AJS & Matchless Owners Club

Going through some old photos during another moment of boredom I came across this
old thing.
Taken in Swanage Dorset, the owner turned up on it complete with dog in the chair wearing
goggles, the dog that is not the owner.
Any idea what it is? afraid I never got a chance to enquire.

My guess is 1937 model 16. Or could be a twinport model 26 with the left hand exhaust blanked off. I'm thinking probably not a 250 as it's pulling a sidecar but not unknown! Rob H will know for sure.
Dave.

Looks like a 37 26 350 Dave. 26 had a black & chrome tank. My first bike back in 1956 was a 37/26 and had the LH port blocked off. There are parts that are certainly not 38, no rear stand as 38 would have had. Timing cover is 37, 38 had rounded edge profile. gear box is 37 and would have had a speedo drive. Funny this bike seems to have some sort of speedo drive on the RH side , perhaps its some sort of after market drive fixed on spokes. both 37 & 38 had front brake drum on the LH side. It also has a Matchless tool box where a leather fronted tool box should be. Some 37 models had a tin tool box fitted between the Y rear guard stay. The knob being central in the lid. Matchless tool box knob was on the LH side of the lid, As you say it could be a 250 mod 22, not 250 coil ignition mod 12. Mod 22 had black and chrome tank also mag ignition.

Rob, did bikes with a blocked off exhaust port run ok? and why did they do it?

spookefoote1956 wrote:Rob, did bikes with a blocked off exhaust port run ok? and why did they do it?

My dad ran a couple of Panther sidecar outfits when I was a kid. Both had the left had port blocked off. Both took the family... mum, dad and two kids, on holiday with no problem. A trip of around 100 miles each way. The left hand pipe got in the way of the sidecar car chassis fittings.

My twin port with LH port blocked off ran OK same as a single port does. Money mattered years ago so cheaper to block off the LH port. When I made a LH pipe from flexi pipe and an old silencer for my old AJS 26 in the 50's, it just sounded more powerful.

Now I get it, you mean a twin port single.

spookefoote1956 wrote:Now I get it, you mean a twin port single.

Yes... !!

spookefoote1956 wrote:Now I get it, you mean a twin port single.

Twin port heads were considered go faster more sporty even more so with up swept pipes. ( To block off a port, you just drew a circle the diameter of the pipe on a bit Tin to cover the hole in the head. Cut slits about 1/2" apart up to the diameter draw to bend over the spiggot then secure with a jubilee clip. )

Didn't some Ariel Red Hunters have twin exhaust ports?