1958 VH First Ariel ride after 45 years.

[ian.scott]

Up-date

So onto the Rockers, oh dear! inlet shaft not pulled over correctly push-rod scuffing the seal and worn so replaced with a new rod, tappet adjuster totally knackered so replaced both with triumph socket head adjusters and new lock nuts and reset the shafts, new oil union from Draganfly, didn't fit but easily teased into position + correct shaft nuts fitted now a good fit and pull over shafts correctly.

SAM_0282.JPG

So while I'm waiting for parts lets have the clutch out and find out what that rattle is and adjust the chains, Oh dear! here we go again.
(to be continued )

That locknut on the new adjuster looks a very loose fit - all ready to strip next time its tightened.

Ian

[steve.clarke]

You are right Ian it looks that way in the Photo, noticed that my self, the Ariel original is better made, in reality it works fine and i have tightened and loosened them a few times Draganfly wouldn't sell an inferior nut surely?

[steve.clarke]

Found the rattle in the clutch

Clutch basket tab washer and stud.

Never seen this before with a tab washer and the clutch was not loose at all, still good opportunity to overhaul the clutch,I have done the clutch Mod, ground the spigots off the centre, new stud and fitted a later basket with fibre segments and extra plates it operates very nicely now. Worn inlet Push Rod in the foreground.

[steve.clarke]

Another defect found and sorted, thought I would check the bike still had it's balls it didn't, so had to remove the timing chest to drill out the big end feed keeper, found this -

Snapped Quill

Snapped quill wear

Tough bikes these Ariels couldn't have been a lot of oil going through that when I thrashed it round the M25, not to hard to fix though 6mm washer and a box spanner to tap it home with, heat the case and freeze the Quill and it slips in quite easy, you realise how much wear is on the old Quill when you put them side by side though, think I will change them as a matter of course from now on.

Inserting the Quill

Inserted

Old & New

[steve.clarke]

This engine now has balls-

Balls in

[Steven.Carter]

Your doing a good job on the old girl Steve, she'll pay you back with many miles.
Steve

[steve.clarke]

Your doing a good job on the old girl Steve, she'll pay you back with many miles.
Steve

Yes it's packing in the miles I'm looking forward to I have a long way to go, to catch up with you in miles and Anoraks I expected to spend a bit of time overhauling she was restored 26 years ago and is 56 years old so best to check it all while I'm at it, I'm enjoying being in the garage relearning old skills, slow going some times when I reassemble then realise I left something off and have to take it down again Still Draganfly are making a bomb in gasket sales.
Cheers

[steve.clarke]

Thought I would update the post while the cylinder head is away for repair, decided to strip out the engine and gearbox on the 57 VH to assess whether it could be made to run

did not look to bad until I split the cases

Oh dear don't think they are supposed to do that! This was a runner, I think I caught it just in time the Hoffman crank pin has a stress fracture or a forging defect not sure which

looks like another longer job than I thought still the head off the 58 VH is ready for collection I might get to ride one now .