1955 AJS Model 20

[Rannsachair]

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

Motorcycle Mechanics was not that bad for articles, I still like reading old copies.

 

[redlig]

Motorcycle Mechanics was not that bad for articles, I still like reading old copies.
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At present working my way through approx 150 old Motorcycle Sport mags from the early 60,s (when it was 13p,)

 

[Rannsachair]

Been repainting parts of the AJS and adding transfers and a few stainless fasteners:
Some before pics:

After: Just brushed enamel after rubbing down with abrasive

 

[Rannsachair]

Friday night I took the AJS as test ride, first thoughts were: a valve clearance was too big as top end a bit rattily though power much better since last top end rebuild. So decided on a run around the block, started of great and made the mistake of going down the steep hill at the end of my road. Got onto the main road and accelerated then it started spluttering and died. Tried restarting and no luck!

So pushed it back to my street (all on the flat) then stopped to have a look at it and get some tools. Luckily a neighbour at the bottom of the came out to see what was wrong (another biker, currently restoring a 70's ex police BMW R60). I said I would pop up the hill to my house for tools to take the plugs out as seemed to be fuel or spark, he offered me a tow. Now I have not had a tow from a car on a bike since I was teenager, so what could go wrong.... My street is almost a mile long all up hill, tied a rope to the towbar of his Forester and I held the other end with my right hand on the handlebars. So on the flat it was struggle keeping the bike straight, on the hill almost impossible, so I let go. I then had the bright idea of just pushing the bike while holding the rope on the handlebars, not realising jogging uphill pulling hard on the bike to keep it straight was a bit much for me, I made it but was totally out of breath and taking a coughing fit. Took an hour to recover!. Will not be doing that again.

Today I had a look at the bike, right enough one valve clearance was well out - an easy fix and set to .006". Then had a look at the points - the lock nut had vibrated loose and the points opened up, so another easy fix and set to .012". Checked the timing while I was at it as felt it was a little too advanced, so retarded a little and checked the operation of the manual advance and retard, it was springing back and loosing the fully retarded position, so a few adjustments and sorted. I also had a fuel f drip from the main jet carrier, so stripped the carb and fitted a new fibre washer.

So now starting first kick to an easy tickover. Test run next dry night.

There is something oddly satisfying relockwiring the tank bolts with the lockwire pliers:

And all back together:

I am getting quicker at jobs on this AJS now, all done this afternoon and an hour after dinner.

 

[Migmac]

Sorry Tom , I’m laughing as this brought back memories of me being towed along an estate road lined with Rhododendrons, I was on a trials bike being pulled by Land Rover driven by a idiot. He tied the rope on the handle bars then proceeded to pull me at stupid speed. I couldn’t keep the bike on the road and went from side to side through Rhododendron bush after Rhododendron bush. I was battered and bruised, bike had bits hanging off it. It had just been delivered back from the bike garage and got promptly taken back. The keys had been shoved through the keepers door and the bike dropped off at the head keepers house hence why we had to tow it. Never again!
Good you’ve got the bike fettled

 

[redlig]

Friday night I took the AJS as test ride, first thoughts were: a valve clearance was too big as top end a bit rattily though power much better since last top end rebuild. So decided on a run around the block, started of great and made the mistake of going down the steep hill at the end of my road. Got onto the main road and accelerated then it started spluttering and died. Tried restarting and no luck!

So pushed it back to my street (all on the flat) then stopped to have a look at it and get some tools. Luckily a neighbour at the bottom of the came out to see what was wrong (another biker, currently restoring a 70's ex police BMW R60). I said I would pop up the hill to my house for tools to take the plugs out as seemed to be fuel or spark, he offered me a tow. Now I have not had a tow from a car on a bike since I was teenager, so what could go wrong.... My street is almost a mile long all up hill, tied a rope to the towbar of his Forester and I held the other end with my right hand on the handlebars. So on the flat it was struggle keeping the bike straight, on the hill almost impossible, so I let go. I then had the bright idea of just pushing the bike while holding the rope on the handlebars, not realising jogging uphill pulling hard on the bike to keep it straight was a bit much for me, I made it but was totally out of breath and taking a coughing fit. Took an hour to recover!. Will not be doing that again.

Today I had a look at the bike, right enough one valve clearance was well out - an easy fix and set to .006". Then had a look at the points - the lock nut had vibrated loose and the points opened up, so another easy fix and set to .012". Checked the timing while I was at it as felt it was a little too advanced, so retarded a little and checked the operation of the manual advance and retard, it was springing back and loosing the fully retarded position, so a few adjustments and sorted. I also had a fuel f drip from the main jet carrier, so stripped the carb and fitted a new fibre washer.

So now starting first kick to an easy tickover. Test run next dry night.

There is something oddly satisfying relockwiring the tank bolts with the lockwire pliers:
View attachment 461552

And all back together:

View attachment 461553
I am getting quicker at jobs on this AJS now, all done this afternoon and an hour after dinner.
View attachment 461554

Suck eggs time! I'm sure have already done it but if not don't forget to bend the twisted tail back on itself.

 

[redlig]

Friday night I took the AJS as test ride, first thoughts were: a valve clearance was too big as top end a bit rattily though power much better since last top end rebuild. So decided on a run around the block, started of great and made the mistake of going down the steep hill at the end of my road. Got onto the main road and accelerated then it started spluttering and died. Tried restarting and no luck!

So pushed it back to my street (all on the flat) then stopped to have a look at it and get some tools. Luckily a neighbour at the bottom of the came out to see what was wrong (another biker, currently restoring a 70's ex police BMW R60). I said I would pop up the hill to my house for tools to take the plugs out as seemed to be fuel or spark, he offered me a tow. Now I have not had a tow from a car on a bike since I was teenager, so what could go wrong.... My street is almost a mile long all up hill, tied a rope to the towbar of his Forester and I held the other end with my right hand on the handlebars. So on the flat it was struggle keeping the bike straight, on the hill almost impossible, so I let go. I then had the bright idea of just pushing the bike while holding the rope on the handlebars, not realising jogging uphill pulling hard on the bike to keep it straight was a bit much for me, I made it but was totally out of breath and taking a coughing fit. Took an hour to recover!. Will not be doing that again.

Today I had a look at the bike, right enough one valve clearance was well out - an easy fix and set to .006". Then had a look at the points - the lock nut had vibrated loose and the points opened up, so another easy fix and set to .012". Checked the timing while I was at it as felt it was a little too advanced, so retarded a little and checked the operation of the manual advance and retard, it was springing back and loosing the fully retarded position, so a few adjustments and sorted. I also had a fuel f drip from the main jet carrier, so stripped the carb and fitted a new fibre washer.

So now starting first kick to an easy tickover. Test run next dry night.

There is something oddly satisfying relockwiring the tank bolts with the lockwire pliers:
View attachment 461552

And all back together:

View attachment 461553
I am getting quicker at jobs on this AJS now, all done this afternoon and an hour after dinner.
View attachment 461554

Trick when being towed is to wrap the rope once around the bar as close to the head stock as possible without any danger of it fouling the H/L etc and then hold the end with a 1/2 turn around the H/b grip with your left hand as it also holds the bar . this will enable you to release the rope safety by just relaxing your grip without letting go of the bar itself.

 

[Migmac]

Trick when being towed is to wrap the rope once around the bar as close to the head stock as possible without any danger of it fouling the H/L etc and then hold the end with a 1/2 turn around the H/b grip with your left hand as it also holds the bar . this will enable you to release the rope safety by just relaxing your grip without letting go of the bar itself.

A bit late but I’ll remember it for the next time!

 

[Rannsachair]

Trick when being towed is to wrap the rope once around the bar as close to the head stock as possible without any danger of it fouling the H/L etc and then hold the end with a 1/2 turn around the H/b grip with your left hand as it also holds the bar . this will enable you to release the rope safety by just relaxing your grip without letting go of the bar itself.

It's awkward when you have headlamp mounted sidelights, forces you to move further out, increasing leverage turning the bars. I did wrap the rope part round the handlebar.