New member intro

[Bazt2sport]

Good morning, I'm Barrie & just joined after buying a 25DB.
I'm looking to do an oily rag resto to start with, they're only original once.
I've already hit a few, maybe expensive, snags but a lifetime in the motor trade has equipped me for that.
I won't be riding as soon as I hoped but I'm sure I'll find a lot of answers here from all the knowledge base of people & paper.
Regards & thanks for having me.

[John Wakefield]

Good morning, I'm Barrie & just joined after buying a 25DB.
I'm looking to do an oily rag resto to start with, they're only original once.
I've already hit a few, maybe expensive, snags but a lifetime in the motor trade has equipped me for that.
I won't be riding as soon as I hoped but I'm sure I'll find a lot of answers here from all the knowledge base of people & paper.
Regards & thanks for having me.

Welcome aboard Barrie, can you post some pics of the bike?

[Bazt2sport]

Thanks for the welcome John.
Photos will be a bit of time coming I think.
The more I delve the worse it gets.
But hey ho. Hobby is buying a new bike. Passion is restoring the old one.

[John Wakefield]

Whats the frame number Barrie? I may have some info on it from Survivors Register

[Bazt2sport]

Thanks.
Frame No. 60/3006

[Bazt2sport]

I've just looked back through your post John & I see you've already seen my bike YAA.

[John Wakefield]

Thanks.
Frame No. 60/3006

Its on the register, recently on facebook Market Place https://www.greeves-riders.org.uk/fo...db-garage-find
Looks a surprisingly original bike, interesting that it had that dull chrome tank from new along with paddle hubs as an optional extras. Tanks on roadsters were normally 2 tone blue, at least it will save you the expense of painting it. It was sold new to Roy Adlam a well known motor dealer and grass track rider from Basingstoke who died in 2015 https://www.basingstokegazette.co.uk...man-roy-adlam/ Not sure if the bike was for his personal use or sold via his business, maybe you have some paperwork which would confirm that. I note its been untaxed since March 1988 so may have been with him till he died and it got sold by his family, it was still in Basingstoke according to advert. So looks to be a genuine unmolested bike with a bit of provenance. Are you from the Basingstoke area?

[Bazt2sport]

Good morning,
The bike came with it's V5 but also the buff log book, which shows it was registered to an M. PIPER on 8th April 1960. It stayed in his possession until 65, then owned for year by a B Tilsey before
being passed to it's last owner in 66.
It's all original apart from a few touch ups with not too well matched paint.
Chassis wise the worst bit is the rear rim.
It came with a few odd bits & a gasket set so, being originally a mechanic by trade, I thought I'd have a nose under the heads & then a bit further, too the extent that I now find a rather dodgy bit end.
I always enjoyed rebuilding engines !!

[John Wakefield]

Thanks for history Barrie, so looks like it was sold to a customer rather than kept by Roy Adlam personally. I assume the last owner in 1966 (any chance of his name for record) was not Tony Mcquirk the guy selling it to you, I assume he is a bit of a part time 'dealer' probably doing house clearances and he found it as such when clearing a deceased home. As for the big end issue, although I am sure you are well qualified to do the engine rebuild yourself it may be easier to have the crank rebuilt by a specialist like Villiers Services https://villiersservices.co.uk/ who will have all the parts required and the jig to line up the crank, its a pressed together assembly so will also need a press.

[Bazt2sport]

Hello again John.
The last owner was an E A Smith, still in Basingstoke. It hasn't gone far now either, I'm in Reading.
The guy advertising is a small garage doing car resto work. Not interested in the bikes.
I've emailed Villiers services & await to be frightened.

[John Wakefield]

You could also get a quote from Simon Bateman (Nametab Engineering), Redditch tel No 01527 60395 he is a well respected re builder of Villiers crankshafts

[iansoady]

I can also recommend Simon who's just down the road from me. He really knows his stuff and is reasonably proced.

[Bazt2sport]

Thanks. His website not working though.

[IanCordes]

I don't think Simon has a website anymore, since he scaled back. You can ring him though:- 01527 60395 I would recommend you check lead times with him, though.

[Bazt2sport]

Thanks everyone for your advice. Spoke with Simon this morning.
Says he's not bothering with website now.
His price & lead time was less than I expected.