AJS & Matchless Owners Club

Hello folks,
I've got an old hard tail Ajs fitted with a passenger saddle, however the mountings for the saddle are bolted directly to the rear mudguard with no extra support. Does anyone know if there is supposed to be a proper frame that the seat should be bolted to?
Regards
James

Not got a 48 bike, but do have pre war bikes with pillion seats fitted. My 36 bike came incomplete with no seats. I made 2 inverted U support brackets from 25 x 3 m.m. steel from B&Q. Fitted on top of the guard to spread the load. My 38 bike used on a USAF air base in Norfolk, came with a dual seat fitted. Note the 2 empty holes in my rear guard. The owner had saved the saddle and pillion. The pillion had 2 brackets attached, as I made for my 36 bike. Except the brackets have a bend in the middle to match the guard rib. These brackets spread the load. The front part of the Y guard stay, fits vertical, approx. mid way between the pillion fittings, to support the down ward load. I do not see why a 48 bike should not be similar. Hope this helps.

No brackets are listed in the rear mudguard or passenger (pillion) seat sections in the Spares List, (pages 27 and 32).

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


My 99% original (one owner before me) '47 Ajay which may help. There is a 'U' shaped bracket fixing the front.

(Ignore the temp rear stand springs ).

Thanks for that folks.
I was going to make up a plate to spread the load but wasn't sure if the mudguard would be strong enough without a couple of uprights down onto the frame too.
That's saved me the extra hassle!
Cheers
James.

Post war bikes do not seem to have support brackets then Neville, were they cost cutting as not really considered necessary ? WD bikes had support strips but long ways. Or are those strips sprung.

Rob Harknett wrote:Post war bikes do not seem to have support brackets then Neville, were they cost cutting as not really considered necessary ?

Perhaps having worked 16 hours a day in war effort factories the women pillion riders were skinny.
Dunno, Rob. The pillion bum pad was an optional extra so perhaps no thought was given to needing extra support when actually using it.

My '51 rigid 350 is identical in rear seat pad and brackets to Sprid's so one would have to assume such was the standard pillion perch of the time(s). Skinny women eh?

Rationing did not end until 1954 Ron.

Thanks everyone. You folks never fail to amaze me with your info and pictures on what seems like any query.
I'll make up some strips, my wife likes to come along with me for a chug and although she's only little the seat is bolted direct to the mudguard which is hopeless.
I haven't had the bike long, but it is becoming more and more apparent that it has been used for showing instead of riding.