1958 AJS Model 30

coulbrook · Post by **coulbrook** » Mon Mar 10, 2008 5:53 pm

Hello every body
I've looked at a model 30 to buy and restore but noticed the head is cast iron not alloy, looked at loads of pictures only saw one on an American site with iron head,haven't looked at engine and frame no's yet where are they on the bike could the engine be a 500 twin 49ish
I was looking forward to restoring it but now worried
Any help would be appreciated
Alex

Don Madden · Post by **Don Madden** » Mon Mar 10, 2008 7:04 pm

Hello Alex. You have me confused, which is easy enough.

Model 30 is an AJS 600cc twin, & I've never heard of any iron head on any of the twins from first 500cc G9/Model 20 in 1949 until production ceased in the late 60's, including the 600cc, 650cc & 750cc varients.

AMC singles had iron heads up to 1951 except for earlier competition engines which could have alloy or the very rare bronze head.

Look at the numbers stamped into the L/H crankcase below the cylinder to identify the exact model. The first two digits are the model year followed by the model type, then the unique serial number. Date codes were not stamped after 1963.

Also, 500cc twins had 6 cooling fins on the cylinder, all 600cc & 1958 650cc had 7, & 1969-up twins had 8.

Cheers, Don.

Rick.Edwards · Post by **Rick.Edwards** » Mon Mar 10, 2008 7:49 pm

Where did you see this machine for sale?

coulbrook · Post by **coulbrook** » Mon Mar 10, 2008 8:02 pm

Dear Don Thanks for that I am picking the bike up next week i will print your reply and take it with me, I am now wandering if the bike was that dirty (it's been stood for years)it looked like iron the rocker boxes were definitely alloy
Cheers Alex

Biscuit · Post by **Biscuit** » Mon Mar 10, 2008 8:05 pm

I'm confused Don. Didn't the 650's appear in 1959, they had one less fin on the head than 1960 on,(that's why '59 650 pushrods are a different length) and all 650 cylinders had 8 fins.

I think

coulbrook · Post by **coulbrook** » Mon Mar 10, 2008 8:10 pm

Dear Rick I have bought the bike (Paid a deposit) from Hull going to pick it up next week like an idiot I got that excited I should have spent more time looking at it hope it turns out OK
Cheers Alex

Rick.Edwards · Post by **Rick.Edwards** » Mon Mar 10, 2008 8:34 pm

Alex hope everything goes OK with the bike,you can get plenty of help and advice here if you need it.

itma · Post by **itma** » Mon Mar 10, 2008 8:35 pm

Prophet Itma foresees a saga coming on

lawrence · Post by **lawrence** » Mon Mar 10, 2008 10:37 pm

Hi Alex
First thing I would recommend is joining the club and getting the spares card!

laxy · Post by **laxy** » Mon Mar 10, 2008 11:01 pm

Alex, I think you will find the heads have been painted or even powder coated black.But they wont be cast iron.
Rest assured we are all waiting and eager to help
keep us posted.