Wanted SQ4 iron engine rocker box

[john.davies]

To add to my list of parts I am looking for I now need the alloy rocker box for a iron engine SQ4 as the one I have is badly corroded and has broken whilst trying to remove the shafts. Has anybody got one spare?
Cheers, John

[Richard Kal]

I asked the same question of Bruce Longman recently. He didn't have any, but intends to cast a batch of improved design rocker boxes this year.

[paul.jameson]

Gents,

I do have one here which could be used, although it needs a stepped stud making to replace one which had stripped and been repaired using a large nut in the inlet tract! I would prefer to retain it until I am sure the one fitted to my bike is functioning satisfactorily ( depends on the salt being washed off the roads so I can do some test riding) but it would be a crime for me to keep one of you off the road when I have it spare.

[Nick.Wilson]

Hi John. If you are still after one the Australian Ariel Register can get bronze rocker boxes produced, but i think they only do them in batches. They were originally produced for the Australian police force when the square fours were used as police bikes.

Box on the left is the new one.

If you are interested it might be worth sending them an email to see if they have a spare of if they will be doing another run soon.
Nick.

[andyhughesflattankarielpre25]

I must say that looks a real nice bit of kit

[john.davies]

Hi Neil, thanks for the information. I have found a bit more about them on the Australian Ariel Register web site http://www.australian-ariel-register.co ... onze_3.pdf. I will email the contact and see if they are having more made. Cheers, John

[Richard Kal]

Hi John,
I have had my name on the list for 12 months.

They still require a couple more to commit before they reach the minimum number for the next batch to be cast, so I can only encourage you on!!

Richard
Western Australia

[john.davies]

I have had a reply from Col Hill in Australia. Here it is

John,

The document is dated. I had 20 of these bronze boxes made, all have been sold with three going to the UK. At the moment there are no certain plans to make more. The problems confronting me for a second batch are: I funded the first batch and redeemed costs, but I am not is a position to provide the up-front costs anymore; the previous project manager, Greg Ditchfield who is the person that casts the blank boxes, is not able to manage a second run because he has cut back his workload to look after his wife (she needs therapy twice a week in Melbourne (about 100 km from where he lives); and there is also a problem with getting machining done. New tooling is needed to be bought (wore out the last set of tooling) and the machinist with the NC program is contracted to other work (super V8 racing cars as he machines the suspension parts for these cars). Economy of scale to do a second run requires orders for at least 10, and with your expression of interest I now have eight candidates. Should a production run proceed, cost is likely to be around $750 per box. The 20 boxes made last time were from Ni-bronze, but any future run will be made from Mn-bronze as it is not so difficult to machine.

I would like to do what I can to help get a second batch made. I can contact Greg with an update on numbers and get a cost for casting 10 blanks and find out whether or not I can get hold of the jigs and the NC program in case I can find someone who can do the machining. However, I would still need to get funding to pay for the new tooling before any commitment could be made.

If something looks promising, I’ll let you know.

For information, Roger Gwynn (Draganfly) and Ben Mitchell (AOMCC UK) are both well aware of the bronze boxes I had made. So I was surprised that you hadn’t heard about them through the AOMCC.

Cheers.

Col Hill

[fpassmore]

Hmmm, I had better check the box of bits I got from a fellow in Ohio that had some iron head bits mixed in with a few Mk1 parts I bought as a batch two years ago as it seems to me there was an alloy rocker box in good condition in there. I will be home next week and will find that box I have in storage and report back.

Frank

[ariel.andersen]

Hi John
I have a top cover that I can sell.
Regards
Jorgen