Ariel Owners Motorcycle Club

I am looking around for a good condition (new preferable) 86.4mm piston any oversize for a short stroke 500 Red Hunter 1934 (one year only), the Hepolite reference can be either 4173 or 41360. Are there out there?

Geoff Brown

I have a NOS 86.4 +40 bought for my VB but the deck height was 5mm less than my other 2 VB pistons so I have not used it. The ref on the box is 2880 not what you asked for but this piston is old pattern 3 compression rings and solid skirt, no slots, so I have always assumed it was for a 30s bike such as the 550 sidevalve but I do not know.

Danny.Lee wrote:I have a NOS 86.4 +40 bought for my VB but the deck height was 5mm less

This could be what he is looking for.

Hi Danny, this just might be OK, please can you measure the distance from centre of the little end to the top of the piston that will confirm if its what I am after, if you cannot do that the distance from the top of the inside of the little end hole to the top of the piston will be good enough for me to tell if its OK. Thanks Geoff

Will do Geoff later today Im at work right now

Dan

Hi Geoff

see the pics below if I dont get dumped out again.

Dist hole to top is 32.4mm pin is 20.6 dia the standard VB piston is the same pin size with 39mm deck height
The pin is in the same place relative to the skirt in both pistons.

See pic of the box incl seperate box for rings.

The pin was slightly rusty cleaned it off with Jenolite but it has left some staining but no detectable loss of metal

Any other questions drop me a line.

Dan

Hi Danny, perfect exactly what I am after the size is good also. Please may I purchase this off you, If you give me a ring or e-mail me at geoff.brown8m@btopenworld.com we can sort out the cash. Many thanks for your help. Geoff Brown mobile 07967 669 552 home line 01452 790 166. Brilliant!

Delighted to be able to provide a missing bit of the jigsaw. I always wondered what this piston was off once I realized it was too short for my VB. Dan