1955 AJS Model 20

[Rannsachair]

After blowing a second head gasket, I had felt one of the head studs was borderline. So another strip down (as well its easy to work on

Confirmed a 5/16 BSF crankcase thread was stripped. The other 3 were fine

I made up a guide to clamp to the mating face to ensure I drilled perpendicular to the face. The tapped and helicoil fitted.

New stud: BSF into crankcase and BSCY for the head nut.

Barrel aligned ok

And head torqued down at 12, 18 then 22 ft-lbs

and reset valve clearances.

I had a bit of a disaster yesterday, I left the full petrol tank on the workbench, I was using the bench vice to hold my Landrover A-frame as I tried to remove bolts. The vibration must have walked the tank to the edge of the bench, I heard a crash as I had a cuppa and found:

Its worse than it looks: big dent, a petrol tank thread I previously repaired pulled loose. Will have a think about what to do, in the meantime, old tank back on

 

[oldbikedavey]

5/16 sounds a bit weedy for a cylinder head stud.....

 

[Rannsachair]

5/16 sounds a bit weedy for a cylinder head stud.....

Quite, the later bikes used bigger studs,

 

[Seadog]

5/16 sounds a bit weedy for a cylinder head stud.....

BAF too, into aluminium.

 

[Migmac]

That’s unfortunate about the tank, at least you had a spare.

 

[Seadog]

I spent several days, and many cans of Triumph metallic blue, repainting my Tiger Cub. I'd not long finished it and managed to knock it off of the bench. It found the tangs if some files on its way to the floor

 

[redlig]

I spent several days, and many cans of Triumph metallic blue, repainting my Tiger Cub. I'd not long finished it and managed to knock it off of the bench. It found the tangs if some files on its way to the floor

Years ago I spent quite a while attempting to do a smart paint job on an radio controlled model air craft only to drop the "almost" dry wing onto the living room carpet. The slightly furry effect wasn't quite what I was aiming for but it did teach me not to bother much about flash finishes. SWMBO wasn't too impressed with purple and yellow effect bestowed onto every kitchen surface where I had sprayed. Never bothered since.

 

[Blobber]

Gutting about the tank

 

[Rannsachair]

Had a go today improving the flat orange peel paintwork on the old AJS tank:

Machine polish with Meguiars cutting compound, super resin polish then a coat of HD wax:

Top paned paint was a bit thin to go too far:

still a big improvement

 

[Rannsachair]

I was getting a backfire on startup, decided it was the inlet manifold, so out with the gasket paper:

Quite a satisfying process:

cleaned up the joint faces on a sheet of glass with abrasive paper.

a punch makes the job easier:

Then the engine started first kick and sounds sweet, warmed it up for over 10 mins to get the new head gasket hot:

Will retorque the head tomorrow.

 

[OJCar]

on a sheet of glass with abrasive paper

Do you remember the Ogri, were Malcolm used frosted glass to lap the joint surfaces...

 

[Rannsachair]

Do you remember the Ogri, were Malcolm used frosted glass to lap the joint surfaces...

Yes, Motorcycle mechanics and bike magazine were part of my youth.

 

[arther dailey]

followed by triple C ?

 

[OJCar]

followed by triple C ?

Too right!

 

[Rannsachair]

followed by triple C ?

Yes, back when I had an Escort Mexico

 

[redlig]

Yes, Motorcycle mechanics and bike magazine were part of my youth.

Both found on the light entertainment shelf and good for a laugh ,especially M.C.M.

 

[OJCar]

 

[Ali]

Do you remember the Ogri, were Malcolm used frosted glass to lap the joint surfaces...

still about, in BSH last time I checked

 

[OJCar]

in BSH last time I checked

Is Bash Street Holes still on the go?

I once bought a BSA car from Odgie, the former editor of BSH.
Interesting bloke.

 

[Ali]

Is Bash Street Holes still on the go?

I once bought a BSA car from Odgie, the former editor of BSH.
Interesting bloke.

If it’s the one I’m thinking of, that’s a nice bike