1946 bitsa project

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Bob.Murphy
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Re: 1946 bitsa project

Post by Bob.Murphy »

I see that Lyle Peterson - 'Mr Pete' or 'Tubalcain' - has acquired a 1952 South Bend Model C:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TrWf07By1Gs

The genuine article, made in the USA. Nowadays I believe the marque is made in Taiwan and is regarded as a bit of a 'budget' make (rather like my Warco).

I have a South Bend collet set (e-Bay !) that I intend to modify for my Colchester. I need to make some adaptors and a longer drawbar.

Yup . . Another hobby & money pit :roll: .

Bob.
My avatar shows the late Len Rich in 1970 with the bike I now have - a 1958 Ariel VH
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SEDoan
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Re: 1946 bitsa project

Post by SEDoan »

Yes, South Bend name and parts were bought by Grizzly Industrial - a tool importer based in my city. Didn't learn that until after I bought the lathe. At one time Grizzly were still selling original parts made in South Bend, Indiana, but the supply seems to have been exhausted. They do have the factory records and will tell you when your lathe was built and who it was sent to for a fee. Sound familiar? :lol:

Completed adapting a ball bearing hub to a girder fork. Turned a long 1" bolt into a spindle to support and correctly space the bearings. Wanted to use the original axle, but wasn't sure I could drill the 9/16" hole the entire length of the spindle, but it worked. Made spacers to center the wheel.
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Modified the drum to clear the brake plate.
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1937 Guzzi GTV, 1939 VH bitsa, 1947 VH, 1981 Guzzi Monza, 1983 Guzzi Lemans
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SEDoan
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Re: 1946 bitsa project

Post by SEDoan »

Dec. 29, 1946, 76 years ago today (by now yesterday to you in the motherland) Ariel Motors delivered this frame as an NG1 motorcycle to the Netherlands Relief program. An appropriate time for an update.

Cleaned and phosphoric acid treatment for frame, forks and small parts.
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The breather bracket was squashed so a little heat and tapping and it looks better.
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Also repaired the frame stand stop.
20211229_184605.jpg
1937 Guzzi GTV, 1939 VH bitsa, 1947 VH, 1981 Guzzi Monza, 1983 Guzzi Lemans
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SEDoan
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Re: 1946 bitsa project

Post by SEDoan »

A question about aftermarket rear stands. Is there a way to tell which is good quality?

The painted stand has a 1/2" cross bar brazed into the legs and the other has a 5/8" cross bar welded to the legs. The bare steel (iron?) stand has a more obvious weld on the spring purchase. Here are some pictures.
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For comparison, the original stand on my '47 has a 9/16" cross bar and the repop stand on the '39 has a 1/2" cross bar and broken twice! :(

Thanks for your help!
1937 Guzzi GTV, 1939 VH bitsa, 1947 VH, 1981 Guzzi Monza, 1983 Guzzi Lemans
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simon.holyfield
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Re: 1946 bitsa project

Post by simon.holyfield »

SEDoan wrote: Thu Dec 30, 2021 5:28 amAlso repaired the frame stand stop.
20211229_184605.jpg
Did the stand stop weld easily? I have to do the stops on my W/NG.
cheers

Simes

'51 Square Four,
'58 Huntmaster,
'42 W/NG,
'30 Model A
https://ariel-square-four.blogspot.com
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Roger Gwynn
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Re: 1946 bitsa project

Post by Roger Gwynn »

The works drawing dated 1936 calls for a 9/16 hole for the cross bar, I don't think they changed it, certainly not for anything smaller. When they made the plunger stand it was considerably beefed up compared to the rigid.

Indian ones are rubbish and can break, Draganfly ones are good but I would say that, Pete Westpjell used to make good ones as well, Draganfly bought his patterns. I think that there has been some problems with supply of the correct size of bar so Draganfly may have changed it, the spring pins on theirs are welded as your bare metal one. i am sure there have been others made over the years but I cannot recall who.
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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SEDoan
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Re: 1946 bitsa project

Post by SEDoan »

simon.holyfield wrote: Thu Dec 30, 2021 8:45 am Did the stand stop weld easily? I have to do the stops on my W/NG.
Yes, I welded the frame and not the stand. However I have also welded the repop stand after it broke and it welded ok and has held up fine. This is all mig welding.
1937 Guzzi GTV, 1939 VH bitsa, 1947 VH, 1981 Guzzi Monza, 1983 Guzzi Lemans
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SEDoan
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Re: 1946 bitsa project

Post by SEDoan »

Roger Gwynn wrote: Thu Dec 30, 2021 3:18 pm The works drawing dated 1936 calls for a 9/16 hole for the cross bar, I don't think they changed it, certainly not for anything smaller. When they made the plunger stand it was considerably beefed up compared to the rigid.

Indian ones are rubbish and can break, Draganfly ones are good but I would say that, Pete Westpjell used to make good ones as well, Draganfly bought his patterns. I think that there has been some problems with supply of the correct size of bar so Draganfly may have changed it, the spring pins on theirs are welded as your bare metal one. i am sure there have been others made over the years but I cannot recall who.
Thank you Roger! I had been told that some stands were made in Australia of cast iron. I thought the repop was an Australian stand because I got it before seeing any Indian made stands. But then it broke so not sure...
1937 Guzzi GTV, 1939 VH bitsa, 1947 VH, 1981 Guzzi Monza, 1983 Guzzi Lemans
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Re: 1946 bitsa project

Post by simon.holyfield »

SEDoan wrote: Thu Dec 30, 2021 4:31 pm
simon.holyfield wrote: Thu Dec 30, 2021 8:45 am Did the stand stop weld easily? I have to do the stops on my W/NG.
Yes, I welded the frame and not the stand. However I have also welded the repop stand after it broke and it welded ok and has held up fine. This is all mig welding.
Great thanks. I was worried there would be some cast iron in there!

Do we know what original stands we're made from? The stop lugs on those wear just as badly as the ones on the frame...
cheers

Simes

'51 Square Four,
'58 Huntmaster,
'42 W/NG,
'30 Model A
https://ariel-square-four.blogspot.com
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chris.shearwood
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Re: 1946 bitsa project

Post by chris.shearwood »

SEDoan wrote: Thu Dec 30, 2021 5:28 amThe breather bracket was squashed so a little heat and tapping and it looks better.
I use that bracket to attach an exhaust pipe P clamp to the frame. The breather pipe just dangles down from its elbow. I don't know what the original set-up was.
1946 4G and 1951 VH
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