'The SpAriel'

[Vincent.vanGinneke]

Ah, yes, forgot the picture.....

[Keith.owen]

Vincent,
This looks like it's well on its way and I really look forward to following your blog as things progress.

Keith

[Vincent.vanGinneke]

Last week the new R&M mainbearings arrived, all -yummieyummie- bronze caged .
Nothing is good enough for my VH baby !!

In the right hand top corner the Yamaha reed valve breather, this I will attach to the breather hole in the left hand crankcase.
This breather hole was not present on the 1951 crankcase, a friend milled it in for me .
I think I will make a rubber hose connection between the banjo on the crankcase and the breather valve so I can mount it a bit futher up somewhere on the frame .
From the original breather elbow that sits behind the timing case I will take out the ball valve and connect it up with a 'Y' junction to the Yamaha breather.

[john.deeth]

Mock-up SpAriel (1).jpg

Mock-up SpAriel.jpg

Two images of the SpAriel all empty cases at the moment.
Front of gearbox comes from AJS/Matchless and brings the clutch cable in the right direction instead of making a 90 degree bend to get to the front (and through a akward hole in the engine plate.
This 'mod' is also used on the HT Trails models, no provision for a speedo cable (that on a GB leaks most of the time)
Gearbox case is the standard Ariel GB housing.
DellOrto fitted is the reason to get another oil tank, this one now graces Andy's RH.
Perhaps I fit the 1931 model tank I got from him, but plans are taking shape to make myself a 'wrap around' tank a la thirties Norton.
Petrol tank is the India made one as seen in another topic here, lining will be according to 1951 scheme but in Gold/light Blue like on a 1928 Black Ariel. (but not the short stripe visible after the knee grip)
Whole bike will be black, hubs, rims, guards etc, A poor man's Black Ariel !
Engine plates in aircraft alloy once liberated from the workshop of the KLM.....rear plates will be flat so spacers are made to connect to the rear of the crankcase.
Large rubber Dunlop 'Drilastic' sadlle , this is a new replica cover from John Budgen on a genuine thirties frame that I had lying around.

Hi Vincent,
If you don't use Andy's tank I'd be interested in buying it as I'm building a '30 and need an oil tank.
Cheers,

John.

[Vincent.vanGinneke]

Hello John, I know, did my personal message (PM) not reached you?
I have not got any further with my self build oiltank, but you are 1st ' on the list' !

Vincent

[Vincent.vanGinneke]

In the meantime , with "nothing else to do" .............

My son is doing a working period from school at a firm that makes Carbon fiber products.
They told him that if he wanted he could make a project of his own.
Aha! I know something, I told him after he got home ......
So I set to work on a polystyreen model of a long range tank for my HS MkIII.
From this model I made a plaster 3 piece mould (picture deleted) in wich the first layer of carbon was placed followed by two layers of polyester matting.
Already it's immense strong even without the tank base fitted yet.

Polystyreen model

Second carbon layer put on the outside after removal from the mould.
This layer gets sanded down and gets a clear coating.
Top of the tank where the layers meet will be sprayed in HS competition red.
Tank badge will be the round Red/Gold HS/HT transfer.

[brenton.roy]

Hi Vincent,
I noticed the Dellorto. was it one of these? Item number: 360448340974
If so, why did you choose this carb? - and how have you set it up?
Brenton

[Vincent.vanGinneke]

Hello Brenton,

It's not set up yet, apart from it just putting it on the engine to have a look if it would fit.
It did not so I made a mock-up of a oil tank that would leave room for the Dell.
Now only the point where the choke cable goes in lines up with the right hand tank mount.
Maybe if I use one of these curved cable ferrules (?) it can function.
The Dell is a 30mm one, a VHB30A, the inlet stub came with it, I think it's from a Laverda twin.
It has the exact angle to get it horizontal when fitted to the Ariel single port head
(twin port heads have a different inlet angle,.. and exhaust for that matter..)

Dell was bought long ago from Rob Bron, a 'colorfull character' in the Dutch racing scene...

[brenton.roy]

Thanks Vincent,
I think the 26mm on ebay would be too small, but it is a flat slide and a good price. Excellent for a 350.
I have Dell 40's on a non Ariel and they work really well. Your 30mm would be about right. Does it have an accelerator pump?
I hope the bent tube fits Ok. It looks like a bit of careful work with an angle grinder might be required.
What material will you use to make the oil tank?
By the way, your HS looks beautiful. You are lucky to have your son interested in projects like the tank.
regards, Brenton

[Vincent.vanGinneke]

Hello Brenton,
No accelerator pump on it, it's a standard flat slide one.
Yes, perhaps a small amount has to be grinded from the rear mount.
I thought of making the oil tank in steel, I already butchered a Norton electra oil tank for the fittings.
But perhaps I'll make it from carbon, having watcht my son working with this stuff now.
Not so difficult once you know what to do, just like life...
And yes, I am very proud of my son !
regards, Vincent