1946 AJS ADVICE

[Ivan1603]

Hi everyone
My name is Ivan and I am new to the world of motorcycles
Have no clue about them and I don’t even know how to ride one but I do intend to learn hopefully with your help. I just fall in love with a vintage Motorcycle and AJS 1946
Still trying to find all I can and I need help. My idea is to fix it and in the process take some riding classes
But at the moment I have no clue on where to start. At the moment I am just cleaning everything that is visible trying not to remove anything . I want to lear about the motorcycle before I get in to removing parts. And that is where I will need your guidance
What should I address first. Some one told me clean gas tank , carburetor and the oil tank and we can make it run. It seems to easy so I decided to join this forum in order to fallow the correct path on fixing this motorcycle. I will be posting some pictures and you be the judge if it is worth the time and effort to rebuild it. Thanks to all in advanced for your help
Sincerely Ivan E.

( I need to figure out how to add pictures from my phone to here )

[Eamonn]

Hello Ivan, welcome to the Forum.

You will not be able to post pictures directly into the Forum system, that facility is reserved for full club members.
You can however include a link to a photo that is stored on another website such as Photobucket, Flickr, Imgur, etc.

[SPRIDDLER]

Welcome to the Forums, Ivan. The '46 AJS is a wonderful bike, easy to maintain and well worth the effort to get it sorted.

Subscribing as a full member will open up every avenue of help you'll ever need, plus access to the club spares shop.
A couple of bits of info will be useful:
For how long has the bike remained unused?
Why was it laid up unused?
What model? E.g. the Model 18 with 500cc or Model 16 with 350cc?

As a first step familiarise yourself with the original factory info available in the the Club's archives in this link:
(Note that the AJS and the Matchless bikes are identical in every way except for the cosmetics - and the magneto location).

http://archives.jampot.dk/

Under the 'Books' heading you'll find the Owners Manual which gives details of how to start, ride and maintain it.
In the Spares Lists manual you'll find the info necessary for ordering spares. The Club's spares shop uses the same part numbers.
In the Workshop Manual you'll find more technical information for maintaining the bike.

TIP:
ALWAYS take photos of the bits before and whilst taking them apart.

Just for interest here's the 1946 factory Sales Brochure for your bike:

http://archives.jampot.dk/promotional/S ... _Color.pdf

Our North Carolina representative is John Diederich at at Mooresville NC who has a great deal of knowledge.

Good luck!

[Ivan1603]

https://share.icloud.com/photos/027Aj3J ... MN5Bs-bV6A


Hope my iCloud link works here testing
Here are some photos of the AJS INWILL BE WORKING ON


THANKS SO MUCH ! for your comments when I am ready I will join as a full memeber and go from there.
At the moment I am reading a lot trying to familiarize with the Motorcycle, Regarding the model number I still don’t know or size of engine. I haven’t even have the time to register it I need to check all the paperwork it came with it. And see what it says. ( was a gift from a friend as a project)

Thanks again for your responses
I alway welcome any advice

Sincerely
Ivan

[SPRIDDLER]

That is a highly desirable machine and generally pretty original at first glance. You have been very fortunate.
It looks to me like a Model 18, 500cc.
If it was mine I'd get it running and use it exactly as it is, enjoying its historic patina. They are only original once.
If required for registration purposes you may be able to obtain a Dating Certificate from the club as we have 'most' of the factory records although I think some of the info for earlier years is incomplete. The certificate costs £70 for non-subscribing members but only £10 if you join - so there's two years membership saved!
See here for the dating service details:
https://www.jampot.com/Dating.asp

[jackstringer]

Wipe it over with an oily rag and start it up and go for a ride. Great bike. Looks like lots of fun to ride.

Learning to ride a motorcycle is halfway between a car and learning to ride a bicycle. One you get the movements for clutch and gears the rest just comes to you.

[Ivan1603]

Yes I am cleaning at the moment and as I do I am trying to identify parts and look for any numbers to keep a record


So far I notice one built from fast tank is missing (front left)

The return spring for the rear break is not there
The top of the carburetor is been hold by a wire
All rubber handles and foot pedal are broken
Leaks oil from the chain “ casing “ I guess needs new seal
Inside tank is rusted
For sure new weeks rubber all dry and crack
So far is been fun just learning

The date service sounds interesting just to have some info on hands

Why wasn’t used?? Previous owner said he ride it for an about 3 year and got busy and did have the time for it plus he had other bikes he was working on. He got it in 2001 and been sitting since 2004 every time I look at them i admire the looks of it and finally got the guts to get into the project. Plus it will be a project with one of my boys

Yes everyone tells me riding will be easy
Been safe in California different story so I am more concerned about accidents I am a realy careful person is the other driver I don’t trust


Thanks for all tour inputs and for sharing links

[stevebow]

Ivan the bike is beautiful good luck with everything great that your boy is involved.

[SPRIDDLER]

So far I notice one built from fast tank is missing (front left)

I assume you mean.....'one bolt from fuel tank'...........
These are available from Club spares. You must use the correct bolt. If you use a bolt that is too long it can pierce the tank.

The return spring for the rear break is not there
The top of the carburetor is been hold by a wire
All rubber handles and foot pedal are broken
Leaks oil from the chain “ casing “ I guess needs new seal

All available from Club spares or specialist suppliers, including an improved rubber chaincase seal from Club spares.

Inside tank is rusted

A common issue. There are various ways of dealing with this.

Why wasn’t used?? Previous owner ...........got it in 2001 and been sitting since 2004

There is much advice and guidance that can be offered but for now I think it's best that you raise issues as you go rather than to be overloaded/overwhelmed with well-meaning detailed information, part numbers and suppliers. You've probably already discovered that 'British' fixings require different spanners to the usual ones in most peoples' sheds!

It's great that you're involving one of your boys.

[Expat]

Ivan, the bike looks to be in great condition and you have cleaned it up really well, congratulations. Hope to see future progress details here.
Steve