You can buy a brand new one, complete with distributor cap and rotor arm, plus electronic ignition from Powerspark in Bromsgrove for about £130 but they aren't the easiest to time up on a Square.

A squirt of oil will do no harm. Kick the bike over a time or two then before starting. Connect the battery then turn on the lights. If it is the right way round, the ammeter will show a discharge. If the wrong way, it will show a charge. Start the engine and watch the oil pressure gauge. Within a f...

Ride it and see what you think. My guess is that it will be fine. You have the coarse pitched gears used for a couple of years which means you can't alter timing by a tooth and hope that might be better. I think they are right for 1929 so go ahead and try it out.

I tape mine to the frame tube.

Your gearbox case is for a Square Four. The mountings are offset for the Square in comparison to those of the single.

Valve caps are not something I worry about. If I have a suitable set, I will fit them but if I haven't, then I do without. I have seen the mushrooming effect of not using the caps - but that was around 50 years ago on a head taken out of service some time earlier. On my own machines I have had no pr...

Volker, There is every chance you are correct. I never did know for certain what year the head(s) I used on my Red Hunter in 350 guise were. As I am working from memory alone on this, your comments ring true. But I did say that my basis of the year was the clutch cover (!) which might well not be an...

This type of front stand was fitted in the 1948/49/50 era, certainly to Square Fours. I had one on my 1948 4G and there is a photo in "Square Forum" of a brand new 1948 4G, agin fitted with this front stand. I don't know whether they were fitted to other models at the time or whether perha...

The joint between the crankcase and the oil fed/return manifold is notorious for leaks. Most manifolds have pipes which protrude from the manifold block about 3/16" into the crankcase which makes sealing a little easier. If you are using a thick oil (such as SAE40) in a cold garage it will not ...

No guarantees then but my guess would be a 350 head from 1936 or 37. I'm basing this on the tall holes for the head bolts on the drive side ( the 500 heads are different) and the clutch cover next to the head which was only fitted to open valve head bikes in 1936 and 37. The 350 as opposed to 250 is...