Section
Technical Library
Currently the format for this section has not
been formalised
though it proposed to include specifications, plus useful information
concerning maintenance and repairs etc. Each file will open in it's own
window so all that
you have to do is close it and you will still be in the Technical
library. If anyone has any technical information to share
please
let the Webmaster
know.
The following files are mainly PDF files and
you
will need Adobe reader to view them, it is free and obtainable
from here.
So far there are sections of PDF files, Engine and Frame numbers,
Registration numbers, How to research a reg number and finally a
section on where to find some online manuals.
Amal
carbs
1940-54
Amal
Concentric parts 1966
Amal
600-900 series Concentric
Amal
Monobloc
tuning
Amal
pre
Monobloc
Amal
single lever small carbs
Chain
specifications EK
Chain
specifications
Chain
specifications 2
Lucas magneto auto advance units
Thread sizes
The
Vintage Motorcyclists workshop manual this is a large 9mb file, be
patient while waiting for the download as there's 247 pages in the book.
Spanner
sizes
Spark
Plugs(Champion)
pre
1963 motorcycles, scooters and mopeds
Just in case your plug has been discontinued check this list,
then go to the NGK
partfinder
and you can work through either the Motorcycle catalogue, or, if your
machine is not listed and you know the code for the old Champion plug,
go to the Product Cross Reference. I've worked through a number of my
machines and in every case I've managed to track the modern NGK
equivalent.
1964 Triumph Tiger Cub owners manual
- all you need to know about looking after a Cub or Terrier
1903
Clement Garrard catalogue &
parts - sorry about the quality but the original is
over 100 years old.
Engine
and Frame numbers: -
BSA
Engine and Frame numbers 1912 to 1974
Ariel
Engine and Frame numbers 1926 to 1965
Villiers
- information and numbers etc
Norton - information and numbers
etc
More
Norton Numbers
Velocette
LE/Valiant/Vogue
- Engine and Frame numbers
Triumph
- Engine and Frame numbers
Sturmey Archer gearbox numbers
Bosch Magneto numbers
BMW frame and
engine numbers on Phil Hawksleys website. Plus loads of other
BMW info.
Registration
numbers: -
Some
members may well own a motorcycle not registered on the DVLA computer
yet would know the registration number. It
is possible to recover the original registration number under the V765
scheme, details of which can be had from the VMCC Librarian.
Briefly you would need some piece of paperwork to support an
application to retain the original number for your machine. Something
like the old
Log Book or an old tax disc would be ideal. Another option is a
certified copy of the original record from the original registering
authority. To find the name of the original registration authority and
where it's archive now is, needs a bit of detective work. Note that not
all registration authority records have been saved in an archive, so
you may be unlucky.
Firstly
you need to determine the authority that originally issued your
registration number, that you can find here
in this PDF file. There's a lot of information in the file and
it
has been put together in country (England, Wales, Scotland etc) order.
Having found the name of the original registration authority, go to
the kitheadtrust
location list
and you will find, hopefully, the location of the archive - then you
need to contact the archive to obtain a copy of the original record,
quoting registration, frame and engine numbers. I believe that some
archives charge for the service, so be prepared for that. Having
obtained your evidence you would then need to contact the VMCC, who are
authorised by the DVLA to operate the V765 scheme - the club would then
arrange for an inspection of the machine. Good luck and if you need
help then contact the webmaster.
With no documentary evidence, even if you know the original reg number,
you
will have to apply for an age related number - a simpler procedure.
Again, it's the VMCC who can provide a 'statement of search' to date
the machine, details of which can be found on the main VMCC
website.
Researching
a registered machine: -
If the make and registration number are known then go to vehiclelicence.gov
and click enquiry. You can then enter the details and the system will
tell you if the vehicle is taxed, sorned or unlicensed. The later
category indicates that the vehicle is known to the DVLA but that it is
on the 'dormant' register. That means that you do not have to tax the
machine or sorn it. Remember that as soon as you do tax the machine, it
will move permanently on to the 'live' register and from then on you
will either have to tax or sorn it.
One of the problems with the
DVLA enquiry system is that they provide a dropdown list of known makes
- fine if you are looking for a Honda, not so good if you are
looking for a Clement-Garrard or a Scott. However, you can
type
the make in but even that doesn't always work. Quite often a machine
may be listed by the DVLA with a name that is incorrect. I had
a
real fight with them over the make of my WWII Jeep. They originally had
it listed as a Jeep, which it isn't, of course, It's a Willys-Overland
model MB42. Jeep is nowadays a recognised make but it was only a
nickname when my Willys was made. After many letters and wrong
changes they eventually got to the make as a 'Willys-Overland
MB'. You'd never find it on their search under it's proper
name of
'Willys-Overland' as it is still wrongly listed. Even better
is
the model, instead of 'MB42' they have it listed as '2-axle-rigid body
Landrover/Jeep'. I ask you!! There was no such thing as a Landrover
when my Willys was made. I gave up trying to get them to correct their
records at that stage. So beware the DVLA database is not always
accurate and you'll be on an uphill struggle to get them to accept what
you say about your machine, as I've found out.
So, if you can't find your machine on the database because of the make:
-
Go to the RAC
website and click on the link 'car checks and inspections'. Then go for
a 'car data check' and click 'go'. Select 'buy 1 check' and
key
in the registration number and very basic information comes up on that
registration number, including the all important vehicle maker as
recorded by the DVLA. Note that there is no requirement to progress to
the actual 'buying' stage, instead, just close the page. Although this
refers to cars it does work for motorcycles. I had to use it for my New
Hudson - the DVLA enquiry told me that it wasn't on the database, but I
have a V5. Using the RAC system I found that it is listed as
'NEWHUDSON' and not 'NEW HUDSON' - the space making all the difference.
Somehow I can't see myself trying to get the DVLA to put the space in.
The
following websites can provide online motorcycle manuals: -
Motobecane (Mobylette etc) Manuals
can be downloaded, page by page,
from this site which seems to have a comprehensive set
of manuals - well worth a look if you have a Mobylette or some
such.
Scribd
There are quite a few manuals posted on this site, especially by a
contributor called Thunderbird3. They are not easy to download as the
site asks you to sign in using Facebook, which is something
that I
would not recommend you use, or you can register directly with the
site. However, they ask for money for you to be able to download the
manuals. Let me know if you need any help with this as it can be
by-passed.
Moped
Riders Association
Ideal
for those moped manuals, I downloaded my Honda P50 manual from this
site.
Dans
motorcycle manuals
Here's
a load of links to sites that have manuals online and ready for
downloading, but don't get too excited as I've found many broken links
and sods law says that the link won't work for the manual that you're
looking for. However, all is not lost as there is a thing called 'The
Wayback Machine' towards the top of the page and I've been able to find
several manuals that I wanted by using that facility - give it
a
go. It really is easy to use, although a bit slow in recovering the
page that you want from the archive - so, if you find that a link is
broken, highlight the URL(that's the bit in the search window box that
starts HTTP), go to edit and click 'copy'. Then go to the wayback
machine and
set the mouse
pointer in the search box. Then go to 'edit' and click 'paste' and the
URL will appear in the box. Then click the 'take me back' button and
wait with fingers crossed, it usually works.
Carl
Salter motorcycle manuals
Easy to use site for various manuals - many modern
ones, but worth
looking through the list.
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