Wanted: outer timing cover for 1957 VH

[Richard Kal]

Hello everyone; wishing you many happy rides in 2021!

In order to complete the assembly of my 1957 VH, I require the outer timing cover 2000-56.
Hoping someone can come to the rescue and make my day,
Thanks,
Richard
Perth, Western Australia

[Brian_Walker]

Here is one for a 350 you could make it read VH with a bit of work with Dremel.
https://www.britcycle.com.au/product/ar ... ing-cover/

NH becomes VH

Brian

[Richard Kal]

Hi Brian,
Thanks for making me aware of this cover.

However, the "Outer Timing Cover" (part no 2000-56) I need is the casting that the cover you found, bolts onto.

I need the cover that fastens to the RH crankcase half, and covers the camshaft.
Thanks,
Richard

[JohnnyBeckett]

hi i think you can use most of the 350/500 camshaft covers from about 1950 their is one that feeds the oil to the rockers from the front of the cam case but i think that is a lot earlier case i know my 1939 has got the oil pipe at the front of the cam case but my 1950 s singles engines get the oil for the rockers from the oil return pipe at the oil tank i think you will get one off the club spares or john budgen and i think i saw one on EBAY this week

[Brian_Walker]

I have one that has bit of damage where a timing chain broke it has the top end feed outlet that can be blocked 5/16 UNC, I will check it out and take a photo if its any good to you from memory I was going to get it welded then a good one turned up.
Brian

[keith.mettam]

Hi Richard,
There is a cam cover on ebay at the moment :-
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Ariel-NH-VH- ... SwO6Bf22kr
All the best,
Keith.

[paul.jameson]

Timing cases for the Singles had many changes over the years. Before he died, the late Ralph Hawkins began to assemble an article for Cheval outlining their evolution but he was unable to resolve the complexity of the changes before he died. I have dallied with the idea of building on Ralph's work (which I have) but so far have not acquired the examples of timing cases to be able to write and photograph a definitive article on the subject.

For 1957 you need a case where the top screw housing has a straight line from its tangent point to the main tangent point of the case. The one mentioned on Ebay features this. Earlier cases had the top screw housing as a "circular" addition to the top of the case. For 1954 (I think) and/or 1955/56 some genius deleted the second ball valve on the feed side, the one in the timing cover. Presumably after a spate of seized engines, this was re-instated for 1957 and a second ball valve was finally fitted on the return side as well. See Service Bulletin No 125 for details:

http://www.arielownersmcc.co.uk/members ... %20125.pdf

Other timing cases will fit (but most will lack the two locating dowels of the 1957 version) and work well enough, but I can't recommend too strongly having the second ball valve on the feed side. Originally, of course, the second ball valve was provided by the pressure regulator.