AJS & Matchless Owners Club

Rons 53 twin tank looks very much like the tank used on the 53 single also. From 36 to 55 there were many different types of this tank. Frame fittings, pipe arrangements and caps. There were the early internal expanding and push on and turn caps, I believe also compt caps. Not sure about those but easy to check parts lists if you really need to know. As for the various pipe fittings, these also can be seen in parts lists. So if your tank fits the frame OK. You should be able to see from fittings, which fittings you will need to make use of the tank.

REW wrote:So, were comp singles fitted with a twin roadster tank at the time?

All 53 models seem to have the same tank Ron. Seen on sales cats. ( With the S bent pipe but not 54 )

the filter position changed in 54, in 54 it is in a rear position of the filler, in 53 it is behind the filler the 54 oil tank is a one year item.
Poul

55 also a one year item for tank and battery carrier, as frame fitting differed. Two long bolts go through the carrier and screw into the oil tank.

I'm pretty sure there is a small filter on the supply side which goes up in the tank, I got a filter but had to fabricate the tank connection in fact I'm pretty sure I soldered the filter into the fitting. Not gonna take it to bits to have a look now though!. kind regards

Have I inadvertently opened a small can of worms here?

My tank has the felt filter chamber directly behind the filler cap. It also had a gauze filter that fitted into the feed connection on the bottom of the tank. This gauze filter appears to be held in position by the rubber pipe that connects the tank to the engine feed pipe. I should maybe add that although the bike is a '54 model year, it actually left the factory on the 8th September 1953.

My 53 single also has the cranked return pipe and filter inline (more or less) with the filler (Ah the convienence of the modern mobile phone!)

I'm guessing the fitting must be a sort of union; screwed into the tank with a Dowty or copper seal and then the pipe with a nipple on it is held onto the union with what looks like a union nut.

I'm sure there must be a parts list somewhere round here.

Alan

Hi

I think you'll find the fitting is integral to the pipe and seals with a cone seat, much the same as the return line fitting to the crank case, (no Dowty or fibre washer).

Take a look at page 47 of the 1953 AJS parts list for inspiration, part number 018129.

Regards Mick

There is the large filter that goes in the top of the tank, also a gauze filter on a pipe inside the tank, like a petrol tap has. All in the parts list.