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Yesterdays classic motorbike dealer visit
Posted: Thu Jun 01, 2023 9:14 pm
by Vincent.vanGinneke
Visited Yesterdays Antique Motorcycles ...... yesterday
Very nice to see all those classic bikes, even a few Ariels.
During the VOC Dutch Section rally, on my other bike
Rally was held here :
https://groepsaccommodatieoleander.nl/
Former pig breeding farm right next to the F35 JSF runway at Volkel.
take off and landings only a couple of times per day
And a very interesting engine brought by one member:
3 cilinder opposed 6 piston life boat engine developed during WO2 but only ready by the end of hostilities.
reputedly only 50 crankcases where cast and out of those only 7 engines were build.
This is one of only 4 remaining engines, and virtually new old stock.
One day it will be fitted in a boat
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vincent_lifeboat_engine
Re: Yesterdays classic motorbike dealer visit
Posted: Thu Jun 01, 2023 11:24 pm
by mark.prizeman
Fantastic!
Reminds me of Verralls in Tooting where you could wind them up by asking for a 'reliable runabout' but secretly knowing why you 'needed' X, Y and Z
Must visit.
Re: Yesterdays classic motorbike dealer visit
Posted: Fri Jun 02, 2023 8:06 am
by Andy H
I have one of the Vincent engines,they were tested on a lake up in North Wales where I live.It has electric start and kickstart is a horizontally opposed 2 stroke,as said 3 cylinders with 2 pistons in each cylinder the central cylinder is for charging the fuel air mix into the other 2 cylinders,the pistons work in opposition to each other in the cylinders.A strange arrangement.similar to rootes commer engine and Junkers aero.I have had this since about 1980.
Re: Yesterdays classic motorbike dealer visit
Posted: Fri Jun 02, 2023 8:22 am
by Vincent.vanGinneke
PM send
Re: Yesterdays classic motorbike dealer visit
Posted: Fri Jun 02, 2023 8:52 am
by Julian Murphy
Vincent,
Your challenge....
You said : one of only 4 remaining engines
So,
1 in the van,
1 owned by Andy H.
Your challenge, if you wish to accept, is to find engines 3 and 4....
Re: Yesterdays classic motorbike dealer visit
Posted: Fri Jun 02, 2023 9:21 am
by Vincent.vanGinneke
the PM was for bringing Andy in to contact with the other owner .
I have enough challenges myself
Re: Yesterdays classic motorbike dealer visit
Posted: Fri Jun 02, 2023 9:33 am
by Andy H
i was led to believe that they were supposed to be fifty made,but had terrible problems starting them sso the project was stopped,this engine was bought from a farmer who was only a few miles from the lake,he had had it many years.It is not complete as a few of the ancillary items are missing.I was led to belive there was one in Northumberland simmilar to mine and a complete one somewhere,maybe the pictured one is it.
Re: Yesterdays classic motorbike dealer visit
Posted: Fri Jun 02, 2023 9:42 am
by Andy H
I also have the single version of the blue v twin.claimed to be 4 1/2 hp a 600cc W&P engine.with the mag behind the cylinder not in front.Never seen another one onlly a few odd bits in over forty years.
Re: Yesterdays classic motorbike dealer visit
Posted: Thu Jun 08, 2023 10:31 pm
by SimonFletcher
Good to see your non-Ariel again, Vincent. Have you modified the kickstart lever? Looks a bit ‘non-standard’ to my eye… but in a good way!
Re: Yesterdays classic motorbike dealer visit
Posted: Thu Jun 08, 2023 11:14 pm
by Vincent.vanGinneke
Eagle eyed! that kickstart has been on it since I have it (1984).
I assume that it is the original one but others I have seen are straight.
so,...dunno!