Lovely bike. Enjoy !

At future Douglas gatherings, you might keep an eye out to see 
if all 4hp's share that number ?
Would not be the first marque where similar happens ...

Many thanks EW Ron. I must confess to feeling somewhat sheepish as the auction sales images are those for my bike so it's slightly galling to find that I already had an image!

It seems slightly odd that the number should be stamped on a detachable piece-the engine base clamp- but unless anyone knows of another location for the frame number that is what they will get. Now all I need to do is learn how to take rubbings of the various numbers-what precisely is wrong with good photographs?

Always lusted after a 3.5/4 HP Douglas having ridden one around Tasmania on a rally so fulfillment of a dream if the DVLA manage to get the paperwork in order.

Thanks again

Shaun
Ealing
London

Engine no and frame number on another 1914 up for sale
https://handh.blob.core.windows.net/stock/20061692-67.jpg
https://handh.blob.core.windows.net/stock/20061692-43.jpg

All you need to do is figure out where that camera was pointing .... !

https://www.handh.co.uk/auction/lot/lot-223---1914-douglas-model-b/?lot=61263&sd=1
Hopethishelpsabit 

Having recently acquired a 1914 Douglas on a NOVA I have now summoned enough patience to do battle with the DVLA for an age related number. First hurdle is to find a frame number. Should be simple methinks but it's not a 2.75 HP but the rather rarer 500 cc 4 HP.

Anyone got a pre 1915 4 HP and knows where the frame number is perchance?

Shaun C
Ealing home of the comedies
London

Hi Doug and Darren

Doug - Thank you for the link to the drawings, I can manufacture if need be.

Darren -Thank you for the offer of the parts. Please send me a DM with how much you are looking for for those parts. I will also send the pictures to the bike owner so they can have a rummage around and make sure they don't have them.

Cheers
Frank

Ìt shows the front is a mudguard bolt but not what connects under the neck, is that possibly for a headlight?

Does this help ?

Hi Frank.
I searched my spares and found these if you need them.
Ta Daren

Veteran 2 3/4 forks query
On my forks underside there are holes on the neck bottom and on the legs bottom that seem to line up
However a tensioning bolt would render the springs useless... photos attached
What attaches on these holes please, anyone know?
Thank you 🙂

The RA did use slotted valve stems. Or at least initially. The RA handbook is not clear if they used a straight cotter or that 'E' shape type. Both have their advantages and disadvantages. They did go through about six designs of valve collar to go with the cotter and the entire industry was moving away from slotted to grooved valve stems. Grooved stems are basically a time bomb waiting to cut loose. I imagine towards the end of the RA era (c1925) they had adopted the tapered collet design seen on the Dirt Track models onward.

I have made new slotted valve stems for a client that wanted the original setup on his 1932 flat head BSA side valve sloper. It is possible to cut a slot in modern valve stem material with a small carbide end mill. In that particular case the original BSA slots had a full radius at the ends, rather than being square. The other saving grace was it did not rev that high and if the end of the stem did break off it was not going to drop a valve into the cylinder.

On my RA I was going to investigate (have not got around to it yet) if I could use DT valves and tapered collets. I have new ones of those valves, and the longer stems used on the 1932-35 ohv models.

-Doug