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Old but good!

This topic has 9 replies, 7 voices, and was last updated 4 July 2018 at 08:23 by John MC.

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1 July 2018 at 22:17 #360320
Rik Shaw
Participant
@rikshaw
At the age of 71 I am still able to find pleasure in a field. The first one always struck me as a bit of a space age new kid – the lovely Ariel Arrow. (Hope I have got that right!)

The second is a much older but equally as beautiful Humber tricycle:

and a front view of madams seat:

Unusual (to me) a model of a live steaming Suffolk Dredging Tractor:

and finally, a demonstration of what an Irish border crossing would look like after a hard Brexit:

Edited By Rik Shaw on 01/07/2018 22:19:08
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1 July 2018 at 22:17 #34381
Rik Shaw
Participant
@rikshaw
Chickerell Steam Fair 2018
1 July 2018 at 22:41 #360322
not done it yet
Participant
@notdoneityet
It’s Hollowell next weekend. Hoping to get there on the Sunday.
2 July 2018 at 06:08 #360336
thaiguzzi
Participant
@thaiguzzi
That Humber 3 wheeler must be worth a fortune!
2 July 2018 at 06:53 #360337
Daniel
Participant
@daniel
Agreed, the Humber is fantastic
2 July 2018 at 21:35 #360458
Meunier
Participant
@meunier
Hi Rik,
Yes, it's an Ariel Golden Arrow 250cc 2stroke twin of fond memory, an example of which resulted in my changing over to cars after the last in a series of appearances at various Magistrates courts along the length of the N.Circular road and A4 between Finchley and Heathrow resulted in a 3month ban ('63 or '64?).
Went like stink (and that's approximately what PCnnn of X division told the beak) although I can count myself lucky I saw him before he saw me with my feet on the rear pegs and draped on the tank.
DaveD
3 July 2018 at 07:51 #360491
John MC
Participant
@johnmc39344
I recently bought an Ariel Arrow, specifically a "Sports Arrow" with the gold dummy petrol tank "Golden Arrow" was never a name Ariel used, apparently, but that model seemed to always known as that. Been having a lot of fun with it, I was pleasantly surprised at it's lively performance, pity about the front brake…………

The previous owner gave me several files of information, lots of road tests from the classic bike revival period. All have missed the point of the bike, that is to say the ethos behind the design of the bike. Also some real gems, a two stroke engine was chosen because it does not require the accuracy in manufacture of a four stroke. The front brake (known to be poor) doesn't feel very good due to the anti-dive geometry of the front forks!

John
3 July 2018 at 21:18 #360651
Meunier
Participant
@meunier
John MC, I also seem to remember it was notable for the engine and gearbox forming a structural assembly because there was no front down-tube to the frame.

Hope you have lots of fun with it !

DaveD
3 July 2018 at 22:25 #360658
Samsaranda
Participant
@samsaranda
John, I had an Ariel Leader, mechanically the same as the Arrow, in the 60’s and used to commute on it regularly at weekends when I was in the RAF. Probably the best bike that I owned for roadholding and the performance was also good, bit slower than an Arrow with all the extra tinware. I agree the performance of the front brake was far from good but just about adequate, I had a frightening experience with the front brake to blame. I was cruising two up when I braked gently and the front brake locked solid and the bike pivoted around the front wheel, throwing off myself and the friend on the pillion, we both escaped relatively unscathed but the bike needed a replacement set of front forks and a new front brake. The cause of the brake locking solid was down to wear of the phosphor bronze bush where the front wheel spindle passes through the brake plate; because of the wear the brake plate moved enough on the worn bush to allow the brake shoes, when applied, to bind on the drum and jam solid, hence dumping us onto the road. I would check your front brake plate bush for wear, it is a seemingly innocuous part of the braking system but can have dangerous if not catastrophic results. Apart from that enjoy your Arrow, certainly wish that I had one now.

Dave W
4 July 2018 at 08:23 #360678
John MC
Participant
@johnmc39344
Samsaranda, that sounded nasty! The previous owner had the front wheel rebuilt but did not have the drum skimmed to true it up, I've done that and turned the linings to fit the drum. I've also rebushed the cam pivot and the bronze bush the brake plate floats on, the bush is "oilite", not PH. bronze. I have also fitted a better brake cable. The result of this is still an inadequate brake for modern conditions.

I have a "British Hub" twin leading shoe brake that I will fit, that should be far better suited to modern road conditions.

John
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