My G3LS 1953 - restoration project

Information relating to the Matchless G3 or AJS Model 16 350cc Heavyweight
sztyga20
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Location: Poland

My G3LS 1953 - restoration project

Post by sztyga20 »

Hello!
Few weeks ago I've decided to byu this motorcycle: http://www.jampot.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=22617

And now it is in my garage. This is really unique motorcycle in my country, I going to completly rebuild and restored it and without help it will be difficult.
Motorcycle as you see at photos don't looks so bad, it is quite complete, and have matching frame and engine numbers (1953r). Also dynamo and magneto are proper to year of production.
Main missing parts are: speedometer, left tool box, jampots and oil tank. There are of course a lot of minor missing (nuts, bolts, some of there destroyed by corrosion etc).
The first step in rebuild is to assamble all parts, found and gathered missing, when everything will be complete then I'll start painting, chroming. Engine and gearbox will be the last in rebuild, that it looks there are in good condition, piston are nominal (69mm - whats meant +0.30 on top?), the surface of cylinder's barrel is smooth and polished. The clutch is a bit destroyed by corrosion, all metal plates should be replaced, the chaincase band is ruptured, I hope to find replacements via ebay.
Image
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Ok, lets start:)
At the beging first problem, missing bolt which fixed brake anchor to frame, i cant find it, maybe you know it's lenght, diameter, thread and type of head? I will be grateful for photo.
Image

Next - toolbox, according to catalogue there should be two spacers (4mm in thickness), the marks on the toolbox's surface indicates that it was directly screwed to the mudguard, right? So where they should be?
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Three threads in crankcase (on the left) are destroyed, someones try to screewed into it bolts with wrong thread, fortunately bolts are really short and only begining of thread are broke, I rescue it by the tap, but please tell mi what type of thread and diameter have oiginal bolts, i cant find it in catalogue.
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The last photo shows parts which i cant identyfy, (No 2 is for horn?)
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//Added
This information could be usefull:
Frame No. 90260
Engine No. 53G3L 19828
Gearbox No. GB1AJ52
Carburator type: AMAL something like AK1M??
Dynamo L3NL-0
Magneto NI4
Last edited by sztyga20 on Wed Nov 15, 2017 7:28 pm, edited 4 times in total.
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Rob Harknett
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Re: My G3LS 1953 - restoration project

Post by Rob Harknett »

+.030" means the barrel has been rebored for + .030" oversize piston. So you must remember this if you replace the piston or rings.
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Rob Harknett
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Re: My G3LS 1953 - restoration project

Post by Rob Harknett »

It does look like you need a few parts and advice. It may be worth joining our club which sells most of the parts. In your picture 4 looks like a strap that goes from a tab on the inner primary chain case to the underside of the battery carrier. 5 looks like the exhaust pipe to frame bracket. 6 is the head steady. It fits on two rocker box studs using a nut. You need the Q clip that fits on frame tube, then bolts on top the bracket. Now you know what these parts are, you should see pictures of them in the bikes parts list. Size and thread types of fittings are not all shown in the 1953 part list. Most were used on bikes before 1953 and they would have an old & new part number. Look for the pt. no. of the fittings you want sizes for in this book. http://archives.jampot.dk/book/Spares_l ... ements.pdf
alanengineer
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Re: My G3LS 1953 - restoration project

Post by alanengineer »

No 4 is a strap that goes from under the battery carrier to the top of the chain guard. No5 looks like a bracket for the exhaust system No6 is a cylinder head steady between cylinder head and another strip of metal wrapped around the frame and the bolt above No 6 looks like the gearbox adjusting fixture that hold the adjusting bolt and No1 is the magneto protector that goes in front of the magneto
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Pharisee
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Re: My G3LS 1953 - restoration project

Post by Pharisee »

The three screws that hold the inner primary chain case to the crankcase are 0BA x 1/2" long.
Your part 2 & 3 are both for the horn. They bolt to the top of the left hand rear engine plate.
The rear brake plate anchor bolt is Part No. 010347. It has a special head that locates in the slot on the brake plate. It can be obtained from Andrew Engineering Ltd - http://www.andrew-engineering.co.uk/MainPage.htm
I'm from the Fens.... Gimme six.
SPRIDDLER
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Re: My G3LS 1953 - restoration project

Post by SPRIDDLER »

This is the illustrated Spares List for your 1953 G3LS where you will find illustrations of all the parts which you have asked us to identify:

http://archives.jampot.dk/book/Spares_l ... ingles.pdf


But I suggest you use the Spares List for the 1954 G3LS because the illustrations of the parts have better detail and are of better quality than the illustrations in the 1953 Spares List and all or nearly all of the parts for the 1953 and 1954 models are the same :

http://archives.jampot.dk/book/Spares_l ... ingles.pdf

You can use the 1954 list to identify the parts and then refer to the 1953 list to confirm that the part number is the same.

-----------------------------------

This is the clearest and most easy to read and easy to use Workshop Manual. It's for the 1954 model but most of the instructions are also suitable for your 1953 machine:

http://archives.jampot.dk/book/Owners_m ... ingles.pdf

You can double check details with the comprehensive manual for your 1953 bike in the following link, but it's quite confusing as it covers many models and is not so easy to read:

http://archives.jampot.dk/book/Workshop ... cycles.pdf

-----------------------------------

As Rob said you will probably need some assistance which you will get here (if you join the club!!) so before you get started it would save any future confusion if you advise the frame number, engine number, gearbox number and confirm the type of carburettor that you have.
Before you take a chance on parts from eBay I suggest you check with this club's own online spares shop:

http://www.amoc-parts.com/store/comersu ... oducts.asp

and the other AJS and Matchless specialist suppliers: AMC Classic Spares (by phone or email), Russell Motors (only by phone or Fax), and Andrew Engineering (phone or email). All have a website.
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Which taken at the flood............'
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Rob Harknett
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Re: My G3LS 1953 - restoration project

Post by Rob Harknett »

alanengineer wrote:No 4 is a strap that goes from under the battery carrier to the top of the chain guard. No5 looks like a bracket for the exhaust system No6 is a cylinder head steady between cylinder head and another strip of metal wrapped around the frame and the bolt above No 6 looks like the gearbox adjusting fixture that hold the adjusting bolt and No1 is the magneto protector that goes in front of the magneto
two items numbered 6 Alan, but it should be spotted as a typo. I had already ID'd 4,5 & 6 as you have confirmed.
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Pharisee
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Re: My G3LS 1953 - restoration project

Post by Pharisee »

I've been restoring a 'basket case' 1954 Model G3/LS (that actually left the factory in September 1953) for the last 9 or 10 months. It's documented as a 'Blog' on-line at http://www.whatfunnyhat.com/Frame_Stuff/Matchless.html
It's quite a lengthy read now but it will give you an idea of the problems I faced in turning a few boxes of rusty bits into a reasonably presentable motorcycle. It's not finished yet but I'm getting there.
I'm from the Fens.... Gimme six.
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Rob Harknett
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Re: My G3LS 1953 - restoration project

Post by Rob Harknett »

Pharisee wrote:I've been restoring a 'basket case' 1954 Model G3/LS (that actually left the factory in September 1953) for the last 9 or 10 months. It's documented as a 'Blog' on-line at http://www.whatfunnyhat.com/Frame_Stuff/Matchless.html
It's quite a lengthy read now but it will give you an idea of the problems I faced in turning a few boxes of rusty bits into a reasonably presentable motorcycle. It's not finished yet but I'm getting there.
1954 model year production started September 1st 1953
sztyga20
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Re: My G3LS 1953 - restoration project

Post by sztyga20 »

Thanks for replies and advices. Thread 0BA is the same as metric M6x1mm - i have this tap:) I've also found image showing head of anchor's fixing bolt and its dimensions in books.
Pharisee: i know your blog, many pictures from there are really usefull, we have the same model, could I ask You to send me more photos to my mail (if you have): sztyga20(at-sign)gmail.com? I'm not allowed send pm.
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