What have I bought

Helpful information and requests for assitance and advice
Sheamus
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Location: Warwickshire UK

What have I bought

Post by Sheamus »

Hi I'm new the forum, and new to Ajs/ matchless motorcycles,
I have recently purchased a basket case ,supposed to be Matchless ,with no paperwork.
Not too familiar with Ajs / matchless,as to date I have only owned,restored,or worked on BSA singles, and Twins, and Norton commando.
Before I start any work on this bike ,I would like to know exactly what I've got.
So hopefully some of you on the forum ,may be able to help me with that,
The frame is a swing arm type, with twin front down tubes .
The frame number is on the down tube lug, on the right hand side ,just below the bottom of the petrol tank
Frame number: 20575. ( Matchless or Ajs?)

Twin cylinder engine ,magneto ignition, Dynamo mounted to front of engine,similar to BSA a7/a10.
Alloy head with large fins,
Alloy conrods with no small end bush fitted,?

Engine number: 58/30 CS06088 ( 1958 AjS mod.30?)

Gearbox number: M12424. (AjS or Matchless?)


That's about it for the moment ,hopefully some of you that have the knowledge may be able to help.
Many thanks....Sheamus..
G15 Roy
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Re: What have I bought

Post by G15 Roy »

The frame number you quote is not correct and not a match for the engine that is a 1958 M30 CS. You sound post a photo so it can be looked at.
Roy
SPRIDDLER
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Re: What have I bought

Post by SPRIDDLER »

Welcome Seamus.
The frame number will be in this position:
framenumbers (439x640).jpg
The engine seems to be a 1958 Model 30. Later edit:.......AMC 'boxes from '57 on had 'M' for both AJS and Matchless and 'N' for Nortons.


To determine what the rest is you need to refer to the various manuals which can be found here:

http://archives.jampot.dk/book/
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Last edited by SPRIDDLER on Mon Jan 28, 2019 10:03 am, edited 3 times in total.
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dave16mct
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Re: What have I bought

Post by dave16mct »

You should get the Dating Officer (Roy) to date the frame. Being a twin down tube it will be 1960 onwards. It should have an 'A' in front of the numbers and should read upwards. The engine's easier, it's from a 1958 AJS model 30CS, 600cc.
Dave.
Mick D
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Re: What have I bought

Post by Mick D »

dave16mct wrote:Being a twin down tube it will be 1960 onwards
Assuming that it's an AMC frame that is ;)

The number is far too low for a duplex AMC frame even if the 'A' is obscured - a photo of the whole frame would be helpful with a close up of the number and it's location.

Regards Mick
bob121
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Location: WEST MIDLANDS UK

Re: What have I bought

Post by bob121 »

Could it be a casting number and the frame number is on the other side?
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Rob Harknett
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Re: What have I bought

Post by Rob Harknett »

You should see a number that has been stamped using a punch as you will also see on the engine. Casting numbers are cast. Quite often it is the part number that is seen cast.
MorganG3l
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Re: What have I bought

Post by MorganG3l »

Sheamus
Great minds think alike...
Yesterday I did the same as you and bought a basket case '54G3LS from an old guy who stripped it down 50 years ago, replaced big ends and re-bored it but then bought a car instead of putting it back together. I will try and upload some pictures and regular updates on progress so it'll be good to compare notes.
MalcW
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Re: What have I bought

Post by MalcW »

SPRIDDLER wrote: The engine seems to be a 1958 Model 30. The gearbox 'M' identifies it as for a Matchless.
To determine what the rest is you need to refer to the various manuals which can be found here:

http://archives.jampot.dk/book/

Hi all. Can I just query the bit about the 'M' on the gearbox? I'm sure there's a post elsewhere that states that 'M' AMC boxes were fitted to both AJS and Matchless bikes. Certainly my 1960 AJS twin has an 'M' box.

Malc
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Re: What have I bought

Post by SPRIDDLER »

MalcW wrote:[Hi all. Can I just query the bit about the 'M' on the gearbox? I'm sure there's a post elsewhere that states that 'M' AMC boxes were fitted to both AJS and Matchless bikes. Certainly my 1960 AJS twin has an 'M' box.

Malc
You're quite correct Malcolm. I was having a geriatric moment. :roll:
AMC boxes from '57 on had 'M' for both AJS and Matchless and 'N' for Nortons.

(I've amended my earlier post).
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Which taken at the flood............'
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