Wassell Amal copies (2012)

I was disappointed when L E sent Wassell jets as original parts and I didn’t use them.

There’s nothing at all wrong with the Wassell magneto replacement ignition housing though and the Wassell/Vape kit inside it is pretty impressive for being the cheapest electronic ignition.

Their “Hepolite” pistons came with bad-looking circlips which I did not use, but to be fair, so did Harris’ version of the same Taiwanese pistons.

trident sam said:

It took me three times to bleed a Wassell Girling caliper after initially trying to do it first time , I don't know why but I have no trouble with the genuine APs. It's ok now but I'm still not sure if I actually trust it.

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Whereas...I have had problems at time bleeding genuine AP calipers and didn't with the copy...but...like I said I did strip and check it over and then changed the seals.

I just didn't like the 'corrugated finish'. Genuine seals are smooth! Perhaps I should clarify I was not prompted to do this by the reports of others, I didn't know anyone else who had bought one at the time.

I looked at the parts and was happy with it, except for the seals, and this by comparison with AP parts I have and have used. I had not tried the brake at that point.

If you have it properly bled, and it releases properly, it will be fine.

You can debate if you should need to strip and check a new brake caliper over, but this is a race bike, racers do stuff like that!

You can also debate if it is sane to buy something that is twice the price purely based on feel, racers do stuff like that too!

I also bought one before I had read any reports. My problem was not being able to get the pistons to retract far enough and the pads were binding- only slightly but enough. In the end I bled it twice more for what seemed an eternity and got them with just a very slight binding, went out on the bike for a couple of short trips, wiped the brake pad dust off and everything does seem ok now. I did only buy the caliper because at the time there were no Grimecas in stock . I have a couple of bikes with genuine AP and also with Grimecas and I can't detect any real difference , but I do understand I'm not racing it.

Who is "AP"?

Not too clued up on their racing calipers, but did have a set of their pads for the OE Norton front end (Andover sent them out with their 13mm Grimeca master cylinder kit)..

maylar said:

Who is "AP"?

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Originally Automotive Products when started back in the 1920's

I'm a Wassell dealer. Most things they sell are OK, some are junk and when I tell them so they usually do something about it and I don't sell them, and some things are excellent, why?

• Take EMGO which they are a distributor for. EMGO Roadster tanks and side covers - better than OEM IMHO. EMGO rear brake cable - so "heavy duty" it is not usable. EMGO handlebars - poor shape match but excellent quality otherwise. EMGO Lucas replacements mostly are poor quality with wrong sized holes.
• LUCAS most of the new Lucas (Wassell) parts are as good as or better than originals and they fit.
• Standard fasteners - look elsewhere.
• Stainless fastener sets are quite good, stainless front axels are excellent, stainless rear axels are mis-marked and are for older hubs only.
• Hepolite (Wassell) cams have worked well for me as have their piston sets. The pistons are actually JCC. The rings were Hastings, but since they stopped, then are now JCC and I've had no trouble with them other than the oil control ring being a PITA to install properly.
• Haven't use Girling (Wassell) shocks yet - have some and the look good and are adjustable so I have high hopes for them.
• I've sold LOTS of fork tubes for various BSA, Triumph and Norton models and have never had a complaint. I've installed new fork tubes on most my builds and have been happy with them They are sold by Wassell but I have no idea who makes them other than Wassell says they come from Taiwan. This is the kind of thing that as long as the suppler doesn't change they will be good - if they do, who knows?
• Master Cylinder/Caliper rebuild kits - no better or worse than AN just much less expensive to me.
• Much better stock of Triumph/BSA parts than Norton.

my experience echoes greg

marshg246 said:

I'm a Wassell dealer. Most things they sell are OK, some are junk and when I tell them so they usually do something about it and I don't sell them, and some things are excellent, why?

• Take EMGO which they are a distributor for. EMGO Roadster tanks and side covers - better than OEM IMHO. EMGO rear brake cable - so "heavy duty" it is not usable. EMGO handlebars - poor shape match but excellent quality otherwise. EMGO Lucas replacements mostly are poor quality with wrong sized holes.
• LUCAS most of the new Lucas (Wassell) parts are as good as or better than originals and they fit.
• Standard fasteners - look elsewhere.
• Stainless fastener sets are quite good, stainless front axels are excellent, stainless rear axels are mis-marked and are for older hubs only.
• Hepolite (Wassell) cams have worked well for me as have their piston sets. The pistons are actually JCC. The rings were Hastings, but since they stopped, then are now JCC and I've had no trouble with them other than the oil control ring being a PITA to install properly.
• Haven't use Girling (Wassell) shocks yet - have some and the look good and are adjustable so I have high hopes for them.
• I've sold LOTS of fork tubes for various BSA, Triumph and Norton models and have never had a complaint. I've installed new fork tubes on most my builds and have been happy with them They are sold by Wassell but I have no idea who makes them other than Wassell says they come from Taiwan. This is the kind of thing that as long as the suppler doesn't change they will be good - if they do, who knows?
• Master Cylinder/Caliper rebuild kits - no better or worse than AN just much less expensive to me.
• Much better stock of Triumph/BSA parts than Norton.

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Good to know what to avoid
What do you think of the wassell carbs? Any complaints etc?

baz said:

Good to know what to avoid
What do you think of the wassell carbs? Any complaints etc?

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Since I'm also an AMAL dealer it would be wrong for me to use/sell Wassell carbs so I have no opinion on them and won't supply them. By the same token I'm a Tri-Spark dealer so I stay away from the Wassell EI.