Factory tools.

Where is that old bike?
skydiver
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Re: Factory tools.

Post by skydiver »

The tools that were from the factory were not the type which we sometimes use when working on our machines,they were the type used for checking everything produced at Plumstead.Checking the manufacturing process ensuring that all machining was correct.There were many "Go-No Go" tools,and lots of other items...There was a LOT of stuff...Has it all disappeared ? Any clues out there?
SPRIDDLER
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Re: Factory tools.

Post by SPRIDDLER »

When Les at Russell Motors in Clapham fitted a new big end for me he was using ex-factory tools. He told me that when Plumstead closed down he made trip after trip for several days with his Dad in a lorry collecting many tons of new parts, assemblies and and factory tools that were going to be scrapped. He said there were several skipsfull of petrol tanks including one filled with AJS 7R tanks. They were only able to take away a small part of the total due to lack of storage space. He told me a couple of years ago that he still has boxes of that stuff in store that he has never opened.
He also said there were cabinets of office admin files and drawings awaiting destruction.
Les is into his 70's now, more or less working only the hours that suit him and his sons who run the modern bike section aren't interested in the old bike side of the business.
'There is a tide in the affairs of men
Which taken at the flood............'
skydiver
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Re: Factory tools.

Post by skydiver »

Why are my posts concerning the missing factory tools blocked....
g80csp11
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Re: Factory tools.

Post by g80csp11 »

I can see them , so not blocked
The tools that the club had were service tools ie as supplied to dealers , not the manufacturing tools that you have talked about . I suspect these were scrapped at the time or most likely Les at Russel motors had them when they cleared the factory in 68-69. he certainly had many of the specialist tools and machining tools
Russell motors continued to manufacture many parts over the years, as have Steve at AMC Classic Spares and the Club which is why as a AMC community were are lucky in help keeping our machines on the road

The factory dealer tools often come up at Auto jumbles and Ebay and as Spriddler has said the Sussex section has a few tools that we loan to our section members but it is a constant battle to keep track of then as repair as necessary

We really should thanking Les and his late Dad for there foresight all those years ago and of course everyone that continue manufacturing parts ( AMC clasisc , Russell's and the Club)
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Peter Morris
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Re: Factory tools.

Post by Peter Morris »

g80csp11 wrote: Fri Mar 18, 2022 2:27 pm I suspect these were scrapped at the time or most likely Les at Russel motors had them when they cleared the factory in 68-69. he certainly had many of the specialist tools and machining tools

We really should thanking Les and his late Dad for there foresight all those years ago and of course everyone that continue manufacturing parts ( AMC clasisc , Russell's and the Club)
....and In Les' case for continuing to look after our old bike needs, he's 80 next birthday

It was earlier than that (66 unless I'm mistaken). When AMC were taken over the new owners carried on putting bikes together and bought a lot of spare parts needed from Les' dad!
skydiver
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Re: Factory tools.

Post by skydiver »

g80csp11 wrote: Fri Mar 18, 2022 2:27 pm I can see them , so not blocked
The tools that the club had were service tools ie as supplied to dealers , not the manufacturing tools that you have talked about . I suspect these were scrapped at the time or most likely Les at Russel motors had them when they cleared the factory in 68-69. he certainly had many of the specialist tools and machining tools
Russell motors continued to manufacture many parts over the years, as have Steve at AMC Classic Spares and the Club which is why as a AMC community were are lucky in help keeping our machines on the road

The factory dealer tools often come up at Auto jumbles and Ebay and as Spriddler has said the Sussex section has a few tools that we loan to our section members but it is a constant battle to keep track of then as repair as necessary

We really should thanking Les and his late Dad for there foresight all those years ago and of course everyone that continue manufacturing parts ( AMC clasisc , Russell's and the Club)
You can't see the posts which were blocked....The tools in question were not for working on the bikes,they were used to check the castings after manufacture--There were a LOT of them being held by a club official---I know because I saw them and was actually offered a couple which were of no use to me..
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clive
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Re: Factory tools.

Post by clive »

I have no idea about the tools but I have just checked the moderator log and there is no record of any posts on this topic being blocked.
clive
if it ain't broke don't fix
G15 Roy
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Re: Factory tools.

Post by G15 Roy »

There were a LOT of them being held by a club official---

Do you know the persons name that had the tools? may be they are still around and the club could have them,
Roy
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