HT 500 engine for sale.

[Mick.Small]

1954 HT 500 engine, which left the factory in a modified rigid KH frame,so very early motor. (No frame...). There's some corrosion on the flywheels,it looks like some water has sat in the cases.The big end feels good. The bore has a very small area of corrosion around the mid point, it won't polish out...but might run ok after a glaze buster, or might require a rebore. Bore seems to be low mileage. No engine shock absorber assembly otherwise complete. No external damage. I'd prefer inspection/ collection so you see what you're getting.Located in West Yorkshire.£1300. Mick

[Roger Gwynn]

Mick - I would be very interested to know the engine number for the club's machine register as very few of these bikes were built and there are only 2 survivors known.

[Mick.Small]

Hi Roger, PT110, it left the factory on 1.10.1954 in frame TF101, gearbox GB11, as far as I'm aware...

[Mick.Small]

The only complete bike I've seen was owned by John Mitchell,our former editor.

[Roger Gwynn]

I can confirm despatch dates etc but TF frame prefix was a 1954 HT frame not KH.
From the register - Dave Keep 1995, probably still has although he died last year, 2015 one was spotted in Finland in an HS frame and John Mitchell 1981 in a 1958 HT3 frame, a note says 'cobbled together from a pile of bits'!
Only 3 were built in what would be usually the 1954 model year, the rest were built from September 1954 to January 1955 and would usually be 1955 models.
11 HT engines had a PT prefix and built between September 1954 to January 1955; one with an LJ prefix engine (1955 HT) on 11th December 1954 and one with a PD prefix (1954 VH) on 28th April 1954. the 1st 3 were in KT prefix frames, the rest in TF. Total of 13
For 1955 the engine prefix was LJ and the TF prefix continued for the frame. 12 were built with LJ prefix in addition to the one from 1954, 10 were in TF frames, one in a DU frame and one in an experimental PRF frame, number EXP 101. They were despatched between February and May 1955. There also 3 known survivors in the register 1995 unknown person; 2020 Paul Davis and the other one is in my shed.
We have the drawings for the frame if anyone fancies building one....
That was a rabbit hole I didn't expect to go down when I got up this morning!

[Mick.Small]

Roger, my info on it came originally from Paul J. I note that in the updated and revised Ariel Story, TF is listed as a rigid frame HT,same as for 1955 frame although in 1955 PRF we're also listed DU. The modified KH frame would be listed as an HT frame as far as the factory we're concerned?? it no longer being a straight forward KH frame?

[Roger Gwynn]

1954 HT frame was KT or TF, 1955 was TF and a single DU. The rigid HT frame is fabricated without the usual brazed lugs and is much shorter than the Singles/KH frame. Only to front down tube and steering head lug is different between the singles and KH frames. There is nothing in the despatch book to suggest that a KH frame was used and I see no reason to use one, it would make more sense to use a singles frame. There are several HT listed in later years with road going frame for use in sidecar trials but they have a standard PRF frame number. Mr Hartley is not the most accurate source to use for engine and frame numbers.

E9-1534.pdf

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[Vincent.vanGinneke]

funny detail in that drawing is the position of the tire pump

[Mick.Small]

Now sold.