Further quick Qs

[Mark.Ogden]

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 nuts and the headrace dust cover. This is some sort of automatic tensioner I believe. Pretty certain I don't have one. Should I? Bike has telescopic forks.....Had a look at Draganfly parts diagrams - nothing there either.....

I also have 2 off 1 inch O rings bagged up with all the other bits from the steering head assembly. Unfortunately, I have no idea where these fit up! Best guess is under the conical headlamp shroud atop the stanchion...Clues appreciated.

Tinware/tanks off to the painters shortly. Torn between keeing it all black or introducing a colour somewhere - a nice deep plum fuel tank/oil tank/mudguards perhaps.........always goes well with gloss black frame I feel.....

My thanks as ever

Mark

[simon.holyfield]

Chaps

Following the front forks description in the small yellow handbook of the Ariel, it describes a spring between the steering head lock nuts and the headrace dust cover. This is some sort of automatic tensioner I believe. Pretty certain I don't have one. Should I? Bike has telescopic forks.....Had a look at Draganfly parts diagrams - nothing there either.....

Mark

Are you sure? my Square Four has no spring there - it would result in the top race 'floating', which would be rather undesirable and would result in a 'brown trouser moment' out on the road. There is a spring higher up, under the damper knob - is that it?

Chaps

I also have 2 off 1 inch O rings bagged up with all the other bits from the steering head assembly. Unfortunately, I have no idea where these fit up! Best guess is under the conical headlamp shroud atop the stanchion...Clues appreciated.

Mark

They fit under the top yoke, around each stanchion above the head lamp shrouds - and stop them rattling.

[Keith.owen]

Hi,
The spring that I think you are referring to goes between the cup on the top head race and the two lock nuts. It is effectively a sort of spring washer, except that it is continuous, and it is compressed when the lock nuts are done up. The theory is that as play develops in the races it expands to take up the slack.

Keith

[alan.moore]

Is this the one shown as D10/268

[simon.holyfield]

That looks like a Belleville or disc spring. It's not listed in my '51 parts list, so I guess it was deleted.

You learn something new every day. Thanks Alan!

[Mark.Ogden]

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 is in the way. Between dust cover and nuts as first suggested perhaps or between cup and cover?

[Keith.owen]

Mark,
I can't remember where I fitted the spring but I'm pretty certain it went between the dust cap and lock nuts.

Tightening is a bit of a matter of trial and error - enough tension to stop the forks rocking but not enough to make them stiff or bind. I can't remember how many times I did it until I got it right. I bought some thin spanners from Acme stainless for the purpose.

Needles to say this needs doing with the front wheel off the ground. I have a side car lug through the bottom engine mounts and an axle stand fits under it quite nicely. It's easier than putting the bike up on the front wheel stand.

Keith

[Mark.Ogden]

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.

[pappleton]

I have two VH's which should have this dished washer. I am sure that I have the correct amount of 'bits', but nothing appears 'dished'. I wonder if 65yrs of the bikes weight on it, and some over-enthusiastic adjustment has flattened them?