1939 4F 600 OHV Square Four Parts Needed

[GuyH]

Hi, has anyone got a rear valanced mudguard and stays, a PA speedometer, Anstey link frame tool box, a set of tapered handlebars and a saddle for a 1939 4F 600 OHV which they'd like to sell?

[Don. Munnings]

Hi Guy,

Have no parts to help you with but I also have a 1939 4F. You mention tapered handlebars. Mine has a 7/8" handle bar with an added 1/16" strip welded where the shockmount grips.
I had always assumed these to be original equipment as it is neatly done and has been chromed over. I may be wrong. My toolbox has a piece cut out to clear the Ansty link and is certainly not original.
Don.

[GuyH]

Hi Don, Thanks for the information. Strangely enough the bike it and also came with a set of 7/8" handlebars with two shims which fit over the centre to make 1" where they go through the rubber mountings.I thought these bars were the wrong ones for the bike as it was all in bits when I got it and some of the parts were for other Ariel models. I may be wrong though. Having said that I have managed to get a damaged set of tapered bars with the cut out for the scroll type twist grip. They're heavily covered in paint and gunk - I'll clean them up and try to see how they've been made -they may well have been welded. Someone much more skilled than I may be able to repair them but would need to find the angle where the bars sweep back as they're pretty bent. With the bars was a centre bolt type toolbox with the lid missing. Unfortunately my excitement was soon dashed as it turned out to be for a rigid and not an Anstey frame! The hunt continues......

[GuyH]

Hi Don, I removed the paint from part of the tapered bars and it looks as if they've not been welded but instead the tubing reduces gradually from 1" to 7/8" quite close to the handlebar bend. I'm in touch with Vyroba Replk in the Czech Republic and they've offered to try and replicate them if I send them the bars. They don't have 1" tubing but use 25mm instead which according to people with infinitely more brains than me equates to 0.98425" which hopefully would be close enough. I'll keep the forum posted........

[nevhunter]

Had a set of "metric" bars in a 51 VH. The 16 thou made all sorts of problems with particularly, the twist grip. My advice is "don't go there. Send your man in chechoslovakia a piece of seamless tube that is 1 inch. The taper bars are a brilliant piece of work. There is no sign of a weld and it appears that they are formed into the taper in a die of some kind. The only way that I could see to make them was to do it in sections and weld the parts together I was going to form the bends in the full sized pieces and make the taper bits straight. If the weld could be dressed down OK the result could be acceptable, but it's a fair bit of work. Nev

[GuyH]

Thanks for the good advice Nev, I'll definitely send some 1" tubing with the bars. The Czech firm makes quite a number of replica parts for a variety of bikes including Ariels so if these bars come out OK I'll see if they can make a few extra sets up.

[nevhunter]

. I would be interested in a couple . Do you want any dimensions? My 41 WNG still has the original bars in it but was bent and straightened on one side, before my time. I can measure any particulars you want.. Nev

[GuyH]

Dimensions will be very helpful thanks. Mine were bent on both sides so I'm not sure what the angle should be where the bars sweep back. I was thinking of going to the National Motorcycle Museum to measure their bike so any details and measurements will be very welcome!

[GuyH]

Not good news I'm afraid: the Czech end wrote to me today to say they only have 25mm tooling and although they could try and make the bars using the 1 inch tubing they would not turn out satisfactorily. The hunt continues and I'll try and find someone in the UK willing to take the task on......

[nevhunter]

There are only 2 bends in the 1 inch and the other two are in the 7/8". I really think you will have trouble with these as I reckon the taper is formed by reducing the 1'' bar down. As I said earlier, they are a real work of art. I can supply distances, but you are better bending a piece of soft,( about 1/8'' or more dia) wire to copy the bends . Another question is whether the WNG bars are exactly the same as the SQ4. I think probably all the 39-40 model bars are tapered, but there may be variations of width height etc.
The width of mine is 28" and the tip of the bars are 6' back from the front alignment of the bar. Nev