Hymn to the 1928 Model C

[Karol Burger]

on my 1927 there is also no seal and it is OK. The oil doesn't push out here. I don't know why they made that groove in 1928. I never found a seal there. Maybe it was related to the possibility of using magnetodynamo

[Vincent.vanGinneke]

Thanks Charles and Karol, yes, probably it's to make room for the front of a magdyno.

Do you know + - on which page you write about that seal Charles ?

[cmfalco]

Vincent,

Despite Ariel's outstanding design, for some reason the original leather seal holder failed to hold back any oil.

The drawing for the seal holder that I made to replace it, and photographs of both sides of it, are at the following link, with further discussion of sealing the holder itself against the case in a following post:

https://www.britbike.com/forums/ubbthre ... Post745185

My replacement seal holder worked remarkably well, with never the trace of oil in the compartment when I regularly opened it on the Cannonball to oil the chain. Every 1928 Model C needs this modification.

[Vincent.vanGinneke]

Thanks !

[Vincent.vanGinneke]

Made some progress with the frame.
Welded the new lower part in and tidied up by filing by hand and sanding.
Still have to add the gearchange bracket but I wanted to check my welding / soldering.
Found a nasty small crack just aft the saddle mount, more soldering

my DIY dry blasting cabinet, I build it some 40 years ago to put a satin finish on my Glass castings.
But made it large enough to put a frame in it
Among others this object has been blasted in this cabinet: https://www.boijmans.nl/collectie/kunst ... /bend-gear
diameter about 65cm - 10cm thick. cast crystal/polished and fired a second time to slump the curve in it.

nasty crack ..

[Karol Burger]

it often happened in this place. it looks like your frame has been repaired in the past. The seat tube has brass joints

[Vincent.vanGinneke]

Oh yes! my frame has been repaired many many times ! it is 94 years old ! haha. no surprise there .

[Karol Burger]

it's great when we take it with humor. I'm glad to meet a man who has veterans for joy and not for the sight of money it is not seen so often today. Your Ariel will be great when done. Actually, he's great today. I wish you good luck at work and, most importantly, send me further contributions. I am looking forward to them.

[Vincent.vanGinneke]

Thanks! Yes, working on this Ariel is fun to me.
Although (ofcourse!) there is a limit to what is wise to spend on a restoration, but it is not my aim to cut corners because of a fistfull of dollars.
Nor having to think what the final bike will be worth if I would decide to sell it.-unlikely-
A lot of people only think in terms of money, "whats it worth' is also THE question you get when you stop somewhere and are next to it.
pretty saddening .
Remember; das letzte hemd hat keine taschen !!

[Vincent.vanGinneke]

On to the cylinderhead... I know, I work in an absolute random order

As the valve rockers are pretty worn inside and out I am looking at other solutions.
Stellite welding the end that wears on the valve stem is no problem.
But the hole inside the rockers are worn, truing and making new shafts is a possibility.
After having a brain wave (rare!) I dug out a pair of later enclosed type rockers.
The dimensions are the same, only the arm that wears on the valve stem sits under an angle.
The later rocker spindle is also usable, needs slimming at one end and shortening on both ends.
Whatyouall think? , downside is the butchering of a original rocker head casting.
See red line drawn on casting...
But, Steve (who is right now at the Crazy Horse) is now getting hold of a brand new one, Thanks Steve !
I could butcher that new one and use the original one as a door stopper.
Or, does someone have better ones stashed away ?