Author Topic: Roys old AJ (Read 25169 times)

211 · « **on:** September 17, 2015, 04:57:07 PM »

Just thought I would offer a timely update on the mighty Ex Roy East AJS that blew its self to smithereens at the 2012 Nationals. Well its almost done after a few false starts, the engine is all but and resplendent with the right piston this time not some piece of crap JP number.
About all that will be different will be the crank case numbers, the barrel has been repaired and the head was fine, the ding in the frame is fixed where the rod wanted to leave a mark and the piston (or what's left of it) resides in Shane Frasers man cave on the sloping ground of Tasmania (he knows what I mean

Should make it onto dirt in a couple of months ready for the 2016 season
211

bigthumpa · « **Reply #1 on:** September 17, 2015, 10:00:03 PM »

The planets were aligned when that piston materialised whilst you were here in WA Dave!!!!!
My Ajay suffered a bit at the Nats recently, broken rear spokes, dinged front rim, bent swing arm and bent rear axle!! Old technology is not really compatible with modern MX tracks I guess. Good fun though!!!

bazza · « **Reply #2 on:** September 18, 2015, 04:37:10 PM »

DT thats good news,Mike

matcho mick · « **Reply #3 on:** September 22, 2015, 10:28:45 PM »

speaking of old bikes Dave,a early TZ350 lobbed the other day,it's got 211 #'s,yours in a earlier life mate?,

211 · « **Reply #4 on:** December 13, 2015, 10:11:09 PM »

just an update - should have the old girl fired up between Xmas and new year - no resto just a rebuild and some minor fixes - plus the new engine of course.!

oldyzman · « **Reply #5 on:** December 13, 2015, 10:36:31 PM »

matcho, i havn't seen you around nepean for a while. I think i did see you in your van near gosford earlier this year. How are you

supersenior 50 · « **Reply #6 on:** December 14, 2015, 10:09:13 AM »

Another starter for the all British Challenge at the 2016 Classic Nats

211 · « **Reply #7 on:** January 06, 2016, 04:33:06 PM »

the motor is home!
After being fettled by the reclusive factory AJS mechanic a box containing the new engine sits next to the waiting frame.
Saved from the original engine is everything above the base or the barrel so very happy with that, it was important to maintain as much as possible of the original - only the numbers have changed really.
Methanol Carb is on the way from Amal in the UK. Very good deal at 200 pounds delivered with assorted jets large and small!
Hope to have it together for the Bris Practice day in a few weeks

bigthumpa · « **Reply #8 on:** January 06, 2016, 09:44:40 PM »

Great news that the old girl is back on the track. (Well soon anyway!). You probably need some "shed therapy" by now Dave! Looking forward to the Nats in June, hopefully at least two Ajays on the track!!!

211 · « **Reply #9 on:** January 07, 2016, 08:38:33 AM »

bazza · « **Reply #10 on:** January 07, 2016, 01:59:26 PM »

Good news 211. Have bsa rebuilt and elsinore started 3rd kick so 2 bikes to run in in 2 weeks.Happy new year

211 · « **Reply #11 on:** January 07, 2016, 04:55:06 PM »

Same to you Bazz - happy trails.

OverTheHill · « **Reply #12 on:** January 08, 2016, 11:14:42 AM »

is this the old girl--obviously a metisse so maybe not. I'll keep looking. Loaded a whole cd of pics onto my photobucket about a year ago which you're welcome to look through if this pic links into it [not sure how it works. Might have to wade through a lot of rubbish though to find them.

OverTheHill · « **Reply #13 on:** January 08, 2016, 11:16:53 AM »

maybe that one.

OverTheHill · « **Reply #14 on:** January 08, 2016, 11:17:37 AM »

sorry, that one was headed matchy bsa.

OverTheHill · « **Reply #15 on:** January 08, 2016, 11:19:38 AM »

OverTheHill · « **Reply #16 on:** January 08, 2016, 11:21:10 AM »

i could go on lol---later, gettin sidetracked.

211 · « **Reply #17 on:** January 08, 2016, 01:31:52 PM »

looks bloody cold - great pix

OverTheHill · « **Reply #18 on:** January 08, 2016, 08:57:24 PM »

more cold. was thinking same day but different bike number.

KB171 · « **Reply #19 on:** January 08, 2016, 09:49:57 PM »

1st photo's Ray Fisher #33 at Christmas hills in Vic ,the rest are of Ray racing overseas,maybe in the UK.

OverTheHill · « **Reply #20 on:** January 09, 2016, 09:04:34 AM »

oh bugger, have i cocked up--back to the drawing board sorry. are the others Ray as well?. I raced Xmas Hills in late "67 in the wet [loved the wet] on my triumph metisse with a new barum tyre on the back. I'll go back & check out my pics on photo bucket.

OverTheHill · « **Reply #21 on:** January 09, 2016, 09:11:21 AM »

yeah sorry--just had a look &--well--started with R anyway lol. sorry about that. feel free to remove them or tell 'me' to seeing they're not relevant.

211 · « **Reply #22 on:** January 09, 2016, 10:12:33 AM »

good pix all the same - if you have any Roy East stuff ....
The bike is the one he campaigned in Europe in 58 / 59 then brought back to Au late 59, was sold to someone for half of 1960 then bought late in 1960 by Gordon Marks until I bought it in 2002.
sadly Im starting now the engine installation and extracting useable parts from bent and broken crap after the blow up, I have about 200 broken bits of alloy that got collected from the track - going to make a hot glue motor out of that. The piston is on the Fat boy Tasmania wall of shame!
Engine will be in today.

Ollie · « **Reply #23 on:** January 09, 2016, 10:34:44 AM »

When I was riding Huskies back in the day I had the pleasure of chatting to Roy East and Hans Applegren,true Gentleman who had all the time in the world to talk about the finer points of setting up the bikes for racing.

Ollie

jimg1au · « **Reply #24 on:** January 09, 2016, 12:31:22 PM »

this is my pre 1965 vmx bike thanks to peter Lawson in w.a

have one other pre 1965 and a pre 1960 but they are dirttrack bikes
was the motor stuff I sold you ok for your bike
jim

Rossvickicampbell · « **Reply #25 on:** January 09, 2016, 01:24:37 PM »

FATBOY at fault again eh Dave - what can you say

211 · « **Reply #26 on:** January 09, 2016, 09:02:54 PM »

no fault from the Fraser - just has a man cave that needed some conversation pieces. She's a good shed too

Rossvickicampbell · « **Reply #27 on:** January 09, 2016, 10:34:49 PM »

aaah - bugga - thought I might of had something on him

supersenior 50 · « **Reply #28 on:** January 09, 2016, 11:34:35 PM »

That Ariel will look great at the Best of British Challenge in June

FourstrokeForever · « **Reply #29 on:** January 10, 2016, 08:30:50 AM »

The pics are great....but they are both matchless engines gentlemen

bigthumpa · « **Reply #30 on:** January 10, 2016, 03:50:27 PM »

Quote from: jimg1au on January 09, 2016, 12:31:22 PM

this is my pre 1965 vmx bike thanks to peter Lawson in w.a

have one other pre 1965 and a pre 1960 but they are dirttrack bikes
was the motor stuff I sold you ok for your bike
jim

Ah ha!! I knew Pete sold it to someone over East. Good to see that it will be ridden and not just become a museum piece. Is a shame we lost it the other side of Oz because we really needed it to bolster the numbers over here in WA!!!! None the less I am sure you will enjoy riding it, I have had a ride on it at Pete's farm and was suitably impressed. Hope to see it at the Nats in June!!

OverTheHill · « **Reply #31 on:** January 10, 2016, 04:39:47 PM »

Quote from: FourstrokeForever on January 10, 2016, 08:30:50 AM

The pics are great....but they are both matchless engines gentlemen

Well there ya go--where's me glasses. Here's a pic of 'my' AJS not long before it let go the top of the wirewound piston & took the cylinder apart just below the bottom fin as it had-had a liner fitted at some stage. Turned down a non wirewound oversize in the lathe with a little extra clearance as someone said it needs to extra clearance across the pin [take another cut lol]. Smacked the cylinder back down the liner to match up perfect then put 4 long 1/4 whit bolts with 5/16 nuts as spacers between each fin. Bolted up tight & never looked back. Well--had to have it running for the next day didn't i.

mick25 · « **Reply #32 on:** January 10, 2016, 07:30:46 PM »

Quote from: OverTheHill on January 10, 2016, 04:39:47 PM

Quote from: FourstrokeForever on January 10, 2016, 08:30:50 AM
The pics are great....but they are both matchless engines gentlemen

Well there ya go--where's me glasses. Here's a pic of 'my' AJS not long before it let go the top of the wirewound piston & took the cylinder apart just below the bottom fin as it had-had a liner fitted at some stage. Turned down a non wirewound oversize in the lathe with a little extra clearance as someone said it needs to extra clearance across the pin [take another cut lol]. Smacked the cylinder back down the liner to match up perfect then put 4 long 1/4 whit bolts with 5/16 nuts as spacers between each fin. Bolted up tight & never looked back. Well--had to have it running for the next day didn't i.

Cool pics overthehill I rember a mate of my dads that used to race old British iron , in beach racing in New Zealand , I rember seeing some black and white photos of the racing when I was a teenager .
Like it was only yesterday

211 · « **Reply #33 on:** January 10, 2016, 08:54:22 PM »

Nice Pix
glad to report that the engine and GB are in the frame - needed a bigger hammer - things took longer that I planned. Like my Velocette nothing ever seems to line up exactly as it should so can be an absolute pain in the a&* to get everything to fit.
You also tend to forget where everything goes and when every engine bolt was bent or broken after the blow up it can take some time to make it right. Fortunately with the bike came 50 years of bits, complete with old tobacco & biscuit tins; the contents of which came in very handy in deed. I still hate 26 TPI nuts and bolts though.............
211

211 · « **Reply #34 on:** November 05, 2016, 05:40:24 PM »

Well Im happy to report that the mighty AJS went for its maiden voyage up the drive today - shes a meth burner now with a new carb from Amal.
From the original Roy East engine we were able to save everything above the base gasket to retain as much as possible; the cases are correct AJ 18CS wuith the right numbers so all in all Im quite pleased. Its not restored in anyway and retains the patina of a well loved bike
Thanks for those who helped out - very much appreciated
211

jimson · « **Reply #35 on:** November 05, 2016, 07:22:41 PM »

Well done staying true to the bikes history & pantinea, can you put a pic of it up here ? Jimson

211 · « **Reply #36 on:** November 05, 2016, 07:38:24 PM »

dont have a photo host site - will send you one.

jimson · « **Reply #37 on:** November 07, 2016, 08:22:33 PM »

jimson · « **Reply #38 on:** November 07, 2016, 08:24:29 PM »

jimson · « **Reply #39 on:** November 07, 2016, 08:27:46 PM »

There you go 211, farrrk it's beautiful form & function. Love these old bikes. Jimson

211 · « **Reply #40 on:** November 07, 2016, 09:27:48 PM »

Thanks Garry - the 69 Stormer will be on the rack before Xmas for a full rebuild but should be a lot easier and quicker than the Compy.

jimson · « **Reply #41 on:** November 07, 2016, 09:34:04 PM »

I really like how you've kept the bike true to it's history Dave. Jimson

matcho mick · « **Reply #42 on:** November 08, 2016, 07:28:15 PM »

tres cool,very nice job Dave,

wheres piccy of the timing side

211 · « **Reply #43 on:** November 08, 2016, 09:30:06 PM »

will have my agent post one Mick - I didn't take a pic because of all the things I lost over the 4 year build I lost the gear shifter.... new one on the way, I didnt want to restore anything with the bike just rebuild it but when the things in a 1000 bits you can get some things done you may not do ordinarily - so new engine, new carb, frame in a jig and straight again (was really bent) stuff like that but no garage queen - will be at the nats next year and anything else I can get to.

matcho mick · « **Reply #44 on:** November 09, 2016, 11:55:13 AM »

geezas 4 years where did that go

,bet you find the gearlever day after the new one arrives

jimg1au · « **Reply #45 on:** November 09, 2016, 04:32:29 PM »

just a short note on my ariel hs500/bsa was ridden by my brother and peter rowland at nepean on a ride day couldnt keep them off it fast and handles well
jim