After playing with the new matchless single for a month, an update and initial assessment is quite overdue!
Let's start with the good.
Unlike almost everything else I have ever bought this bike is 95% complete. This is a huge help as I want it back together within a few months rather than a few years. The engine has excellent compression and turns over freely. This, combined with the other pieces I have accumulated will make this a much less expensive project.
Now the Bad.
When I say 'bad' it really should be taken with a grain of salt. If I didn't have the aforementioned parts at hand these line items would certainly be a pain.
-The rear wheel. I am not sure what has been done to the rear wheel, it turns freely (decent bearings) however the spindle cannot be removed due to rusted on components. In addition, the wheel is coated in some sort of silver paint (complete with grit) that paint stripper won't remove. I'll get tough with it later. For now, I have a spare wheel ready to go.
-Front forks. The lowers have hairline horizontal fractures. Looks like someone landed quite hard!
Enter spare set of forks.
-Front Wheel. Has a bent rim but very good for spares.
-The Frame. The swing arm was junk, with an agricultural repair. The bushings were incorrect, forcing me to carefully cut through said bushing to remove it. I picked up the swing arm from the other '58 frame we acquired and switched it out.
The left side of the frame also had some extensive damage. I was able to do a primitive but clean enough repair.
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| The first step was to bend the piece straight with heat and leverage. |
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| The 'open wound' was beyond straightening. I cut off the excess fold and found some material to replace it. I also sandwiched some steel in between to strengthen up the piece. |
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| After the first weld and grind. |
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| Shot from the side. |
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| Shot from the top. |
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| The painted frame as it sits now. |
I did some massaging to the hind quarter of the frame which was also a bit bent. I had a set of girlings from the GMH (Great Matchless Haul) of 2016 which were the right size. The incorrect items were put in the spares pile.
In my excitement, I went and ordered an exhaust pipe from Walridge. To my shock, the pipe was far too small. The little G3 was hiding a big secret. It had been converted to a 500!
As far as surprises go, this was a pleasant one. Fortunately the too small pipe found a home on the AJS and I ordered another. The other arrived and was about 1/32" too small. The P/O had done some sort of modification that removed too much surface from the exhaust port. What to do? I thought of getting/making and adapter or filling some surface with JB Weld. Fortunately, I took the head and pipe to a local muffler shop. Initially reluctant as he thought the pipe would crack, the manager agreed to flare out the end to fit. After a few attempts it was near a perfect fit. I could see some stress marks and decided not to push my luck further. With a good exhaust sealant, all should be fine. Best of all, I was not charged for the work.
Eagle-eyed readers may have noticed something else unusual about the engine. 1958 models were originally equipped with a combination of coil and points ignition and alternator to charge the battery. The P/O modified the engine to run off of a Magneto while retaining the alternator. Not the worst idea in the world as one can still run the engine with a flat battery.
I can either convert to stock with side covers I found on Ebay or use an old Fairbanks Morse magneto to provide spark. We shall see.
Coming soon; Wheels, tank, seat and mudguards.
Until Next time!
