Matchless G3 assessment and a rather large surprise!

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.

The first step was to bend the piece straight with heat and leverage.

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.  

After the first weld and grind.

Shot from the side.

Shot from the top.

I then cleaned up the frame and brush pained with Chassis black paint, which I had used previously on the VW.  I should have bought semi gloss, but so it goes. 

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! 

I've done it again....

Swap meets have become a weakness of mine over the last few years.   I get untold pleasure from rooting through bins and boxes and exchanging conservative amounts of money for rusty treasure.

I started the first day of my week off visiting the last CVMG meet of the season.

I was doing fairly well, securing a very good 3.25 x19 Dunlop K70, some handlebars, wrenches and a big box of AMC suspension parts (jampots and a set of Candlesticks).  Then the beaten up white pickup truck pulled up.

I immediately recognized the familiar shapes in the back,  a pair of singles (Matchless and AJS respectively) and a pile of parts.

The bikes were both rolling,  The AJS being an early model ('49 Model 16) and the Matchless a later one (1958 G3LS), identifiable by the larger, more square toolbox and oil tank. 


The cheerful owner mentioned the price for everything and the inner conflict began.  We chatted for a few moments and I politely excused myself before I could get drawn into the dark vortex of another project (or two).

I bumped into the owner twice more, who each time tempted me with a lower price;  I reluctantly accepted his card, repeating the mantra 'I will not call him, I will not call him, I will not call him...'

I spent the rest of the day and next in a sleepy, charming Ontario town not thinking about AMC heavyweight singles. 

Fortunately for me I had plenty to keep me busy, namely sanding down and repainting an otherwise lovely Honda Civic suffering from extensive clear coat issues.

As I sanded in the sun, listening to the 'Once upon a Time in Hollywood' Soundtrack (fantastic film by the way) my thoughts kept returning to the two forlorn singles.  Maybe I do have a problem, I thought to myself.

*I should mention that the G9 has not been forgotten,  I am waiting on some hardware and working out some rear wheel spacing issues.  Henceforth she will be referred to by her Christened name 'Mary Jane'.

By Wednesday my curiosity got the best of me and I called the owner of the bikes.  I was certain that someone had snapped them up;  This would put to bed the question of  'What if?' forever.

Surprisingly, they were still available.  "Damn it." said I over the phone line.

"What's the problem?" he asked.

"Now I must help re-home them." was my response.

I knew my good (dare I say old) friend Chris had been toying with getting another bike project.
After 25 years of on and off persuading, he had finally come around to the idea of English Iron.

He and I had worked on some projects simultaneously over the years and did some flipping of bikes in the late 90's and early 2000's.  At one point we both had vintage Minis.  His was completed beautifully and sold off,  mine was sold off unfinished.

After a brief phone conversation and some google image searches,  He was in!

A few days later, we were off to the country to the seller's home/garage which resembled something from American Pickers.

Cash was exchanged, the bikes and parts loaded up.   It was apparent that Chris had his sights set on the '49.

Not needing two bikes, what would become of the '58?

Yes, she is sitting in my garage.  Thankfully I had just cleaned up and cleared some floor space!

A full assessment will be forthcoming.

Stay Tuned!