OzVMX Forum

Marque Remarks => British (BSA, Greeves, Triumph etc) => Topic started by: 211kawasaki on June 11, 2012, 12:23:02 pm

Title: Funeral for AJS to be notified
Post by: 211kawasaki on June 11, 2012, 12:23:02 pm
Friends
it is with some considerable regret that I inform you of the sudden death of the beloved AJS.

Although running perfectly and already with one win and on the way to the second in moto #2 it would appear that a catastrophic failure of the rod at speed has destroyed the engine completly.

A full postmortum is yet to be completed however 100s of broken internal organs were recovered from the track. Photos to follow in a few weeks when I recover from the grieving process.

MF, place Frank S on full alert!

Tanner
Title: Re: Funeral for AJS to be notified
Post by: firko on June 11, 2012, 01:38:33 pm
Quote
MF, place Frank S on full alert!
Dave......I'm as heartbroken as you must be over the demise of the old girl. Frank's been informed and he's awaiting the call to action.
Title: Re: Funeral for AJS to be notified
Post by: 09.0 on June 11, 2012, 02:52:20 pm
The noise was horrific. My condolences to you and your family...
Title: Re: Funeral for AJS to be notified
Post by: bazza on June 11, 2012, 02:58:45 pm
Dave condolences from Kiwi Klub kevlar
Life is not fear!!!!
Title: Re: Funeral for AJS to be notified
Post by: oldfart on June 11, 2012, 03:04:14 pm
Dave
When the small end pin over takes you , you know your in trouble.  
Title: Re: Funeral for AJS to be notified
Post by: EML on June 11, 2012, 04:00:18 pm
It actually dis-embowled its self at the end of the very fast main straight and looked alot like a cannon had hit it from enemy fire. A truly horific scene I am told. :'( :'(
Dave was very stone faced when I spoke to him about it and was searching the very bottom of his long pockets. :D
Title: Re: Funeral for AJS to be notified
Post by: firko on June 11, 2012, 04:50:40 pm
It's indeed sad to see Dave's lovely old ex Roy East AJS go out so violently. Anyone who's been around this sport for a while will know how much Dave loves this old girl. Let's hope he can muster up the fix up parts.
Here's the damage in living colour...........
(http://i333.photobucket.com/albums/m392/cherie_jones/IMG_0940.jpg)
(http://i333.photobucket.com/albums/m392/cherie_jones/IMG_0939.jpg)
(http://i333.photobucket.com/albums/m392/cherie_jones/IMG_0938.jpg)
(http://i333.photobucket.com/albums/m392/cherie_jones/IMG_0937.jpg)
Title: Re: Funeral for AJS to be notified
Post by: mike1948 on June 11, 2012, 04:53:05 pm
A beautiful bike, it was MONSTERING the field until it happened!  Bring on next year.
Title: Re: Funeral for AJS to be notified
Post by: Curly3 on June 11, 2012, 04:56:04 pm
Ouch, she really went out in style.
I'm sure she'll come back to life stronger than original.
Title: Re: Funeral for AJS to be notified
Post by: tony27 on June 11, 2012, 04:57:11 pm
Ouch, reminds me of the old road racers ignition problems. How much will be salvagable?
Title: Re: Funeral for AJS to be notified
Post by: Mutch on June 11, 2012, 05:45:34 pm
Only good for hangi stones now
Title: Re: Funeral for AJS to be notified
Post by: EML on June 11, 2012, 05:47:16 pm
Makes me wonder which bit let go first........
Title: Re: Funeral for AJS to be notified
Post by: pancho on June 11, 2012, 05:50:49 pm
 Words are insufficient.
 Tears are the only communication capable.
  Did it spare the cams, or maybe the lucas racing maggy?
Title: Re: Funeral for AJS to be notified
Post by: 211kawasaki on June 11, 2012, 06:22:15 pm
from what I can see the rod let go first, Fatboy and I plucked it from between the f/wheels Sat Night. Sadly the maggy looks bent on the shaft, the cams are gone as has the barrel / piston which is wedged in these somewhere amoungst the smashed valves.
The search for an engine has begun already!
211
Title: Re: Funeral for AJS to be notified
Post by: bazza on June 11, 2012, 06:39:44 pm
 Dave do you want to put what you are after on here so folk can ask around?
 18CS - 1957?
Mike
Title: Re: Funeral for AJS to be notified
Post by: Hoony on June 11, 2012, 06:57:42 pm
for the uninformed (like me) is this a factory special of some kind or are the engines available in some form?someone once told me AJS/Matchless are very similar?
Title: Re: Funeral for AJS to be notified
Post by: mick25 on June 11, 2012, 07:15:19 pm
Bummer all right , I sold a AJS complete motor and gear box i think 1955 on ebay not long back went to WA...
A bit late now  :'( may have suited what you were after
Title: Re: Funeral for AJS to be notified
Post by: GMC on June 11, 2012, 07:28:40 pm
Condolences to you and your family

You may need fit a new shelf in your shed labeled ‘sacrificed to the Gods of speed’
Title: Re: Funeral for AJS to be notified
Post by: jimg1au on June 11, 2012, 07:33:01 pm
i have seen this happen a lot in the 70s with dirt track motors usualy all that is left that is usable is the head and sometimes the valves a mashed as well.japs with alloy rods were 1 of the worst if the owner didnt change them often enough.also saw an ariel let go just the head was ok
jim
Title: Re: Funeral for AJS to be notified
Post by: matcho mick on June 11, 2012, 08:25:48 pm
bummer Dave,honorable death though,did the rod eye open up?,is that the gudgeon pin amongst the debri,is it intact,maybe piston broke up?,i've destroyed some matcho motors bigtime,but the short rods never broke,(guys actually ran them in iron beezers coz they're stronger),Ted Conran in wollongong is selling his collection/ few compy motors,(assembled in big lumps i've heard,not complete runners,just collections of proper bit!),worth a call?,mick
Title: Re: Funeral for AJS to be notified
Post by: 211kawasaki on June 11, 2012, 08:34:16 pm
Mick,
would really appreciate a lead on it so yes - worth a call or PM the contact and I will. Thats the pin all right, It had a JP piston (modified a lot) Im not a fan of them but all I could get about 6 months ago. Rod is clean in half!
Dave
Title: Re: Funeral for AJS to be notified
Post by: matcho mick on June 11, 2012, 09:04:47 pm
ooh JP, ok in a roady!,will dig up contacts,(Frank probably knows him too), :P
Title: Re: Funeral for AJS to be notified
Post by: firko on June 11, 2012, 09:35:58 pm

Quote
ooh JP, ok in a roady!,will dig up contacts,(Frank probably knows him too)
I've heard Frank mention Ted Conrans name. I'll give Frank a call in the morning and start the ball rolling.
Title: Re: Funeral for AJS to be notified
Post by: fatboyracing on June 12, 2012, 05:59:26 am
As I said at the track I can sell you a good going Xl350 motor  ;D ;D ;D proberly last longer then the pommy #$$*%( sorry Dave I am sorry for your loss I could see how gutted you were on Sunday while the pre 60 class were racing.
Even after the loss you just got on with it and helped me out as my assistant thanks for that. hopefully we can find you a new motor some were in the world

Cheers
Fatboy
Title: Re: Funeral for AJS to be notified
Post by: Freakshow on June 12, 2012, 12:32:34 pm
Heard the crunch turned around and watched the shrapnel fall...........  Gut wrenching noise like that destintive metal noice in a car crash.....

Still cant belive seeing it when it came back into the pits and the crank cases were hanging and  seprated from the barrel.

Devistated you must be.
Title: Re: Funeral for AJS to be notified
Post by: matcho mick on June 12, 2012, 02:25:18 pm
Dave,Sigma engineering in SA does flywheels,conrods ,crankshaft axles for short stroke compys,all in hi tensile steel,prices look good too,contact John Keay,at least it's all new to race, not "lottery preloved" metals, ;), :P 
[email protected]
Title: Re: Funeral for AJS to be notified
Post by: Freakshow on June 12, 2012, 04:36:00 pm
Happy to pick up, love or barter or what ever dave if there in SA.  IF it helps any.
Title: Re: Funeral for AJS to be notified
Post by: pancho on June 12, 2012, 04:40:40 pm
bummer Dave,honorable death though,did the rod eye open up?,is that the gudgeon pin amongst the debri,is it intact,maybe piston broke up?,i've destroyed some matcho motors bigtime,but the short rods never broke,(guys actually ran them in iron beezers coz they're stronger),Ted Conran in wollongong is selling his collection/ few compy motors,(assembled in big lumps i've heard,not complete runners,just collections of proper bit!),worth a call?,mick
I had an Ajay rod let go in my B33 half way up the straight at Nepean way back when. Back in the pits there were quite a few Beeza owners with worried looks. I still have the 'trophy' on the shelf along side a nice piston with a valve head stuck in it.
 The most impressive blow-up I remember was Gordon Doble's MSS, he said half way down conrod straight the handle bar grips got 3 inches round then she went bang!. the conrod was dangling in the frame like a pendlum, no crankcase to be seen, just bits of alloy around the frame bolts.
pancho.
Title: Re: Funeral for AJS to be notified
Post by: Bitten on June 12, 2012, 04:53:24 pm
Grief is the price we pay for having loved!



Title: Re: Funeral for AJS to be notified
Post by: firko on June 12, 2012, 04:56:15 pm
Quote
Dave,Sigma engineering in SA does flywheels,conrods ,crankshaft axles for short stroke compys,all in hi tensile steel,prices look good too,contact John Keay,at least it's all new to race, not "lottery preloved" metals, Wink, Tongue [email protected]
Of course it's up to Dave and his wallet as to what the next move on getting the Ajay up and running again is but I think a phonecall to Frank Stanborough is the right move. Frank's responsible for most of the fast Matchy's racing in this country including the indecently quick Matchless Metisse ridden by Glenn Evans* on dirt track. Frank's a stickler for using quality internals and has had success using Jawa and Godden cranks in Matchy/AJS G80's including his own Mojo framed bike that Graeme Smythe will ride at CD9. Anyone who's seen his Manx Norton Metisse or NSU powered Greeves will understand Franks work skills. There's nobody better on 18CS Ajay's and G80/85 Matchy's in this country full stop.

* The Matchless G80 Metisse ridden to success by Glenn Evans in recent years is now up for sale due to its owner, Glenns father Cols recent death. This bike has history going back to the mid sixties when Col, Roy East, Ray Fisher, Kelvin Franks and other Aussie motocross pioneers raced the MX GP's in Europe. In recent times the engine has been expertly built using the finest bits by Frank Stanborough. This bike is a dead set rocket, ready to win on dirt track and motocross. Dirt track veteran Terry Poole is brokering the sale of it and Cols other ESO Metisse and vintage Husky's so if anyone's interested, PM me and I'll put you in touch with 'Pooley'. This bike will disappoint bargain hunters...it ain't going to be cheap but with its genuine Euro GP history and Glenns success on it in vintage racing you can't go wrong with this bike.
Title: Re: Funeral for AJS to be notified
Post by: VMX247 on June 20, 2012, 01:44:14 pm
(http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r259/vmx247/rightside.jpg)
(http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r259/vmx247/leftsidetoo.jpg)
Title: Re: Funeral for AJS to be notified
Post by: firko on June 20, 2012, 03:00:35 pm
Whew, at least the Klub Kevlar sticker came through unscathed ::).
Title: Re: Funeral for AJS to be notified
Post by: Freakshow on June 20, 2012, 04:05:11 pm
in a the moments prior...........
(http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d88/munchboxlive/RIMG0007-1.jpg)
Title: Re: Funeral for AJS to be notified
Post by: Freakshow on June 20, 2012, 04:17:51 pm
not even vaugely inthe same league of devistation as the mighty AJS suffered, but my old girl went bang on the last lap on the pre 70, sounded way rattly a few time and till it terminated in the last lap of the last race..... then stopped , no comp when i tried to restart it....

Pulled it apart the other night, looks like the ring snapped and went for a bounce around, not sure what startedit but maybe got tight in the groove and twisted.

(http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d88/munchboxlive/RIMG0010-2.jpg)
(http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d88/munchboxlive/RIMG0013.jpg)
(http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d88/munchboxlive/RIMG0011-2.jpg)
Title: Re: Funeral for AJS to be notified
Post by: EML on June 21, 2012, 08:33:16 am
in a the moments prior...........
(http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d88/munchboxlive/RIMG0007-1.jpg)
I think I've worked out what happened-he left the plug in the pipe-course that'd do it!!
Title: Re: Funeral for AJS to be notified
Post by: Freakshow on June 21, 2012, 01:49:44 pm
Haa ha never thought of that.  yep  those rubber corks can create heaps of back pressure... seems enought to blow the cases.
Title: Re: Funeral for AJS to be notified
Post by: 211kawasaki on June 21, 2012, 07:15:42 pm
 :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'(
Title: Re: Funeral for AJS to be notified
Post by: bazza on June 21, 2012, 08:02:22 pm
http://www.youtube.com/embed/iKqpvriKZuA
MOTOR FOR DAVE
Title: Re: Funeral for AJS to be notified
Post by: 211kawasaki on June 23, 2012, 04:34:39 pm
The piston let go at the gudgon pin, its broken in half and it looks like the top half of the engine is OK - no bent valves just a re - sleeve and all goo. At least some good news!

JP Pistons Im sure have a good excuse why their product let go and Im sure  ::) it wont be their fault at all.......

211
Title: Re: Funeral for AJS to be notified
Post by: foxy999 on June 23, 2012, 08:47:55 pm
Dave we have footage of you going past for the last time(noise only) and the crowd response. On my face book page..
Title: Re: Funeral for AJS to be notified
Post by: Curly3 on June 24, 2012, 01:26:56 am
But how much work had that piston done Dave?
Title: Re: Funeral for AJS to be notified
Post by: bazza on June 24, 2012, 08:16:41 am
I think 2-3 hrs.
DT will no
Title: Re: Funeral for AJS to be notified
Post by: Curly3 on June 24, 2012, 08:58:08 am
That ain't good.
Title: Re: Funeral for AJS to be notified
Post by: 211kawasaki on June 25, 2012, 07:04:31 pm
One meeting old and a few laps at Nudgee - thats it!
Title: Re: Funeral for AJS to be notified
Post by: matcho mick on June 27, 2012, 12:48:58 pm
The piston let go at the gudgon pin, its broken in half and it looks like the top half of the engine is OK - no bent valves just a re - sleeve and all goo. At least some good news!

JP Pistons Im sure have a good excuse why their product let go and Im sure  ::) it wont be their fault at all.......

211

cast,not forged?, :P
Title: Re: Funeral for AJS to be notified
Post by: 211kawasaki on July 03, 2012, 06:36:27 pm
Cast!
Title: Re: Funeral for AJS to be notified
Post by: Davey Crocket on July 03, 2012, 09:44:13 pm
Cast all over the track....you certainly had a weekend to remember Dave.
Title: Re: Funeral for AJS to be notified
Post by: VMX247 on July 03, 2012, 09:54:51 pm
Cast all over the track....you certainly had a weekend to remember Dave.
   his bike's "forged" legend statis   8)
Title: Re: Funeral for AJS to be notified
Post by: Davey Crocket on July 03, 2012, 10:15:20 pm
If it was forged it would still be running... ;D
Title: Re: Funeral for AJS to be notified
Post by: VMX247 on July 03, 2012, 10:54:23 pm
If it was forged it would still be running... ;D
after having a read up on the wikkipedia and usa Keystone forgery,what would he the outcome,? would the internals be buggered!  cheers a
Title: Re: Funeral for AJS to be notified
Post by: 211kawasaki on July 15, 2012, 09:40:24 pm
of course JP has no answers for what happened, suggested that I should have told them it was fo racing and they would have (baffled me with bullshit at this stage of the conversation) modified it.
Didnt expect much, cant really blame them either but the JP im my MAC Velo rattles so its getting pulled out just as soon as I can!

211
Title: Re: Funeral for AJS to be notified
Post by: 211kawasaki on July 17, 2012, 10:25:04 pm
JP were even so good as to return the broken piston but were so tight they send COD postage that cost 22 dollars from SA. Cost $8.90 to send to them - Tight arses
Title: Re: Funeral for AJS to be notified
Post by: euro bikes on July 24, 2012, 04:26:17 pm
That's amazing , i got a ignition from the states for less than that!!
Title: Re: Funeral for AJS to be notified
Post by: fatboyracing on July 25, 2012, 05:53:55 am
Sounds like we need to past the message around not to buy anything from this mob not only did they not help with why it detonated but they decided to rip you off with the postage. Shit that pisses me off

Fatboy   
Title: Re: Funeral for AJS to be notified
Post by: EML on July 25, 2012, 08:25:09 am
Unfortunately that seems to be the way of the new world.
Title: Re: Funeral for AJS to be notified
Post by: Freakshow on July 25, 2012, 02:59:57 pm
WHo or where are JP ? must be backyard as never seen a shop front.
Title: Re: Funeral for AJS to be notified
Post by: matcho mick on July 25, 2012, 08:07:12 pm
WHo or where are JP ? must be backyard as never seen a shop front.

geezas Freaky,been on the 2smokes too long mate ;D,(actually, nearly in your own backyard  ::))

http://www.jp.com.au/JPPistons.html
Title: Re: Funeral for AJS to be notified
Post by: Curly3 on July 25, 2012, 10:12:01 pm
Mick, wake up to yourself.
Remember Snowtown? :-\
Title: Re: Funeral for AJS to be notified
Post by: matcho mick on July 25, 2012, 11:25:00 pm
freaky's the one mentioning backyards,& shopfronts,not me ;D, :P
Title: Re: Funeral for AJS to be notified
Post by: mainline on July 27, 2012, 10:18:23 pm
Mick, wake up to yourself.
Remember Snowtown? :-\

Roll out the barrells......
Title: Re: Funeral for AJS to be notified
Post by: 211kawasaki on August 28, 2012, 09:51:24 pm
Engine found - right numbers, all good, another happy camper