Ariel twin

[Leejm]

Hi all I have been offered a 51twin, there's alot missing but it's cheap enough. I'm planning in going to look at it next week. How easy are the parts to get for theses? Unfortunately there is no engine so I will need one cheers Lee

[john.whiting]

plenty of frames and bits.....the motors were a bit problematic........in fact ,in the 60s and 70s ,I never saw a cast iron Ariel 500 twin motor that wasnt in bits....... having all the head securing nuts in between the fins wouldnt have helped..........at a time when a Speed Twin had 8 bolts easily accessible with a socket .....they had a name for being no good too ,which probably didnt help sales ,either.............all the ones about now are more recent imports.

[Leejm]

I agree about the head bolts is not the greatest of design.
But in other ways the ariel twin are better than most twins in other ways. You can't have it all I guess!

[simon.holyfield]

Is it rigid or Anstey, Lee? Can't help you with the engine, just interested.

[Leejm]

Hi Simon it's a rigid. Lucky I already have a rigid twin oil tank! Until I go and see it I can't say if I'm having it or not. Depends on what is there and the condition the parts are in. Its very cheap but I don't want a pile of scrap for the money.

[simon.holyfield]

Does it have a petrol tank?

[Leejm]

Unfortunately not Simon that's something else I will need.

[jj.palmer]

Tightening the cylinder and the cylinder head nuts is a problem with an open ended spanner but with a small mod. a home made ring spanner can be used, see attached.

John P.

[brenton.roy]

Hi Lee,
The tank is unique to this model. There was one on eBay here a while back and I am still kicking myself for passing on it.
Rods are similar to, but not the same as Square four.
There are a couple of different cranks - well, flywheels - in the cast ion motors. One quite a bit heavier than the other.
The dive side crankcase was prone to cracking and might be hard to come by.
I remember reading that Ben Mitchell converted a KH head to twin carb. That would have been interesting to see.

[simon.holyfield]

Unfortunately not Simon that's something else I will need.

You know Amelia has a KH tank, right? I have a SQ4 tank waiting paint and a fuel filter before it goes on, then the KH tank will be spare.