Ariel Owners Motorcycle Club

Hi all
Ariel Arrow 200cc 1966
I want to remove the off side crank case cover to access the speedo drive which I guess is embedded in there somewhere (??) and maybe respray the cover whilst it is off.
I have removed the kick start and gear lever and the single retaining bolt in the centre of the case expecting it to fall off.

Doesn't seem to want to budge. Any pointers anyone ??
Thanks
Paul

Quite a learning curve owning a vintage motorcycle I am finding out.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

From the workshop manual:
'....(after removing kick-start and gear-change levers)...remove the bolt which passes through the forward end of the cover and into the crankcase, then remove the screw from the middle of the cover, and the cover can be lifted clear'
Mine needed some jiggling and careful persuasion, it's probably got a little distorted over the years.
There should be some felt washers hanging around somewhere, for refitting the manual advises to first make sure there is one felt washer fitted to the kick-start shaft and two to the gear change shaft. I don't recall finding any, maybe they are 'optional'!

SG

Thanks Simon, the bolt into the crankcase is just forward of the kickstart splines but where is the screw you describe in the middle of the cover as i can't see any other fixing ??
Appreciate your help, thanks
Paul

PaulHarding wrote: Thu Feb 19, 2026 8:33 pm ...the bolt into the crankcase is just forward of the kickstart splines but where is the screw you describe in the middle of the cover as i can't see any other fixing ??

I think you've found the 'screw in the middle of the cover', it screws into the gearbox not the crankcase. It's the other one you might need to check out ('the bolt which passes through the forward end of the cover and into the crankcase').

SG

Thanks Simon, will check it out.
Regards
Paul

Remove the two screws from the clutch adjuster cover, slacken the adjuster & remove clutch cable.
Remove the seven nuts & washers from around the cover.
Refit the kickstarter (to prevent the spring unwinding when removing the cover)
Tap around & gently prise off the cover.

Thank you everyone for your input. Cover now removed
The inner speedo cable is 37 inches long, seems intact but doesn't seem long enough to go into the gear box drive . What is the correct method of testing the drive ?

Paul - what are the exact details of the problem?
It's very unusual that anything goes wrong with the drive in the gearbox, does the cable just not reach or doesn't the end seem to fit?

SG

Simon
The inner cable is 37 inches long which seems to indicate it is intact but even trying to push the cable into the drive seems like it is blocked in some way. Yes the cable doesn't seem long enough, just poking out of the outer sleeve, I assumed that when the cable end is screwed in fully that would position the inner cable in the drive ?? But even trying to push the inner cable into the drive doesn't work as doesn't seem a square hole for it.
Will re examine and if ok all for more help ?
Regards
Paul

I don't suppose the spade is missing from the gearbox end?

The square end of the speedo inner cable fits into a spade-ended
rod about 1"1/2 long with the spade end actually driven by the gearbox.