Keith

That sounds right at least. Anyways, pretty sure I haven't got a spring and still not quite sure whether I should have! I don't remeber one when dismantling the head.

Keith/Alan - Thank-you for that. I suspected that to be it - though pretty sure I haven't got one! Could be that the forks are later than the frame suggests - ie post 51 as Simon suggests..

A wee point - surely (if I had one) it cannot go twixt top head race cup and the two locknuts - as dust cover ...

Chaps

All sorted...managed to compress the spring with my two hands while the Mrs O. put the nut on. Roger - Yes, I take your point, but all appears fine at the shock absorber ned. However, the metal on the inner primary chain case has been ground out by a PO at the clutch end - presumably as the ...

Chaps

The rebuild continues apace....further to which, another couple of - hopefully - quick Qs if I may. Bike is essentially a 1946 VB600, with a 1952 engine.

Following the front forks description in the small yellow handbook of the Ariel, it describes a spring between the steering head lock ...

Keith

Understood and thanks again. I can fully understand it bursting a hole in the cover. I cannot even begin - as yet - to compress the spring enough to get one nut on!

Keith

Thanks for this. In other words, the spring cover plate does butt up against the spline? Your method is indeed the one outlined in the book.

Chaps

Regarding the shock absorber/pulsation damper assembly for the crankshaft drive sprocket...How far does one wind in the locknuts?

All the way so the spring cover plate meets the shoulder of the spline?

Bike is a 51 engined VB600, but similar applies across many other Ariels I believe ...

Chaps

With regard to the attached photo of the oil breather coming from the rear of the timing inner cover, and do look at it rotated 90 deg CW!.....some Qs...

The 1/4 inch ball bearing shown. I understand this locates inside the elbow - not part of the lubrication system proper as I initially ...

Chaps

Currently undertaking a partial engine strip, block/head off, valves out etc. Noticed that the block/crankcase interface has no gasket - I believe it should, can anyone confirm please? Also, if it should, why run without?

Furthermore, has anyone got any tips for painting the block. Halfords ...

John

As an Englishman living in the heathen woad-tattood wilds of Caledonia, I can assure you I was lucky to escape with just an insult.....

Yours aye

Mark