I'm putting the girder forks back together on my ’35 VH, and I want to replace the spindle bushings (I have a shiny new set of spindles from ACME), and I have a few (!) questions: What’s the best way to get the bushings out? The books say you need a press. My thinking is to wind a coarse tap into a ...

Anyone happen to know what the thread is on the chain oiler screw on the oilbath chaincase singles?

I assume it's some kind of BA thread, but mine's missing and I want to clean up the threads in the hole before I put a new one in there (which I don't have yet).

Does anyone know the diameter and thread of the primary chaincase inspection caps for a rigid single? I measured the cap at 1-9/16" and the thread gauge that seemed to fit was '20G 1/4', but I'm not sure how that translates into a BSW (or BSP?) thread. Here's a picture of the part: http://www.d...

I've taken the path of least resistance and bought the one in the link that I posted. Hopefullly, it will fit, and I can turn my existing one into an ashtray.

Rod,

Do you still need more info to make your plate?

I recently re-installed the valve gear on my 35 VH but I could probably get it off and trace the plate out for you.

They are cast iron and really difficult to weld back together in a way that will last. Mine's brass with a steel cross-bar, so it must be a reproduction (I didn't think Ariel would have used brass originally). It's pretty easy to bend, which I suppose is good if you're trying to repair it but not s...

Are the legs on the rigid frame's rear stand parallel, or are they bowed inwards about halfway along their length? My stand was bent in two planes. I've been able to straighten it in one plane, but to straighten it in the other, I think I'm going to have to cut the cross-bar in half, straighten each...

Did Ariel not use many washers when they originally built bikes? When I look through the parts manual, very few nuts or screws seem to have a washer (plain or lock) behind them. They only seem to be called out in a few specific places. In contrast, my VH has come to me absolutely festooned with them...

What's a good-size engine sprocket for a VH?

Mine's got a 23T on it now, which is at the end of original range listed in the parts book (17-23T).

Would I be better off with something more towards the middle of the range, like 20T?

Wot ho chaps, Is there a trick to reassembling the valve gear on pre-38 singles with the rocker return springs in place? The only way I can see to do it is to assemble the valve gear onto the spindles, attach the mounting plates to the spindle ends, and then screw the two rocker box halves together....