Ariel Owners MotorCycle Club

The fact that you have studs holding the knee grip plates on says pre-war or early war years to me. Post war tanks had threaded bosses inside the tank so used bolts to hold the knee grip plates on. So why the chrome? I would suggest that when the bike was sold for civilian use the new proud owner fa...

The drawing exists so it should be possible to make one.

It is 1932. Ariel went bankrupt in 1932 and when the firm re-started as Ariel Motors (JS) Ltd they rationalised production drastically and used only the frame for the vertical engined singles. The OHC Square Four engine had re-designed crankcases for 1933 onwards to suit the vertical engine frame.

Having had quite a number of Ariel tanks repaired over the years I can confirm that they are welded, not soldered like certain rough inferior makes.

Kevin, Do please take note of the warnings you have been given about the very great dangers of a con-rod coming through the crankcase due to a blocked oilway on your Square Four. Flushing oil will, and will have, dislodged debris from within your engine which will end up in the crankshaft sludge tra...

There is an awful lot right with that bike. Major issues as said include the fork top speedo which is 1939 onwards. Presumably the original PA type in the tank has come to grief in the usual way due to ingress of water. If still present, it might yet be restoreable. The primary chaincase outer is 19...

I have available for sale a set of crankcases which would fit this machine. Not that any prospective purchaser should mention that such a replacement would be anything other than mighty difficult to find!

Hello Ralph, The upper trip lever spindle is held in place against the speedo bezel by a fairly tiny steel washer which is oval shaped on the outside. It is common for these to disintegrate. I hold the speedo glass in place using silicone which if applied appropriately will grip the trip spindle suf...

Like Bob, I think that feels a bit on the low side. I have most certainly been down to that sort of figure but with a sidecar fitted and someone in it. I do believe that the change to the SU carb was an attempt to improve mpg but the thing which seems to affect mpg most on a Square is compression ra...

Yes. The BSA forks are actually Ariel forks so the BSA tool will work perfectly on Ariel forks. The one you highlight on Ebay looks fine.