thumperthoughts » motorcycles

Nanny McPhee rides an Ariel

Alastair — Sun, 01 Aug 2010 16:56:45 +0000

Coming out of our local cinema the other day there was a large display for the new Nanny McPhee movie, Nanny McPhee Returns (UK title is Nanny McPhee and the Big Bang). She is riding a green sidecar outfit with girder forks. I thought to myself “those forks look familiar”. Sure enough, it is a 350 Ariel W/NG motorbike. Non standard of course – standard ones can’t fly!

(July 19, 2009 - Photo by Bauer Griffin - from zimbio.com)

Ariel committed all of their wartime production to the W/NG. The primary difference between the NG “De-Luxe” model and the sportier NH “Red Hunter” model was lower compression ratio with a nearly flat piston crown, cast iron flywheels instead of steel, and black paint instead of red. The W/NG differed from its clivilian forebear by the slight lengthening of the forks, and a simplified design on several other comonents. The tank top dash is not present – the speedometer is on the forks mounted by two pieces of bent strip metal and driven from the front wheel instead of from the gearbox. Internally the piston oil ring is replaced by a third compression ring.

Ariel W/NG motorcycle near Dunkirk WWII. From www.volny.cz

The handlebar is solidly mounted to the fork eliminating the rubber mount. Almost all the chrome is gone. Many of the tanks have the indentation for the tank badge but no tag with screw holes to mount the badge. The footrests are all metal eliminating another rubber component. Additions included pannier brackets and a field stand.

I don’t think the sidecar would have been standard issue in the war years, but all Ariel frames come with sidecar mounting lugs standard, so that was probably added for the movie or post-war by the current owner. With only 17HP the 350cc Ariel engine would not make a great sidecar hauler, though it is possible they have upgraded that bike to a VH 500cc engine.

As a 350cc owner myself I have found the supply of NOS war surplus parts very handy. For a long time I was running on W/NG pistons as the world supply of oversize NH pistons had dried up, and my VB has a brand new set of W/NG forks on it.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v3UyikYKLjQ&w=420&h=261]

Plum Krazy 1958 Custom Ariel

Alastair — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 14:25:55 +0000

Ariel NH Chopper from BSH

What to do with that spare engine….

via Plum Krazy 1958 Custom Ariel.

1936 Ariel 4F OHC Square Four on eBay

Alastair — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 07:44:15 +0000

These rare early overhead cam Ariel Square Four motorcycles do not turn up in barn-find condition very often – actually they are pretty scarce anywhere outside museums. Out of my price range (barns aren’t what they used to be!) but a lot of very clear photos.

This bike looks pretty complete and the numbers match.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=260555028199

Update: bidding closed at US $26,900.00

Jings!

Electrical Theory by Joseph Lucas

Alastair — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 07:18:26 +0000

Positive ground depends upon proper circuit functioning, the transmission of negative ions by retention of the visible spectral manifestation known as “smoke”. Smoke is the thing that makes electrical circuits work; we know this to be true because every time one lets the smoke out of the electrical system, it stops working. This can be verified repeatedly through empirical testing. When, for example, the smoke escapes from an electrical component (i.e., say, a Lucas voltage regulator), it will be observed that the component stops working. The function of the wire harness is to carry the smoke from one device to another; when the wire harness “springs a leak”, and lets all the smoke out of the system, nothing works afterwards. Starter motors were frowned upon in British Automobiles for some time, largely because they consume large quantities of smoke, requiring very large wires.

It has been noted that Lucas components are possibly more prone to electrical leakage than Bosch or generic Japanese electrics. Experts point out that this is because Lucas is British and all things British leak. British engines leak oil, shock absorbers, hydraulic forks and disk brakes leak fluid, British tyres leak air and the British defense establishment leaks secrets…so, naturally, British electrics leak smoke.

(anonymous)

Ariel Engine and Frame Number Prefixes

Alastair — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 01:52:47 +0000

Engine numbers, frame numbers, model designations and engine configuration for Ariel motorcycles from 1926 – 1965.

Letter codes are a prefix to the number which is usually 4 digits. Engine numbers are typically on the left hand engine case just below the barrel. Frame numbers are usually under the seat on rigid and plunger models and below the steering head on swing arm models. All numbers are stamped and indented.

Two strokes are at the bottom.

YR	MODEL	ENGINE	FRAME		BORE	STRK	CC/VALVES
YR	MODEL	ENGINE	RIGID	SPRING	BORE	STRK	CC/VALVES
26	C, D	P	P	—	81.8	95	500 OHV
26	A, B	P	P	—	86.4	95	550 SV
27	C, D, E	V	V	—	81.8	95	500 OHV
27	A, B	V	V	—	86.4	95	550 SV
28	C, D, E	W	W	—	81.8	95	500 OHV
28	A, B	W	W	—	86.4	95	550 SV
29	C, D, E	H	H	—	81.8	95	500 OHV
	A, B	H	H	—	86.4	95	550 SV
	LB	L	L	—	65	75	250 SV
	LF	L	L	—	65	75	250 OHV
30	A, B	K	K	—	86.4	95	550 SV
	E, F, G	K	K	—	81.8	95	500 OHV
	LF, LG	M	L	—	65	75	250 OHV
	LB	M	L	—	65	75	250 SV
31	VB	N	N or K	—	86.4	95	550 SV
	VF	N	N or K	—	86.4	85	500 OHV
	SB sloper	S	S	—	86.4	95	550 SV
	SF,SG sloper	S	S	—	86.4	85	500 OHV
	LF	J	J	—	65	75	250 OHV
	LB	J	J	—	65	75	250 SV
	MB/MF/MH?	A	J	—	72	85	350 SV, OHV
	4F	R	R	—	51	61	500 OHC SQ4
32	LF	E	B or D	—	65	75	250 OHV
	LB	E	B or D	—	65	75	250 SV
	MB	B	B	—	72	85	350 SV
	MF, MH?	B	B	—	72	85	350 OHV
	VB	C	C or D	—	86.4	95	550 SV
	VG, VH	C	C or D	—	86.4	85	500 OHV
	SB sloper	D	D	—	86.4	95	550 SV
	SG sloper	D	D	—	86.4	85	500 OHV
	4F/5	R	T	—	51	61	500 OHC SQ4
	4F/6	T	T	—	56	61	600 OHC SQ4
33	LF ?	DA	Y	—	65	75	250 OHV
	ME, MH	BA	Y or E	—	72	85	350 OHV
	VE, VG, VH	CA	Y	—	86.4	85	500 OHV
	VA, VB	CA	Y	—	86.4	95	550 SV
	4F	TA	Y	—	56	61	600 OHC SQ4
34	LF, LH	EA	Y	—	61	85	250 OHV
	NF, NH	FA	Y	—	72	85	350 OHV
	VF, VG, VH	GA	Y	—	86.4	85	500 OHV
	VA, VB	GA	Y	—	86.4	95	550 SV
	4F	UA	Y	—	56	61	600 OHC SQ4
35	LF, LH	HA	Y	—	61	85	250 OHV
	NF, NH	JA	Y	—	72	85	350 OHV
	VF,VG,VH	KA	Y	—	86.4	85	500 OHV
	VA, VB	KA	Y	—	86.4	95	550 SV
	4F	WA	Y	—	56	61	600 OHC SQ4
36	LH, LG	AB	F	—	61	85	250 OHV
	NH, NG	BB	F	—	72	85	350 OHV
	VH, VG	CB	F	—	81.8	95	500 OHV
	VB	CB	F	—	86.4	102	600 SV
	4G	DB	P	—	65	75	1000 OHV SQ4
	4F	XB	Y	—	56	61	600 OHC SQ4
37	LH, LG	AC	XF	—	61	85	250 OHV
	NH, NG	BC	XF	—	72	85	350 OHV
	VH, VG	CC	XF	—	81.8	95	500 OHV
	VB	CC	XF	—	86.4	102	600 SV
	4G	DC101-615	P	—	65	75	1000 OHV SQ4
	4F	EC	P	—	56	61	600 OHC SQ4
38	LH, LG	AD	XG	—	61	85	250 OHV
	NH, NG	BD	XG	—	72	85	350 OHV
	VH, VG	CD	XG	—	81.8	95	500 OHV
	VB	CD	XG	—	86.4	102	600 SV
	4G	DC616-650, DD651-	P	—	65	75	1000 OHV SQ4
	4F	DD	P	—	56	61	600 OHC SQ4
39	OH, OG	AE	M	—	61	85	250 OHV
	NH, NG	BE	XG	BX	72	85	350 OHV
	VH, VG	CE	XG	BX	81.8	95	500 OHV
	VA	CE	XG	BX	81.8	95	500 SV
	VB	CE	XG	BX	86.4	102	600 SV
	4G, 4H	DE	P	AX	65	75	1000 OHV SQ4
	4F	EE	P	AX	50.4	75	600 OHV SQ4
40	OH, OG	AH	M	—	61	85	250 OHV
	NH, NG	BH	XG	BX	72	85	350 OHV
	VH, VG	CH	XG	BX	81.8	95	500 OHV
	VB	CH	XG	BX	86.4	102	600 SV
	4G, 4H	DH	P	AX	65	75	1000 OHV SQ4
	4F	EH & EEH	P	AX	50.4	75	600 OHV SQ4
41-5	W/NG	BH, NBH, RBH	XG	—	72	85	350 OHV
46-7	NH, NG	BK	AP,BP	—	72	85	350 OHV
	VH, VG	CK	BP	—	81.8	95	500 OHV
	VB	CK	BP	—	86.4	102	600 SV
	4G, 4H	DH268,273-6	P	—	65	75	1000 OHV SQ4
	4G	DK	XP	AX	65	75	1000 OHV SQ4
48	NH, NG	AJ	BP	BX	72	85	350 OHV
	VH, VG	BJ	BP	BX	81.8	95	500 OHV
	VB	BJ	BP	BX	86.4	102	600 SV
	KH, KG	PT	DX	CX	63	80	500 OHV Twin
	4G	CJ	XP	AX	65	75	1000 OHV SQ4
49	NH, NG	DJ	RF	SF	72	85	350 OHV
	VH, VG	EJ	RF	SF	81.8	95	500 OHV
	VB	EJ	RF	SF	86.4	102	600 SV
	VCH	CO	COM	SF	81.8	95	500 OHV
	KH, KG	HT	HH	HS	63	80	500 OHV Twin
	4G	FJ	GR	GS	65	75	1000 OHV SQ4
50	NH, NG	KL	AB	AC	72	85	350 OHV
	VH, VG	MN	AB	AC	81.8	95	500 OHV
	VB	MN	AB	AC	86.4	102	600 SV
	VCH	CO	COM,AB	AC	81.8	95	500 OHV
	KH, KG	OP	GD	LL	63	80	500 OHV Twin
	4G	JJ	TD	CW	65	75	1000 OHV SQ4
51	NH, NG	RA	WA	SA	72	85	350 OHV
	VH, VG	RB	WA	SA	81.8	95	500 OHV
	VB	RB	WA	SA	86.4	102	600 SV
	VCH	CO	COM,WA	SA	81.8	95	500 OHV
	KH, KG	RC	WB	SB	63	80	500 OHV Twin
	4G	RD	WC	SC	65	75	1000 OHV SQ4
52	NH, NG	TB	OA	SD	72	85	350 OHV
	VH, VG	TC	OA	SD	81.8	95	500 OHV
	VB	TC	OA	SD	86.4	102	600 SV
	VHA	TCA	OA	SD	81.8	95	500 OHV
	VCH	TR	OR	—-	81.8	95	500 OHV
	KH, KG	TE	OB	SE	63	80	500 OHV Twin
	4G	TM	OC	SV	65	75	1000 OHV SQ4
53	NH	XA	AM	AS	72	85	350 OHV
	VH	XC	AM	AS	81.8	95	500 OHV
	VB	VB	AM	AS	86.4	102	600 SV
	VHA	XD	AM	AS	81.8	95	500 OHV
	VCH	XE	MA	—	81.8	95	500 OHV
	KH	XF	BW	BS	63	80	500 OHV Twin
	KHA	XFA	BW	BS	63	80	500 OHV Twin
	4G MK.1	XH	—-	ES	65	75	1000 OHV SQ4
	4G Mk.2	XJ	EJ	ES	65	75	1000 OHV SQ4
54	LH	PA	—-	KN	60	70	200 OHV
	NH	PB	KW	KS	72	85	350 OHV
	VH	PD	—-	KS	81.8	95	500 OHV
	VB	PE	KW	VS	86.4	102	600 SV
	KH	PH	BW	KS	63	80	500 OHV Twin
	FH	PJ	—-	KS	70	84	650 OHV Twin
	4G Mk.2	PL	—-	KR	65	75	1000 OHV SQ4
	HS	PS	—-	KSS	81.8	95	500 OHV
	HT	PD or PT	KT or TF	—-	81.8	95	500 OHV
55	LH	LA	—	LS	60	70	200 OHV
	NH	LB	—	DU	72	85	350 OHV
	VH	LC	—	DU	81.8	95	500 OHV
	VB	LD	RF	DU	86.4	102	600 SV
	KH	LE	—	DU	63	80	500 OHV Twin
	FH	LF	—	DU	70	84	650 OHV Twin
	HT	LJ	TF	—	81.8	95	500 OHV
	HS	LK	—	KSS,DUS	81.8	95	500 OHV
	4G	GL	—	PS	65	75	1000 OHV SQ4
56	LH	ALA	—	MT	60	70	200 OHV
	NH	MA	—	PR	72	85	350 OHV
	VH	MB	—	PR	81.8	95	500 OHV
	VB	MC	—	PR	86.4	102	600 SV
	KH	MD	—	PR	63	80	500 OHV Twin
	FH	MLF	—	PR	70	84	650 OHV Twin
	HS	MH	—	PRS	81.8	95	500 OHV
	HT	MJ	—	RT	81.8	95	500 OHV
	4G	ML	—	GM	65	75	1000 OHV SQ4
57	LH	BLA	—	ST	60	70	200 OHV
	NH	AMA	—	APR	72	85	350 OHV
	VH	AMB	—	APR	81.8	95	500 OHV
	VB	AMC	—	APR	86.4	102	600 SV
	KH	AMD	—	APR	63	80	500 OHV Twin
	FH	NLF	—	APR	70	84	650 OHV Twin
	HS	NH	—	PRS	81.8	95	500 OHV
	HT	NJ	—	RT	81.8	95	500 OHV
	HT3	AMA	—	RT	72	85	350 OHV
	4G	NML	—	GM	65	75	1000 OHV SQ4
58-9	LH	CBLA	—	CST	60	70	200 OHV
	NH	CAMA	—	CAPR	72	85	350 OHV
	VH	CAMB	—	CAPR	81.8	95	500 OHV
	VB	CAMC	—	CAPR	86.4	102	600 SV
	FH	CNLF	—	CAPR	70	84	650 OHV Twin
	HS	CNH	—	CPRS	81.8	95	500 OHV
	HT	CNJ	—	CRT	81.8	95	500 OHV
	HT3	TH	—	CRT	72	85	350 OHV
	4G	CNML	—	CGM	65	75	1000 OHV SQ4

Note- 1941-5, 350 W/NG. Some of the machines made for the Royal Navy had engine prefix letters NBH, and some of the machines made for the Royal Air force had engine prefix letters RBH. There was no record of this in the Despatch Books. In both cases the numbers were in the main BH sequence.

Ariel Two Stroke engine and frame prefix and suffix letters.

Note:- the two strokes all left the factory with the engine number the same as the frame number. One series of numbers was used for all the two strokes, prefixed T-,the model being indicated by the suffix letter.

/A = Early Leader
/B = Late Leader
/S = Early Arrow
/T = Late Arrow
/G = Arrow SS
/H = 200cc Arrow

Early Leaders and Arrows ( /A and /S ) are those up to and including 17440.
Late Leaders and Arrows ( /B and /T ) are those17441 and higher.
The earliest Arrow T- 8701/S
The earliest Arrow SS T- 20384/G
The earliest Arrow 200cc T-33701/H

This list originaly compiled by Roger Gwynn and Ralph Hawkins in September 1989, corrections to February 1993.

Merged in model letters and bore/stroke info from Accessory Mart.

All reproduced with permission.

Ariel tended to mix things around a bit so the line from one year to the next is not clean, but was around August. For definitive dating of your machine contact the AOMCC or Draganfly. For a small fee they can look up their microfiche copy of the factory despatch books. Each bike received a handwritten entry with other info included such as special options and date of despatch and where to. That’s how I know my bike’s birthday is May 31st!

Motorcycle Safety

Alastair — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 01:41:00 +0000

I found this 1960s Pathe public service film posted on the Draganfly website. Wonderful lesson on riding your old motorcycle in a world populated by Austin Minis, Morris Minors and no lines on the roads – not even at crossroads! Watch for the little three wheel bubble car. Of course the sensible lad is on a big single (Matchless) and the hooligan is on a Triumph (Tiger Cub).

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aLAVx19vOZw&w=425&h=250]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aLAVx19vOZw

Batteries

Alastair — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 11:15:59 +0000

I finally got around to investigating what went wrong with the my Ariel NH last time out – very weak spark and general loss of electrical power. The Boyer Bransden unit really is not happy with low voltage. After a lot of low speed puttering I did get home. I assumed that my rewired (again) alternator system had died (again), with the alternator brushes being the prime suspect. Turns out I was wrong. The new battery had died – shorted out a cell by the look of it – which pretty much pulled the system down to 10 volts. Probable reason for the battery death was loose screws on the battery platform resulting in excessive battery shoogling. These batteries were suspiciously cheap, and shipping expensive, so I did get two of them. Filled up the spare and all is well. They are Power Sonic brand equivalents to the original Yuasa 12N5.5A-3B. I selected this size long ago and made my battery box to fit it using leftover Sun server rack panels and a offcut piece of teak from Tantallon Castle bridge (wot Dad made). This is a hard battery to find as it was only used on mid-70s Yamaha RD400 machines.

So it is time to sign up for the BSA club annual gig in San Jose. Maybe I will brave the run this year.

In the meantime the kickstartless New Bonnie’s battery is now too weak to turn it over, so I need one of those too – and those are not cheap.