New Project

[Vincent.vanGinneke]

New Project !

With the WNG/VB and the Model C in various states of unfinishedness, something extra to play with.

the real McCoy.....with a few bits missing and a few extra.

[Simon.Gardiner]

I'd ask if you wanted any Ajay/Matchless gearbox cases but I see that you don't!
This might be a useful site....
https://www.bsaotter.com/ariel_ht_factory_build....html

SG

[Paul Slootheer]

Lovely!! Keep posting all stages of restoration!
Never a dull moment I guess?

[simon.holyfield]

The big reveal! Tell us all about it?

[Vincent.vanGinneke]

Once upon a time....


Late 1989 and I wanted a HT Ariel, none for sale in the Netherlands so I ordered a DIY HT frame + swingarm from John Bartram.
Standard type with the long rear stays but with the two bolt downtube as per ISDT Ariels.
I picked the frame up at the 1990 Beaulieu autojumble.
Cylinder was a lucky find at Bolman Motoren in The Hague. crankcase from a WNG.
Altered a Ariel Burman GB housing to mate with a AJS/M. front, extended the rear engine plates and made the front ones from scratch.

Next few years I collected bits, BSA front fork, etc. but I could not find a alloy cylinderhead.
I advertised in The Cheval and a US member offered a cylinderhead but I had to buy the rest of the bike also.


That bike was a HS MkIII matching numbers but apart from that pretty incomplete.
Complete front end, cowl, seat, oil tank, Burgess filter etc in this picture I sourced.

Sold the HT frame + bits around 1994 and went on with the HS, finished that 20 odd years later

The HT was build up by a Dutch club member, sadly he passed away about 2 years ago.


Fast Forward. few months ago a HT engine was on offer on this forum.
Plans of giving myself a second chance at building a HT popped up....so I bought it.
It is a late 1954 engine, possibly the 10th made for the at that time newly developed swingarm HT frame.

Only a few weeks after I bought the engine I was offered the HT (the 1990 frame) by his widow, very odd coincidence.
I went to have a look, beautiful HT but I declined.

Put in a wanted ad for a frame in the july Cheval.
I was offered two Bartram frames and One original HT in bits.
Deal was done and that is what you see in the first picture.
The nice clean engine bits are the 1954 engine.

It is never to late !

[simon.holyfield]

I can't wait to see you put it together.

The HS - do I recall a carbon fibre tank?

[Vincent.vanGinneke]

Hi Simon, my son and I made the carbon tank, real carbon, not the decorating stuff

[simon.holyfield]

Hi Simon, my son and I made the carbon tank, real carbon, not the decorating stuff

I thought so. Didn't you post the build pictures in the forum?

[Vincent.vanGinneke]

Yes, years ago ! somewhere in one of my ramblings

[Vincent.vanGinneke]

Made up 'standard' footrests for the HT.
Liberated two serrated bits from a orphan frame

Turned two sleeves for them, welded them in, and a centre sleeve to keep things apart.

Yes, I drilled a hole in the engine plate for the peg...

As this footrest type made by Ariel is adjustable I can 'turn' them backwards.
They end up slightly higher compared to the standard footrests .
(oh yes, and foldable.... )

Front part of the rear chain has no protection on a HT.
Parts bin produced a front bit from a FERC , suitably adjusted....

FERC front part (1).png (139.81 KiB) Viewed 3060 times

(lip on mag platform needs some bashings)

Wanting to make a 'full loop' for strenght along the underside of the engine,
Made a sumpguard covering all and attaching on to the four original footrests holes.

- new front engine plates in Dural-
Alloy dummy ring on timing chest is to protect that small ridge .


As I want to fit a centre stand (from a Leader/Arrow) I will weld the attachment on the sumpplate.
On a six days machine the centre stand is attached just below the bolt hole that on a standard road PRF is for the footrests.
I extended the sumpplate to make it all a bit more rigid.

to be continued.....