Darmic1 447 #51 Posted October 21, 2015 Quite a bit of progress today, the gearbox is reassembled, brackets reattached awaiting its wheels! A few pictures of where I'm up to........ 4 S1g, nigel, pmackellow and 1 other reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Anglo Traction 1,016 #52 Posted October 22, 2015 Excellent quality work there. You're probably aware that Locking Clutch Levers are still available new to fit 7/8" tube. Not cheap though at £30 !. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pmackellow 2,738 #53 Posted October 22, 2015 Looking very smart Darren, your Farmers Boy literature copies went in the post this morning Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Triumph66 1,256 #54 Posted October 22, 2015 Lovely paint job. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Darmic1 447 #55 Posted October 22, 2015 Yes, Richard, I was aware......and shocked by the price, I was at Isfield meet n greet and Paul, Jim and and somebody else said they had some, hence the ask!Thanks Paul! Im starting to wonder if there is a machine that you 'dont' have literature for!!!Thanks Triumph66, The whole process uses really good products, not cheap, but great quality........ Most are surprised when they find out its 'rattle cans' Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Darmic1 447 #56 Posted October 22, 2015 Got on well again today, Tyres cleaned and refitted to the wheels, wheels refitted. I then stripped and primed the rotor drive case, gave it a couple of coats of colour and left to dry whilst cleaning nuts and bolts. Gave it a coat or 3 of clear. Refitted the handlebars and mounted the engine, once the drive case was dry I refitted that too. Wont be able to do much tomorrow........ Have both the kids for the day, joy!!! 5 Stormin, Triumph66, pmackellow and 2 others reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Triumph66 1,256 #57 Posted October 22, 2015 Again, great work and you are cracking a good pace with the restoration. Andrew Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pmackellow 2,738 #58 Posted October 22, 2015 Clutch lever like this ?? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Darmic1 447 #59 Posted October 22, 2015 Thats the one! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pmackellow 2,738 #60 Posted October 22, 2015 Thats the one! Jolly Good, I have sent you a pm Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Darmic1 447 #61 Posted October 23, 2015 Here is the original clutch lever from this machine, its seized with rust and pretty rough...... I took a couple of pictures in the daylight today, the paint doesn't look too bright under natural light 1 pmackellow reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Darmic1 447 #62 Posted October 23, 2015 Also found one of the rotor blades was snapped off. Decided to have a go at replicating a replacement. Firstly, I welded together two narrow straight blades from an old set of mountfield rotors. I used a flap disc to clean up the welds, I then scored around an original blade and roughly cut out the new blade. I then formed the curved mounting part and finished the welding. Once cleaned up I drilled the mounting holes and fitted the blades. Think it turned out quite good? 1 pmackellow reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Darmic1 447 #63 Posted October 24, 2015 Also made a minor change to the Spark plug cap, The insulated rubber was fouling the fuel tank. The cap has been removed and the metal connector with hole fitted, Also took the brass stop tab from the donor machines engine and fitted it to this one, 3 Stormin, S1g and pmackellow reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pmackellow 2,738 #64 Posted October 24, 2015 Looking good Darren Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Darmic1 447 #65 Posted October 30, 2015 This machine was missing its depth skid when collected, so using photographs of other machines and some measurements taken at our 'meet n greet' I have reproduced one. This is it 'mocked up' on the bench, painted and then fitted. 1 Stormin reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Darmic1 447 #66 Posted October 30, 2015 Almost done....... One or two little bits left to finish, painting the nut and bolt heads, replacing the cork on the fuel tap, handlebar grips, decals, oh and some oil for the gearboxes. Have ordered a litre of sae140 as specified, EP free of course! Will get a better picture when this flippin rain stops! 5 Triumph66, nigel, S1g and 2 others reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Stormin 4,458 #67 Posted October 30, 2015 Grand job and a lovely looking machine. I don't think I'd dare use it. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Darmic1 447 #68 Posted October 30, 2015 Thanks! I'll use it around the show circuits...... I do have another one which I'm thinking about leaving in its working clothes and working? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
the showman 4,074 #69 Posted October 31, 2015 That looks great Darren, good idea to leave the other one "as is" then you could display them as before and after Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Darmic1 447 #70 Posted October 31, 2015 Thanks Chris! Will be unusual for me not to restore something........ But seeing guys and gals actually getting in the dirt and playing with their machines has me curious? Gotta give it a go! I will be checking all is in fine fettle beforehand, hence the engine being off the 2nd machine, don't want any unreliability do we??? (no mentions of the Gem and Bantam at Ardingly..........) Anyways here are a couple of daylight piccies.... 6 howardman, S1g, Bigend and 3 others reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
nigel 1,876 #71 Posted October 31, 2015 surperb job once again Darren Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Darmic1 447 #72 Posted November 1, 2015 Thanks Nigel..... Just need it to run now and a few of Titch's decals! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Triumph66 1,256 #73 Posted November 1, 2015 That's great workmanship there. 1 Darmic1 reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Darmic1 447 #74 Posted November 1, 2015 Thanks Triumph66 Well, after having no luck yesterday getting it to run, I sought some advice and tinkered a bit more this afternoon...... and....... You can watch for yourself!!! https://youtu.be/HBl6OJdt_-8 3 Triumph66, Alan and Stormin reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Darmic1 447 #75 Posted November 1, 2015 Also been doing a little digging into the company which started making these machines. The Raven Engineering Co Ltd were in fact quite a small operation. Running their offices from what would appear to have been a residential property, and the works from a nearby small workshop. Here is a copy of the email I received yesterday...... Dear Darren Thank you for your intriguing query sent in via the website. To be honest, I had never come across Raven Engineering until now. However, I found the following entry in the 1956 Outer London (West Middlesex) Phone Book. These two locations are close to each other at their back entrances (see attached map). As you can see from the attached, the 11 St John's Road premises are residential although I guess Raven were using them as offices (and hence the two phone numbers?). You'll see that a work/live Unit has been squeezed in next door at 11b and there was a very small single story workshop there before, maybe when Raven were there too. 29 High Street (also attached) has had a very varied history: airplane propellers in WW1, parts for cockpit of the Kingston-built Hawker Hurricane in WW2, Celestion Ditton speakers between the two and more recently some of the scenery for the film Alien. But I haven't come across any other Raven Engineering stuff I'm afraid. Best regards Ray Ray Elmittauthor of Hampton Wick: Brick by Brick and other books available now at: http://www.hamptonwickhistory.org.uk/HamptonWickHistory/Publications.html He also sent me some photographs of the relevant buildings and a small map showing the location, plus the phone book entry. 4 Triumph66, pmackellow, nigel and 1 other reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
