Author Topic: Sprite-UK/American Eagle-USA /Alron-AUST  (Read 344270 times)

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Offline JC

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Re: Sprite/Alron
« Reply #195 on: August 21, 2009, 12:09:05 pm »
Quote:
 I have some boxes full of old programs etc at home from every meeting I ever rode, I will try to dig them out and we can have a look at how many Alrons were racing and who owned them etc.


Yep another good spot to look for Sprites,Alron AE and all the odd bikes are in old race programmes.  8)  ;D
cheers



Well worth following up on, Alison, when you can.

Offline VMX247

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Re: Sprite/Alron
« Reply #196 on: August 21, 2009, 01:50:02 pm »
Thanks Husky and eml,
Steven spoke to the owner of the BSA and he said he had made them himself.  8)
I have new mud guards coming from Don Newell in Qld for this months (Sept) budget.

JC We will get a near full pic on the Alron history(with red wine thanks Tossa) and old Programmes etc when I get to Wandering Millfarm event on the 29th Aug.
cheers Alison

Best is in the West !!

Offline Tossa

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Re: Sprite/Alron
« Reply #197 on: August 21, 2009, 02:34:58 pm »
Thanks Husky and eml,
Steven spoke to the owner of the BSA and he said he had made them himself.  8)
I have new mud guards coming from Don Newell in Qld for this months (Sept) budget.

JC We will get a near full pic on the Alron history(with red wine thanks Tossa) and old Programmes etc when I get to Wandering Millfarm event on the 29th Aug.
cheers Alison



God this meet going to cost me a fortune in red wine, you, Christine and Nat Copley, and what will I get out of it, I'll still be the photographers bitch!!lol
1973 Rickman Zundapp Metisse, to rebuild
1979 Husqvarna WR250
1974 Husqvarna MAG CR250

Offline VMX247

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Re: Sprite/Alron
« Reply #198 on: August 22, 2009, 03:49:52 pm »
Tough'n up Tossa
If I can talk my way out of the jaws of Bindi's mate under water.   ;)   ;D
I think you should be able to look after three ladies needing a glass of red wine  :o    ::)     ;D


Best is in the West !!

Offline VMX60

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Re: Sprite/Alron
« Reply #199 on: August 22, 2009, 05:12:20 pm »
Allison
Make sure you try and get local number 97 maico rider involved in sat nights ALRON red wine tasting function
He was the guy that built ALRON/SUZUKI in house at Mortlocks as a very young apprentice.

JC
Last week had a long chat to the Alron rider as this was a fill in bike while waiting for the 2nd factory Suzuki RH250 model factory bike. The first one was given to Kevin Russell to ride. So his main memory is being piss off having to wait for the second factory bike to ride. He was a fully sponsored Mortlocks rider at the time. The Alron is to him a faded long ago memory. He doesn't have any photos and bike was sold on to a MX racer, he can't remember who.

Will try and make Wandering to catch up. ;D

Offline VMX247

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Re: Sprite/Alron
« Reply #200 on: August 22, 2009, 05:26:35 pm »
quoteAllison
Make sure you try and get local number 97 maico rider involved in sat nights ALRON red wine tasting function
He was the guy that built ALRON/SUZUKI in house at Mortlocks as a very young apprentice.



awesome stuff, I know who you mean --amazing--I did ask another local fellow who worked at Mortlocks doing his apprenticeship around the same time,but he wasn't in the memories way.
I kick myself for not thinking of this Maico rider  :-\
cheers and thanks heeps
Best is in the West !!

Offline JC

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Re: Sprite/Alron
« Reply #201 on: August 24, 2009, 12:11:08 pm »
Be interesting to know what he did to fit a side-port (exhaust) engine into a double-downtube frame. Probably too long ago to remember.

VMX60, I forwarded the pics you posted of yr Alron onto Mitch & he confirmed it definitely is his bike. He was somewhat amazed it has turned up & even more amazed the heavy flywheel was till w it.

Offline Tossa

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Re: Sprite/Alron
« Reply #202 on: August 24, 2009, 04:15:55 pm »


VMX60, I forwarded the pics you posted of yr Alron onto Mitch & he confirmed it definitely is his bike. He was somewhat amazed it has turned up & even more amazed the heavy flywheel was till w it.

I think there was almost a tear in his eye!!!
1973 Rickman Zundapp Metisse, to rebuild
1979 Husqvarna WR250
1974 Husqvarna MAG CR250

firko

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Re: Sprite/Alron
« Reply #203 on: August 24, 2009, 07:01:13 pm »
Husky Pete and I spent a great afternoon at Jonesys place disecting his two 405 Sprite motors and comparing the innards to the 400 Husky Pete had kindly brought along. The first surprise upon pulling the first engine apart was to discover that it was actually a rare Sprite 250 engine. Alan was initially a bit peeved as he'd bought the engine from noted eBay wheeler and dealer 'Mobility Impared Al' as a 405. Eventually Alan realised that he could now build a matching set of American Eagles, A 250 AND 405 so he's a happy lad now.


The Husqvarna (L) and Sprite. Note differences in castings.

The common misconception is that the Sprite engine is a direct ripoff of the Husky but we've found that there are enough notable differences to possibly defy any patent litigation. The Sprite sports a centre port exhaust as opposed to the Huskys side port. The Sprite has bigger transfer ports, a different shaped exhaust port and two boost ports to the Husqvarnas none. The Sprite also appears to have a stronger polished, knife edged rod and nice castings.
The Sprite engine appears to have all of the traits that killed the British industry. The beautiful castings and port design are let down by a less than satisfactory transmission and poor quality control. Stay tuned while we build a proper competitive Sprite using a Husky trans and PVL ignition. Jonesy doesn't have a 250 racer right now so over the next few weeks Husky Pete will build a pair of race Alron replicas (or American Eagles, Al has still to decide). The frame is better and lighter than a Husky and the forks and wheels are as good as you'll get so I reckon this'll be a great project.
« Last Edit: August 24, 2009, 07:31:05 pm by firko »

firko

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Re: Sprite/Alron
« Reply #204 on: August 24, 2009, 07:06:39 pm »

Sprite transmission.

Husky transmission
« Last Edit: August 25, 2009, 09:55:56 am by firko »

oldfart

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Re: Sprite/Alron
« Reply #205 on: August 24, 2009, 07:26:59 pm »
Firko ... dodgy selector, is  that how they came ex-factory ::)    A bit primitive

firko

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Re: Sprite/Alron
« Reply #206 on: August 24, 2009, 07:59:38 pm »
Yep...But bit's not so different to a Husky.

Offline JC

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Re: Sprite/Alron
« Reply #207 on: August 24, 2009, 08:21:40 pm »
Very interesting Mark.

Can you also get pics of the diffs in transfers & boost ports in due course also pls?

Also, anybody know the whereabouts of Terry Holt (of Rock Oil fame) as he maybe able to help w some useful info too.
« Last Edit: August 24, 2009, 08:23:20 pm by JC »

mx250

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Re: Sprite/Alron
« Reply #208 on: August 24, 2009, 08:22:38 pm »
Strikingly similar ain't they :-\. The left side cases look like the covers would swap. I take it that you did some measuring and concluded the trans will swap.

IIRC Husky went to sue Sprite but pulled out when striking similarities were point out between the Husky and an earlier Pommy motor - true? untrue? urban myth?

firko

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Re: Sprite/Alron
« Reply #209 on: August 24, 2009, 10:56:13 pm »
Quote
I take it that you did some measuring and concluded the trans will swap
We actually fitted the Husky trans to the Sprite cases and it fits like a glove. Not sure of the litigation though Graeme. There were legal threats apparently but I've no record of it going to court. Maybe JC has picked up something on that side of things.
Here's the comparo of the 250 and 405 cylinders. I forgot to photograph the ports John but will do them later for the book. ;)