Ariel twin

[jj.palmer]

Should have mentioned it, if you attempt this mod. make sure that you check the sectional thickness's, one method is to make a section caliper out of a piece of sheet steel, see attached.

John P.

[Leejm]

Cheers Simon that's brilliant!

[Leejm]

Thank you Roy and jj. What a great forum this is!

[Paul Slootheer]

Lee, overhere in Holland spares are not that easy to get compared to a single or a square... However Draganfly do have some. A while ago I was lucky enough to find a pair of NOS conrods on ebay. I never came across a complete engine. You can use Triumph 500 pre-unit pistons if you cannot find Ariel ones. Through the years there where engine wise quite some differences, which will mean not all the parts are interchangeable. Beware of pre 1950 crank cases without a timing cover, the later timing cover will not fit! Early engines do have a lighter fly wheel on the crankshaft, but they all fit trough the years. etc. etc.

Good luck Lee!!

[Leejm]

On the bright side I have been offered a 51 engine! So that's no problem. The bike may be a long project to collect all the other bits. But I'm in no rush to do this one, still got to take care of the wife so that comes first. But it sounds like I can get all the major stuff together.

[Leejm]

Paul, the early timing covers don't fit later eninges. As the early timing cover said ariel twin. Later just twin. Theses two are not interchangeable or covers with just twin on they are two different ones?

[Paul Slootheer]

Lee, 1948-1949 covers have Ariel Twin inscription 1950 onwards only “twin”. The thing is the holes for the bolts in the dynamo area are on a different place!

[john.whiting]

Ive noticed the fuel tanks and oil tanks are quite common on ebay......and at swaps,as Ariel stuff goes...ie not plentiful.........in fact my VG has a twin fuel tank and oil tank,the fuel tank has the largest capacity of the tanks that fit a rigid(4gal),and the oil tank is set well back to allow a decent aircleaner to be fitted.......No excuse here,because when I put the bike together ,I could have used whatever parts I wanted.......I have always disliked panel tanks,intensely.,and wanted a simple rally bike that wouldnt matter too much if it fell over,or was nicked......and had enough fuel to last a run without buying petrol at some awful country shop,where rust ,water ,and sand were common in fuel......

[john.whiting]

Back to the subject of twins,the early ones had a reputation for terrible vibration......and as mentioned here,a heavier flywheel and crank were fitted in the following years.....always a bad sign ........there is also a difference in the generator and maggie drive gears.....and different tooth materials too.......to cure stripped teeth,evidently........

[nevhunter]

Mine was a bit of a shaker when I rode it a few Kms years ago, but nice otherwise. People rebalance them and they are OK. 500cc vertical twins are usually not too shakey. When they get bigger they are . Like the commando's 850 set in rubber mounts because you have to. Nev