Why did my Trials Ariel seize up? Part 4: Success! The rebuild and firing it up!

[@thra5herxb12s]

A great video Adrian. Yes the tapered pin is for the VG, the VH should have a Parallel pin, that's why it didn't fit the flywheels, what engineer fitted that. That's exactly what my last 2 Alpha big ends looked like after about 3000 miles and 5000 miles, in 2 different engines. The notch in the footrest boss is to stop the footrest from slipping round when your body weight is on it, and needs to be fitted before the cases go on, the big washer welded to it is to give the footrest tube support to stop it bending downwards. Yours has been modified by the same person that did the Big End, who fitted the cases and clutch first, and couldn't be bothered to take the cases off again.

[@t20racerman]

Worrying bearing quality 😕

[@thra5herxb12s]

@@t20racerman Not sure if you found my Ariel big end video, but the type of wear to one side of the pin is identical, and this happened to 2 brand new Alpha units.

[@t20racerman]

My bike was used for trials competitions many years ago and the modified footpeg, and cut out inner timing case, were, I think, so that the gearing could be changed quickly

[@bristolfashion4421]

"oh no there's one other thing..." Great story! What fun 😊 persistance pays off - thank goodness for experts ❤

[@t20racerman]

@@bristolfashion4421 Thank you. I was very lucky to have a great Ariel Owners Club branch in Herts, full of VERY helpful engineers and Ariel experts.

[@eyuptony]

It's a wonder that engine ran. Plenty of grief and head scratching. Fun though, had the tee shirt. Sounds well. Enjoyed the video.

[@t20racerman]

@@eyuptony Yup, it was a right mess inside, but oddly, ran really nice before it seized up on me. 🤣

[@michaelmason5459]

My Uncle had a magnet in a thick plastic bag cliped to under the oil tank lid and suspended in the oil, he remove bag from tank roll bag of magnet any metal particles came away wìth bag all was cleaned and put back. He always said it gives you a idea what the engine is doing inside.

[@t20racerman]

Good idea. There is no oil filter on these engines, just a thin metal gauze above the oil return pick up. Regular oil changes helps

[@sandymacpherson9400]

What a great video. Excellent camera work and editing, a pleasure to watch with all the lucid explanations and demonstrations. It just goes to show how things can be hacked together in ignorance and operate just long enough to find a new home where they'll be given the love and attention they deserve. Hope you get many happy years out of the resurrected Ariel trials bike.

[@t20racerman]

@@sandymacpherson9400 Thank you for your kind comments. It was indeed an abused bike, but it will now get looked after properly 😊

[@jimatt147]

Thanks for that, I remember the super six coming out when I was a teenager, I loved it then and still do now so if it doesn’t sell I may have just the spot for it. Good luck with the Ariel, smashing bike and excellent workmanship, good to see

[@t20racerman]

@@jimatt147 Thank you. Glad you enjoyed my video. 😊 Might have a buyer for my T20 race bike - would love to keep it, but it should be on the track. I'll shed a tear when it goes 😢

[@BobtheYob-up9sv]

Impressive stuff, 2nd kick start well smart, bottom. end work never nice and easy,, great vids, very real world, thanks for sharing your journey, learnt a lot, cool bike, glad you got it sorted. I always inspect and dump my first start up oil asap

[@t20racerman]

@@BobtheYob-up9sv Thanks, glad you liked it. 😊 I'm pleased it's finally back together - it took far too long

[@oldbatwit5102]

Very nice.

[@t20racerman]

@@oldbatwit5102 Thank you

[@stephenhewitt5835]

Result! 👍 Nicely done squire

[@t20racerman]

Thank you

[@delcat8168]

gorgeous looking bike...nice vid... nice sound.

[@t20racerman]

Thank you. It's a joy to ride too. Looking forward to a bit of green laning on it. 😊

[@cozydram1]

Awesome chap

[@williamnethercott4364]

Nice one! I like the way you owned up to forgetting the spark plug. I haven't forgotten the plug before but I have forgotten the plug lead (D'OH!). Lovely bike, those old Ariels are beautiful.

[@t20racerman]

@@williamnethercott4364 I make honest videos, with no pretence of being an expert, and forgetting to put the plug in made me laugh - so I had to share it 🤣 Yes, lovely old bikes. I'll do a video on my 1929 Ariel in September (busy before then) - a guide round it followed by a ride. That's a lovely bike to ride too - and surprisingly practical for a 95 year old bike!

[@MissPhonics]

Great video! Felt the ‘family commitments’ comment might have something to do with your daughter and Granddaughter 🤣

[@t20racerman]

What gave you that idea... 🙄

[@brianmarsh4498]

Nice job, my first bike was a 350 with girder fork. I may suggest that if you go green laining you use a folding kick start as it's not very nice to catch your calf on the fixed k/s. Would just set it off. thanks

[@t20racerman]

Thank you. That's a good suggestion re the kickstart. I'll look into it

[@michaelmason5459]

Don't buy one of those Chinese one like me thier not forged but a cast metal second kick and the top snapped off.

[@t20racerman]

@@michaelmason5459 🙄

[@markaddy53]

great job lad keep up the good work

[@t20racerman]

@@markaddy53 Thank you 😊

[@JohnSmith-pl2bk]

That brass bearing sleeve night not be as long-lived as one made out of steel.... Those flapping chains... can you adapt a modern plastic cam chain tensioner system to stop the flapping (an older Lada engine spring only cam chain tensioner might be of help)

[@t20racerman]

@@JohnSmith-pl2bk The sleeve is a tight interference fit and holds the bearing very firmly so won't have the opportunity to wear or come loose. As for the chains, as long as you keep the tension correct, they are fine as designed. It's only when neglected that they cause a problem. On my BSA I've replaced the primary chain and dynamo chain with modern belt drives. Much better, and quieter too. 😊

[@jimatt147]

Hi Adrian, I do think you were absolutely correct with your decision on torquing the head. Fancy forgetting the plug 😊. I have a Thompson T20 Super Six for sale, always been a race bike, never registered, where do you think I should advertise it, I thought maybe Classic Racer. Thank you in advance. Regards, Steve Cooper

[@t20racerman]

@@jimatt147 Easy to forget... 😂 T20 race bikes have plummeted in value recently, sadly. You could try Classic Racer, but you'll find it difficult to move on. The class has all but disappeared in racing, so people aren't buying - as I've found with mine. H&H auctions might be interested in selling it, but then there's fees of 10% plus VAT. No easy option, sorry

[@Phiyedough]

You saying about the different setups for advance and retard levers reminded me of a Furry Teeth run (you were probably there) on my BSA A7SS. On that bike the cable was tight for full advance but that day the centre screw for the lever must have worked loose. The lever kept working its way to retard and the bike would slow down. As usual I didn't know the route so had to keep up. I ended up doing the whole ride to Wales or wherever with one hand on the throttle and the other on the advance lever!

[@t20racerman]

@@Phiyedough Ha ha, the joy of Brit bikes. 😊 When I first got the Ariel I tried to set up the timing assuming that the mag rotated clockwise, and full advance was loose cable. I couldn't have got it more wrong! Suffice to stay, it wouldn't start! 🤣

[@phils2180]

👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍😀

[@t20racerman]

@@phils2180 So good to have it back running 😊

[@jabbalechat7910]

Perfect example of why the Japanese wiped out the British bike industry...

[@countorlok6066]

Just enough 🤕

[@LeeTanczos]

perhaps move the microphone away from under your chin if you can’t lower your voice you sound like you’re talking to someone in the next room lol

[@t20racerman]

@@LeeTanczos You could turn the volume down... 🤣