[charlie]

Jon, you should be able to send pm now, membership payment received. I have sent you a pm.

[charlie]

Jon,machine 832736 was despatched on 15-12-58 from the factory.
When you serviced the machine did you check/replace gearbox oil, it may have become contaminated with water caused by condensation within the gearbox. Note gearbox oil must be a straight gear oil not EP type as the additives in EP oils can attack the bronze worm gear. Castrol D or equivalent SAE 140 oil was recommended.
You say it is stuck in second gear I assume the gear lever will not move, to me this would suggest the gear is stuck on the shaft, it should be possible to change gear on the move without using the clutch by a sharp movement of the lever.
Do you have an owners manual, this includes illustrated parts list? If not I can supply one, send me a private message for details.

[charlie]

If you are unable to find piston rings it is possible to have them made. A UK company that can make them is Cox and Turner Engineering
The missing screw on the carburettor looks like it is the tickler for flooding the carb. It may be worth contacting a carb company such as Burlen Fuels

[charlie]

It would be well worth speaking to Neil again to see if he can give you any idea of what demand there would be for these.

[charlie]

Tim, what model of Gem is it? The early ones had a simple gear lever that moved forward or back to select gear and later models had a cross shaped gear selection pattern. The early models with reverse also lacked an interlock between forward and reverse gears which could result in reverse been selected with a forward gear engaged. Later models had an interlock preventing this.
There were differences in rotor drive clutch too.
The machine serial number can be found stamped in the top surface of the tube running front to back from fuel tank to handlebars.
What engine is fitted?

[charlie]

Keep us updated on progress. I installed soaker hose and earthed up my potatoes yesterday.

[charlie]

Sorry to hear you have been raided again.
One of the problems is identifying items even if they are recovered, it may well be worth using some sort of security marker and advertising the fact items are marked. It may help deter the thieving low lifes. Sadly the best deterents are no longer legal.

[charlie]

I agree, the social history element of articles etc in Allens Activities is a real window on how things were. To think the directors were serving beer to the workforce whereas now drinking on the premises would almost certainly be a sacking offence. I also like the account of how timber was brought in from around the estate and stacked in the yard to provide fuel for the workers.

[charlie]

I suspect your only chance of finding a spare is from a scarp machine.

[charlie]

pm sent.

[charlie]

That is rather appropriate as they were designed for the African market.

[charlie]

I need to pull my 50 out of the shed for a better look, but I can confirm it is a Lucas and is bolted down through the base. Looking around the internet it looks like an MA1 possibly.

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[charlie]

I have just bought a few more copies of Allen’s Activities, my collection now runs 1-30, 33/34, 37-44. (31/32, 35/36 missing ). Due to problems they had getting issues out on time some are combined eg; 25/26; 33/34; 37/38; 39/40; 41/42; so I am not sure if the ones I don’t have are single or double issues. I also have a few duplicates.
They contain some good articles about Allen products and give a good insight to the company activities.

[charlie]

I can get his number for you.

[charlie]

My biggest regret was an Emery I saw on e bay, foolishly I did not go for the buy it now option and missed out in the bidding. I remember it was said to have a Villiers V engine, this was a wartime version. I just hope that the machine was not bought by an engine collector solely for the engine.

[Author]

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