Just bought a project - 553 UXE

Martin K
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Just bought a project - 553 UXE

Post by Martin K »

Hello everyone

I’ve been longing for another Huntmaster for…..40years (since my first attempt at a rebuild taught me everything I know (not much) about bikes. I’ve rebuild a few other bikes in the meantime - mostly from boxes of bits back to factory fresh - with a LOT of help from people who really do know how to engineer properly.

So I’m more of a dismantle, send off, wait, open the nice boxes with clean shiny stuff in, and remantle. But I enjoy the jigsaw and the build.

I’ve just bought a 100% complete, but tired (as in patina…) beauty which is still untouched inside with only 12000 on the clock.

Much advice needed please - hence this plea! The bike is a 56 Huntmaster, reg 553 UXE, but it spent most of its life reg’d as JPR 182. (Engine and frame match both the original factory delivery papa era and the V5c). Does anyone know anything about it?

If I was to strip and rebuild it, should I also do the engine - fully, a bit, leave well alone?

Advice like ‘buy shares in plusgas’ is equally helpful, as is ‘ask a grown up to do the difficult bits’. And guidance on who said grown ups might be for…well… pretty much everything: engine work, paintwork, wheel build, general guidance.

I’d love to have a fresh minted, lovely looking vintage bike, built to work by me (with help) and to be a solid ride, to carry me into my retirement, having ‘done one right’.

Many thanks
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Re: Just bought a project - 553 UXE

Post by Julian Murphy »

Martin. Wecome.

Ask away.

Any pictures?
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Re: Just bought a project - 553 UXE

Post by Mick D »

Hi

I restored a 58 FH a year or so ago, happy to help where I can with 'the benefit of experience' ;) or photos.
Restored.png
I've also recently had success in re-claiming an original registration for another restoration, if your original registration has not been allocated to another vehicle, check here:

https://vehicleenquiry.service.gov.uk/

If you don't have anything to support the original registration, (buff log book for example) you can try to obtain a certified copy of the original registration record from the local authority, in your case, Dorset. With supporting documentation you can use the V765 scheme to re-claim an original registration should you wish.

Regards Mick

Edited to correct the original registration authority
Last edited by Mick D on Tue Aug 24, 2021 1:41 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Martin K
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Re: Just bought a project - 553 UXE

Post by Martin K »

Thanks Julian

Seems like I could spend a fortune on all this - any useful pointers to expert companies (SRM and others?) on who best to do specific bits of engine work - or just ship the whole thing and spend ££££?

Any paintwork specialists well renowned on the forum (it all needs re-doing!)

Pictures added.

Mick - thanks for the offer of advice too - will definitely be taken up!

Martin
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Re: Just bought a project - 553 UXE

Post by Mick D »

Hi

That looks like it's been restored fairly recently, a bonus for you as many of the cosmetic items should only need cleaning. I'd strip it down to nut and bolt level for my own peace of mind but with the aim to clean, inspect and refit wherever possible. The Haynes BSA A7 / A10 workshop manual is handy to have in addition to the FH one, there are a lot of similarities that are better explained / illustrated by Haynes.

Have Fun Mick
Martin K
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Re: Just bought a project - 553 UXE

Post by Martin K »

Sound advice Mick, 'nut 'n bolt' it is then, for the very good logic you've said - and I do intend to re-use/re-furb pretty much everything - nothing like getting a box of shiny stuff back from the platers :D ....and I think it'd be nice to know that 99% is original, just refinished.

If the engine's not been 'opened' and the mileage is real, would you do a roller bearing conversion, or leave plain bearing? would you replace the oil pump to help limit 'wet sumping' if it drips past worn drives? get the sludge trap emptied and re-balanced? rebore even if still within limits, or just glaze bust (if no moisture has got in and done damage? replace big end shells? have the head refurbed? the list goes on!

Sorry for so many questions, but even when stripped, if it all looks good - would you recommend 'just to be on the safe side' jobs like those above to be done anyway?

cheers

Martin
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Re: Just bought a project - 553 UXE

Post by Mick D »

Hi Martin

I try not to get too concerned over minor wear, engines and gearboxes were pretty industrial in those days and one showing minor signs of wear still has many thousands of miles of use left in it. I would clean the crank shaft sludge trap and all internal engine oil galleries, leave the main bearings and big ends unless they exhibited significant wear or damage. If the bores are good and the ring gaps acceptable I'd leave well alone. Give it a de-coke and lap the valves in, (assuming the stems / guides are OK). My FH had been standing for about 20 years when I bought it and had not wet sumped so it still has the original oil pump :)
Gearbox may only require a set of seals and gaskets, it's an easy box to strip and re-build.

If you still have the original Lucas MCR2 CVC you may wish to change it for a more reliable solid state regulator such as the DVR2 which will also give you the option of converting to 12V electrics.

When it comes to checking over the magneto, there's a wealth of information on the Brightsparks web site:

http://www.brightsparkmagnetos.com/

Regards Mick
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Re: Just bought a project - 553 UXE

Post by Roger Gwynn »

Neither of those registrations is listed on the club's machine register and I managed to read your engine number but it isn't on there either. Send frame number and i will have a look for that as well. The register has over 16,000 records of 10,000 bikes but still not all of the survivors. I must say that I wouldn't be restoring that bike, it looks in fine enough fettle to ride, although i would virtually always strip an engine first. If the paintwork etc is original, which I doubt as it looks too good, it would be a crime to remove it.
Roger Gwynn, Membership Secretary, curator of the Machine Register and the works drawings. Director of Draganfly Motorcycles, Craven Equipment and Supreme Motorcycles mostly retired.
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Re: Just bought a project - 553 UXE

Post by Simon.Gardiner »

I'd feel compelled to strip the engine down completely just to make sure everything was in good order - and clean.
For me, SRM are probably the main folks to use for engine work, but all the engineering guys around me who I used to use shut down ages ago.
As Mick says, these are fairly robust units, they run quite happily without everything being 'as new'.
I'd be reluctant to do the needle roller timing-side conversion if the crank still has plenty of life in it, unless maybe you're intending to do a lot of motorway work. It involves fairly major surgery.
The mazac used for most of the the oil pump bodies often degrades (swells) with age, Drags have new bodies (and recon pumps?) although the one I bought needed some work before the gears would rotate freely. (SRM do new high-volume pumps, at a price).
BSA A10/A7 forum will have loads of engine info - and many completely differing opinions on how things should be done... ;)
https://www.a7a10.net/forum/index.php
The engine has an 'anti-siphon' ball valve to control 'wet-sumping' (not that it's foolproof!), see this thread
http://forum.arielownersmcc.com/viewt ... 05&p=76442
Consider fitting an oil filter in the return line (many of us do...)
When you finally get round to putting things back together again, there's only one proper way to get the rocker box back on:
http://forum.arielownersmcc.com/viewt ... f=4&t=5272

And welcome! :mrgreen:

SG
Web admin (webmaster@arielownersmcc.com)

'55 Huntmaster, '56 VH, ' 51 VH, '62 Arrow, '80 R100RT, '00 Sprint ST (now with a new Arrow project, and just now those 4-stroke Ariel parts can't even make one running bike...)
Julian Murphy
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Re: Just bought a project - 553 UXE

Post by Julian Murphy »

For me, I would look at things that might cause a breakdown and leave me stranded somewhere.

The paintwork and by the looks of it, most of the cycle parts would not be on my list. (Apart from a clean up).

Have a look in the suppliers section.

I would be looking at engine and gearbox strip, clean and examination. (including hone the bores and fit new rings),

Flush out the oil tank to get sludge out of the bottom. (Fill with petrol and leave for a week, then agitate and rinse out)

Magneto. Overhaul. I recently used Old Iron Engineers.

Dynamo. Overhaul.

Electrics. Maybe replace the wiring harness. Easier than trying to solder to oily and oxidised copper wire.

Wheels. Replace wheel bearings, check spokes, tyres. Have the brake drums trued up. I recently used Stotfold Engineers in Biggleswade.
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