This has been a giant faff!! Much more than was anticipated… The Grey Flash exhaust pipe is just a 2″ straight-through racing pipe, right? Well, there were several types employed and there is very little data out there. The period shots we had of 2751 were as good as any a place to start. Bert …
When I acquired 2751 it was fitted with a BT-H BKH1 magneto. Nearly all Grey Flashes were fitted with BT-H TT magnetos so I knew this was not correct to the bike. Also, the retard fitting was for the opposite rotation. I wasn’t expecting to be able to find a BT-H TT magneto very easily …
I was initially worried that I might have to try and source a correct carburettor for 2751. This is what came fitted to the bike: This appeared to be of the correct clip-fitting configuration. The float bowl angle should be 15 degrees. Note the film case cap – photographer Peter Johnson’s touch no doubt! I …
Externally I can see that a considerable amount of the original motor remains. Certainly the cylinder head was replaced. As mentioned earlier in in a comment by Bill Hoddinott: “The original cylinder head of the GF was an unpainted Black Lightning/Shadow front head with standard size but polished valves and the inlet port opened to …
When I acquired 2751, it had fitted to it a very smart looking painted petrol tank that has been signed by John Surtees at an event in Japan (see pic in the ‘History’ section of this blog). This tank looked splendid but as I dug into the original specification of 2751 I realised that the …
When I acquired 2751 I noted that the wheel rims fitted were 21″ for the front and 19″ to the rear – both Borrani. Bill Hoddinott commented: “I have the impression that the Works used both Borrani and Dunlop 20 (rear) and 21 inch alloy (front) rims on GFs and BLs interchangeably from ’49 through …
When I acquired 2751 from Mr. K , he let me have an NOS Vincent racing seat that he had. This was a real plus as these seats are almost impossible to come by. And indeed when I unwrapped the packaging, a very rare item in fine condition presented itself. Perfect, or so I thought… …
Grey Flash 2751 