Starting 59 AJS model 31 after 9 yr sitting

jaydee75

jaydee75

VIP MEMBER
Joined
Jul 2, 2012
Messages
1,013
Country flag
I know nothing about this bike. Inherited it from an friend's estate.
Should I pre-lube the cam thru the valve covers, like on a Commando? Or is there another way?
Will it start without a battery like a Norton? It has a tympanian regulator.

Jaydee
 
jaydee75 said:
I know nothing about this bike. Inherited it from an friend's estate.
Should I pre-lube the cam thru the valve covers, like on a Commando? Or is there another way?
Will it start without a battery like a Norton? It has a tympanian regulator.
Click to expand...
I take it this bike has a Lucas D2 distributor? Even after serial numer A79800, there was no capacitor in the electrical wiring, so you need a 6V battery. Maybe the bike has been converted to 12V? Look at the coil or one of the bulbs.

Pre-lubing camshafts is advised. I take it you have flushed the oil tank and the engine. The steps to be taken after a rebuild are prescribed in the workshop manual -- follow as applicable.

1774532646321.png


- Knut
 
ThanksKnut. the fluids were drained for storage and I'm filling up with new. The pushrods have a good clearance around them and I put a couple of spoonfuls or so down them hoping to lube the cam. It does have a distributor. Bike is 12v positive ground. A lot of loose ends in the battery area and no battery. I connected a remote battery trial and error and trouble shotted for hours for a spark, and finally noticed a oil feed valve with switch hidden down low. Turned it to "flow" and got a spark....Praise the Lord. No lights, but no worry right now.
I just want to get it running. Tank is in excellent shape, no corrosion at all. I'm going to check the carb today and hope to get it running in the next couple of days.
Bike is almost museum condition. It even has a manual air pump attached. It was restored in UK in 99 and shipped to the states in early 2000s.
I hope to get it running and sell it, I'm too old and out of room to maintain multiple antique bikes.
JD
 
After such a long time, there will be crust and deposits in the carb. Ultrasonic cleaning is the best way to clean out a carb and restore passages.

- Knut
 
The longest my '59 Model 31 deluxe sat unused was for three, or was it four years? Anyway, I ran the carb dry before storing it, but otherwise all fluids were left untouched, (albeit I did have an anti wet-sump valve fitted). The only oddity I noticed when contemplating getting it running again was that somehow the oil level in the primary had risen some. I drained and replaced all fluids, put some lube on the magneto cam ring, squirted some oil onto the rockers and into the spark plug holes. She started second or third kick, and ran perfect. By far the most reliable British classic bike I have ever had. Clean the carb if you wish, but it may be fine and "cleaning" it can turn into a right old can of worms, to my mind best only done if found necessary.

Sitting for that long you may find the clutch slips. If so the cush rubbers in the clutch basket may need to be replaced, (over time they may turn to mush) and the clutch plates cleaned.

As you are probably aware the '59 was originally 6 volt, positive earth. I do not need a battery to start my bike, but of course I have a mag, not a distributor. I do not remember seeing anything about the distirbutor models having a capacitor fitted like a Norton. So my bet is you will need a battery.



Here is my bike in all her restrained glory:
IMG_8522.jpeg
 
Last edited:
Back
Top