Model A - crankshaft shock absorber 3

 Well thanks to Karol of the Slovak Ariel Klub I now have the parts to put the crankshaft shock absorber back together. Here is the illustration in the parts book:

I think that what Karol has designed & manufactured is an adaptation of what Ariel designed. What is shown in the parts book as A6/712 (the 'sliding member') fits inside A6/715 (the 'spring retaining collar) which was possibly easier to make at the time. What Karol has provided I think is a combined part including the features of both of these parts as shown on the left in the picture below:

You can see it assembled here and inspection will tell you that this will work perfectly well. The new part sits in the spring, but also slides on the mainshaft - there is no need for these to be separate parts:

Clearly I've only got one nut fitted here but there's no need to put the second one on at this point. Some digging around in the end of the crankshaft reveals a grease path and a thread for a grease nipple which I've fitted here:

There's not much more to say about this bit other than that until I bolt it up finally we will leave it as it is.

Model A - crankshaft shock absorber 2

 Well the Lambretta cush drive spring has arrived and fitting it up you can see why AOMCC singles expert Peter said that it wouldn't fit with the '26-'27 pattern shock absorber, which is what I have here. There is no way that you can get the nuts on to start this compressing the spring.

Fortunately, the 1930 pattern shock absorber is available from Karol Burger of the Slovak Ariel Klub.

Even more fortunate is the fact that Karol stocks two types of sprocket, one with 19 teeth and one with 23 teeth. What I have here is a '26-'27 19 tooth engine sprocket which is obviously for sidecar use: 

We know from experience with both the Huntmaster and the Square Four that bikes of this era are usually low geared (even when specified for solo use) so we do not want to compromise our budget and our riding experience by buying the wrong sprocket. This makes me feel a lot better about having the wrong crankshaft shock absorber!

We won't do anything else in this area until we have the new bits from the Slovak Klub.

Model A - a stand, and a mudguard

A couple of new parts arrived for the Model A last month - a 5" D section mudguard blank - actually a rear, but cut down it will be perfect for the front:

It matches the original rear mudguard and is far more appropriate than the 1931-1949 mudguard it arrived with:

It's had a coat of black enamel. The plan is to let this harden, age and chip by leaving it around the workshop for a few years, then it will look the part:

I've also got a rear stand - an excellent reproduction from the Ariel Klub Slovakia. Apparently Slovakia was a strong market for Ariel before WW2, and there is a great following for Black Ariels there.

That's had a coat of black enamel as well: