All Vincent racers were supplied with Axle bolts rather than the T-bar arrangement seen on the roadgoing models. This is quite an obscure component and falls into the “not a lot of people know that” category… This rare racing part is depicted in the Spare Parts List. 2751 was missing these important parts and they …
On the Grey Flash, a handed pair of AMAL levers are fitted to either side of the handlebars for manual control of the choke and magneto advance/retard. When acquired, none were present, or needed – the choke had been stripped from the carb and the incorrect magneto fitted didn’t feature manual adjustment. Franc Trento sorted …
The original FT3 that we obtained from Franc and Greg, down in Australia, has been drilled. David Dunfey kindly supplied additional data which enabled us to drill with confidence. He also furnished us with photos of the original FT3 from his GF. Once the lockdown has lifted and businesses are up ‘n’ running again, this …
The head bracket arrived from Australia and was immediately entrusted to the workshop dog. As innocuous as the little fellow looks, he’s highly trained to guard rare parts with the utmost diligence earning him the nickname of “Dyl”… He maybe on the small size but he’s got the casual indifference of a top flight predator…
Recent inactivity is due to the fact that we have been awaiting and sourcing parts. A large order of parts arrived from the VOCS. As has been previously explained, the trick Norton clutch will be retained. This component is imbued with the bike’s racing history and to sideline it in favour of an original Albion …
Much debate has ensued about the finishes racing Vincents left The Works with, and no more so than that of the brake drums and especially the brake plates. The consensus is that GFs left Stevenage with drums and plates painted/enameled black (as per BL) or grey but I would like to challenge this latter notion. …
Here is a shot of what the handlebars and controls looked like when I acquired 2751: Peter Johnson commented that the tachometer and tacho’ drive gearbox were not the ones that the bike left Australia fitted with. The alloy twist grip/front brake and clutch levers are of a more recent type, possibly manufactured by Doherty. …
As acquired 2751 had a tacho’ fitted, perfectly functional but of the incorrect type. First port of call was Franco, again! He included the correct parts together with the other items that he let me have. The tachometer I also thought that I needed was one of the striking Smiths instruments of the racing pattern …
Gearchange As acquired, the foot controls of 2751 were as set up and adapted by Peter Johnson for his racing use. Firstly, the drilled footrest support plate appears to be non standard. I managed to acquire an accurately reproduced pair of plates that I may employ in the restoration. I do not want to write-off …
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 …
Grey Flash 2751 