1960 Matchless 350. - Worth considering purchase?

[El Toro]

That's great! Congratulations!

 

[YummYam]

Thanks for your positive comments guys. Rode the FJR to tax office today to register the M, and learned that I need to get the VIN certified by a DMV inspector first!!!

WTF???? Nothing online about this.

So tomorrow will be riding the Matchless to work and getting it inspected in the pm.

 

[HotRodZilla]

Yeah, a VIN inspection is always required when registering a vehicle purchased from out of state. It'll take 10 minutes.

 

[mcatrophy]

.... It'll take 10 minutes.

Unless it requires extra reflectors, headlight dipping to the right, running lights, brakes that work ... ... ...

.

But at least you are riding it

.

 

[YummYam]

Good ride in to work, kept to the back roads as much a possible. Funny how you miss things like the time and gear position displays!!!

Guess I'll find out what's what this afternoon. Glass still half full and I would do it again in a heartbeat.

 

[ionbeam]

Your Matchless is an antique, I'm sure it is exempt from a lot of modern bike and safety requirements. Hopefully the VIN doesn't show up any past sins. Find an old Timex with hands and stick it on with double sided 3M body molding tape

 

[El Toro]

Yeah, a VIN inspection is always required when registering a vehicle purchased from out of state. It'll take 10 minutes.

Not around here.

No one will look at your VIN, even if you're trying to fix a salvage title to a rebuilt title.

I grew up in the northeast (NY, MA, CT, NH) and then in 1973 I moved to GA.

I love my friends in the Northeast, but the level of government scrutiny and control on every aspect of life up there is beyond anything that most southerners would put up with.

It is changing as northerners migrate to the south for new opportunities, and then when they come to the new environment they immediately begin to try to change it so that it reflects what they left.

Sigh....

As for the antique, we have a specific antique classification for motor vehicle registration, and the antique designation is inexpensive, but technically limited to "weekends and transport to shows." I've never seen any enforcement though.

The old Matchless single will be fun to own. I sure enjoyed old British bikes ... and I should have kept some that have now doubled since I sold for customers in Japan and mainland Europe (British expats remembering days gone by). A good, reliable alternative to an antique is one of the early 21st century Triumph Bonnevilles. They were carburetor, had 790 cc air cooled vertical twins, mechanical tach and speedo, cable clutch, and were actually built in Britain. If there's not a lot of nostalgia in those 2001 to maybe 2006 Triumphs, there's none anywhere. Parts are readily available. They're reliable starters and runners. They don't leak oil. The brakes and suspension are quite good compared to their mid 20th century predecessors.

The old Matchless may kindle an interest. FWIW, there are folks who ride the Bonnies across country, adding a whole new level of nostalgia for those of us who hopped on in 1965 and headed to the opposite coast or border.

 

[Hudson]

Old bikes are cool.

 

[YummYam]

YAAYYYYYYY........Done it!

Engine and frame numbers verified no issues, went straight to tax office and gave the nice lady a headache with all my paperwork, but after an hour with her (oo 'er missus), I am registered and have title AND a historic personal plate on order with the original registration from 1960.

Just have to be committed...........and I should be.

You were correct. Bikes built after 1945 that are more than thirty years old are antique and exempt from all the official requirements crap, so in thirty or so years we can import the FJR AS!

Thanks again for all your encouraging remarks. No doubt there will be more tales to follow.

Steve

 

[El Toro]

Congratulations!! Looking forward to hearing about the ensuing fun

.

Watch them brakes. Brakes are probably the biggest thing to get used to again on those old bikes. Times have changed and it's a much rougher jungle out there than it once was.

 

[mcatrophy]

Great! Glad it went well.

+1 on the brakes. They'll seem fine in normal running, but when that *$%^&*£* pulls out in front of you, you will find absolutely no need for ABS however hard you put them on.

 

[YummYam]

Right now having fun making up a list of parts I want to replace and placing an order with supplier in the UK.

Hoping to avoid shipping costs this time by asking daughter to bring them over when she comes for Christmas! Nothing large or heavy.....just shiny new header pipe and muffler

Joking!!

 

[El Toro]

Who are the best current suppliers? I used to use Burton Bike Bits, and Hitchcock's, but OEM parts have to have nearly dried up by now.

 

[YummYam]

I'm going with AMC Classic Spares. Have swapped emails and they seem really helpful. Easy to use site though not possible to order directly. Sent a short list of part # obtained from the club parts list and need to call and pay etc on Monday.

They reckon they have the largest inventory worldwide.

Will search for your suppliers, thanks El Toro.

 

[YummYam]

Just as an update, been riding the M to work once or twice a week weather permitting,it seems to revel in the cold weather, starting first or second kick after a good long tickle, then allowed to warm up a bit (like me really) .

As we know, the 6 volt lighting leaves a lot to be desired, just as well my commute is well lit mostly and the PO had fitted a brake light switch so that helps.Brakes are really not too bad though there's no more adjustment on the rear, so need to have the wheel off and take a look.

Covered about 230 miles to date, only excitement being a snapped throttle cable miles from home.Luckily PO had stashed a spare with the toolkit, but no screwdriver! I shoud've checked I know. Three or four feeler gauges stacked together had the throttle clamp screws soon undone, took the carb off and threaded cable into position.

Got some new gaskets and seals to fit and have started to shine her up a bit. Mind you the seat is as hard as stock FJR to me and she doesn't half vibrate when the revs get up there!

More to come with some pics later.

Loving it

 

[YummYam]

Finally got around to starting a few jobs on the bike this weekend. Following one piece of forum advice from several members, I checked the contact points. Wow, it was weird looking over those things again. The last time I saw some would have been on my 1979 Ford Cortina back in the early nineties.

They were a little burnt and once cleaned up the gap was more like 10 thou. With trepidation as I'm still a little nervous and need to relearn this old technology, took the breaker plate off to check the a/r assembly. Seemed a little stiff in action but didn't stick, so just cleaned it up and lubed the pivot points sparingly. Reset the gap to 15 thou. Didn't check the timing but put the plate back with previously scribed lines lined up, assuming they represented the correct timing position.

Checked the inlet valve lubrication metering screw and the locknut and screw were loose, the screw about 1 1/2 turns out ! Strange there was no smoking from exhaust, so hope all is ok there.
Reset the screw a little under 1/4 turn out from closed and tightened the locknut.

Had a very bad oil leak from the kickstart shaft so replaced the o ring with the new type. Had read here that leaving the old one on top of the new can help the seal and it seems to have worked.

Replaced the pawl and gear lever return springs and reassembled with new gasket using Wellseal which seems to be great stuff.

Started up first kick and gear changing is much more positive, so a very productive day and very enjoyable too!

Got more motivation now to work on the chaincase leak, tyre change, brakes , forks etc etc.


Steve

 

[dcarver]

Tyre change! Yep, the boy be hooked.

 

[danh600]

Awesome Steve!!! I would love to see some more pictures.

I wish I was a better mechanic. I would love to own and old bike.

 

[YummYam]

Well Dan, wish I was a better mechanic too but it is fun working on this old stuff.

Will get some more pics out soon.

Sorry, that shoulda been TIRE

 

[YummYam]

Pretty sure the chaincase leak is cured, seems like the gasket slipped out of position last time it was assembled. Adjusted tappets also, no feeler gauges needed, just set to not tight and no clearance!

Just 'spooned' on the new rear TIRE. Haven't done that in who knows how long but went perfectly, which pleased me no end.