posted February 23, 2023 Share Posted February 23, 2023 Ok, well, you never know, Leon said at the time it was prewar, but I thought maybe they used up some left over spares! Cheers, Lex Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rewdco Posted February 23, 2023 Share Posted February 23, 2023 I agree with Lex that it looks an awful lot like the 7" WB30 brake plate. If the diameter is correct, it shouldn't be too difficult to modify? (Assuming you haven't got a brake plate yet...) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Posted February 23, 2023 Author Share Posted February 23, 2023 Ah yes I'm sure it will fit and can be modified Jan. But Lex asked if it was a WB30 brake plate. I have suposedly got a complete wheel coming this week. But please don't get rid of it till I know what I have Lex. Well done with the imagery magic Jan. I remember it well from the DC project. 😃 Ron Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonnyob Posted February 23, 2023 Share Posted February 23, 2023 Hi lex this is a pre war bsa plate identified by the speedo take off / stub it’s from pre 1939 too I believe due to the small hole for the brake anchor bolt - so possibly 37/38 or earlier the m20 as we know them has a hole & a slotted groove too there are some similarities between m20 & WB30 brake plates but the wb is quite different once you know where to look the plate shown here would have to have significant modification to fit a wb30 with a 7” brake 1/ rotation of the brake pivot & operating arm - braking is in reverse to that of an m20 due to the cable at the rear of the fork 2/the speedo mounting stub needs to be removed an hole filled - the brake arm could not move if left there ron I have an m20 front brake plate ideal for modification if you are stuck - if you are lucky to get a wb30 plate - I will drool over the pictures - they are so very rare Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Posted February 23, 2023 Author Share Posted February 23, 2023 (edited) If I need to modify a brake plate like Lex's. I would remove all the rivets from that pear shaped part. Turn the pear shape into a circle and re rivet the circle in a correct position to re orientate the brake arm etc.......Or just send it to Jan😁 Ron Edited February 23, 2023 by Ron Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
csbajku Posted February 23, 2023 Share Posted February 23, 2023 If anyone I am going to modify an M20 one I'd be interested. Spilling expenses would be helpful for everyone I think 🙂 I don't even have the M20 plate for now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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