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General => Douglas Motorcycle Discussion => Topic started by: Manu FP on 15 Dec 2014 at 10:26

Title: HELP TO RESURRECT A DOUGLAS
Post by: Manu FP on 15 Dec 2014 at 10:26
Firstly I introduce myself. My name is Manuel and I contact from Sevilla in southern Spain.  I'm sorry if my English is not quite good. I'll try to do my best.  I've got, after years of searching, one Douglas.  It's apparently very complete.    I need as much help as you can give me to revive it.  No papers at all so I have no any data about this bike.  I think that it's a CW model year 1924 or 1925.  There is a code on the rear cylinder that seems to be 14185 and another one under the seat that is CF1579.   At a first sight there are the following missing parts:
- chain secondary transmission
- clutch
- front brakes
- cables (acelerator, brakes, etc.)
- exhaust pipe
.../...

My main concern and unknowledgement is if there exist spare parts for it and the sources to get them.

I'd appreciate if somebody could give me tracks to ensure the model, the year and, mainly to get parts.







   
Title: Re: HELP TO RESURRECT A DOUGLAS
Post by: Manu FP on 15 Dec 2014 at 16:36
After the previous post I've been reviewing lot of images in the Internet and I cant'f find any other Douglas with such gear shift or lever attached to the frame and closed to a base with three slots (as if the gearbox had 3 speeds).  Anybody know if this could be original or a later adaptation?   
Title: Re: HELP TO RESURRECT A DOUGLAS
Post by: Chris on 15 Dec 2014 at 17:31
Hi Manuel
It is indeed a CW model of 1924 or 25 as confirmed by the CF prefix on the frame number. It was standard on this model for a three speed gearbox but the gear change should be similar to all 2.3/4hp models with a gear shift like a tram handle mounted on the top left hand side of the petrol tank which operates via a vertical rod through brackets on the frame top and bottom and a small crank at the bottom attached to a long rod with adjustment to connect with the lever on the gearbox. The brackets are there and the gear quadrant is the curved bracket beside the oil filler cap. This should have a bronze casting attached by two screws with indents and the legend indicating first, free, second and third.
On the CW the front brake is identical to the rear brake so you require another set of brake parts plus another dummy belt rim laced into the wheel rim and clamped to the spokes. The plates each side of the forks should not be there. The headlamp (acetylene gas) should be mounted on two cast arms which are secured though the forging at the base of the steering head. There are some non-standard features on your machine and many parts missing but you should be able to find images of a CW on The Forum. The exhaust that you have looks to be the remnant of a Zoom Zoom exhaust. These were an after sales fitment made to different designs by a number of manufacturers. Douglas provided two alternative designs as standard depending upon the year of manufacture. The early ones used the same exhaust as the TS and SW models of the same year comprising a 7" long x 3" diameter cylinder with domed caps at each end secured by a through stud with nuts at each end and mounted below the engine running from side to side. This is connected to the cylinders by straight pipes angled to meet the exhaust stubs on the cylinders. A tail pipe emerges from the lower left hand end of the body. The alternative design sometimes referred to as the big bore silencer is a straight pipe of larger diameter connected by similar angled pipes to the cylinders and going back to connect into a cast aluminium silencer mounted on the right hand side. You will probably find it advantageous to join the London Douglas MCC who have a spares scheme which will be able to supply some of the spares that you will need. I am fairly certain that if not yet available  the Spare Parts List and or the Owners Handbooks are being replicated which you will find invaluable. Chris.
Title: Re: HELP TO RESURRECT A DOUGLAS
Post by: Manu FP on 15 Dec 2014 at 19:47
Many thanks for your guidance and for encouraging me.   It's really important to have experiencedand enthusiasts people like you to tackle these challenges.   

I'm afraid that it will be very very difficult to restore as it was the gear change mechanism,  don't you think so?. Also levers on the handlebar can be difficult, no? 

Related most of other missing things I think that it will be possible to manufacture them, i.e. the chainguard, the brackets for the headlight, the front brake, the exahust pipe and many others.

Of course, after this pre-evaluation and study I'll take a decision and if positive I'll join to the club without hesitating a moment ---->  It will be a fantastic excuse to go for London that it's a long time since I went and I love it.  :)

Based on your experienced ......  do you think that it will be possible to restore this bike properly ? 

Thanks again 

P.D.- One reason to undertake this very calmly is that only weeks ago I've been two years with the restoration of my 350 Sanglas, year 1954.





 
 
Title: Re: HELP TO RESURRECT A DOUGLAS
Post by: Dirt Track on 15 Dec 2014 at 22:02
G'day Manu and all.
The gearchange lever is a Triumph "P" Model item.
Howard.
Title: Re: HELP TO RESURRECT A DOUGLAS
Post by: Chris on 16 Dec 2014 at 09:36
Hi again Manuel
You ask if it is possible to restore this machine. The answer is Yes!! and it is really quite an easy straight forward job. I have restored far less promising heaps of rust. Many of the missing parts are trade item so rims, tyres, chains, cables etc. can be bought from regular suppliers who have stalls at major autojumbles and usually have a mail order service. Parts such as belt and chain guards are easily fabricated by anyone with reasonable skills and workshop facilities. You have the brake parts for the rear wheel which can be used as patterns for manufacture of the items for the front brake. Some parts can be cast in bronze and others fabricated from steel sheet. There are at least two suppliers of belt rims although these items are quite pricey. There is a drawing on The Forum that I posted which has sufficient detail to manufacture the entire internals of the oil pump. The leather washers for the pump and many other small spares including all springs are available from the LDMCC to members only. I hope this will give you the encouragement to bring this Douglas back on the road.
Chris.
P.S. I forgot to mention that the CW model has the clutch integral with the flywheel so hopefully you have that already. I can see the operating machanism behind the flywheel in the photos but cannot vouch for the rest of the clutch being present.
Title: Re: HELP TO RESURRECT A DOUGLAS
Post by: podge on 17 Dec 2014 at 15:24
Muy Estimado Manuel

Look  on Douglas Parts for Sale in this forum. A guy in Canada has wheels and hubs for sale for a 1924 Douglas with the dummy brake rims.

Saludos

Paul
Title: Re: HELP TO RESURRECT A DOUGLAS
Post by: Manu FP on 27 Dec 2014 at 18:38
Thanks Paul and Dirt Track. I'll have a look just now.
Title: Re: HELP TO RESURRECT A DOUGLAS
Post by: Manu FP on 27 Dec 2014 at 19:03
I'm sorry. Dirt Track is the alias. I mean Howard.
Title: Re: HELP TO RESURRECT A DOUGLAS
Post by: Dirt Track on 27 Dec 2014 at 20:35
Manu
You will find you have "TS" type front forks with the old style stirrup brake brackets, you will need "CW" type forks to be able to fit the correct "Dummy Rim" brakes.
Whilst it is not impossible to modify your existing forks it would be better to have the correct type.
Howard.
Title: Re: HELP TO RESURRECT A DOUGLAS
Post by: Manu FP on 27 Dec 2014 at 20:57
Thanks Howard. Surely you are right but I've compared the fork of my bike with another ones in photos and I can't see the differences. Have a look to this compound photo that I've just done with the fork of my bike and the one of another in the web.

Title: Re: HELP TO RESURRECT A DOUGLAS
Post by: Manu FP on 27 Dec 2014 at 21:13
Aahh! Perhaps you refers to the plates at the top.  It's supposed that somebody in the past placed them there as an adaptation for any headlight different from the original.
Title: Re: HELP TO RESURRECT A DOUGLAS
Post by: Dirt Track on 28 Dec 2014 at 02:08
Manu.
I stand corrected....you already have the correct CW forks but you will need to remove the headlamp ears.
Howard.
Title: Re: HELP TO RESURRECT A DOUGLAS
Post by: Manu FP on 21 Apr 2015 at 21:54
After almost 4 months of delay,  busy with other projects and, finally,  postponing other ones I've been able of starting today the work with the Douglas.

Here you can see some photos since the placement of the bike close to my other British jewel until its final state after this first session of work.   

I have finally revealed the number of gearbox, it looks OG / 10303 

Any kind of help and advice are welcome.



Title: Re: HELP TO RESURRECT A DOUGLAS
Post by: arturro on 22 Apr 2015 at 07:30
Hi Manuel
Please try here http://www.bertpol-vintagemotorcycles.com/parts%20Douglas.htm    also some parts you can find on UK ebay.

Best regards Artur
Title: Re: HELP TO RESURRECT A DOUGLAS
Post by: Manu FP on 23 Apr 2015 at 14:48
Good link, Artur.
Thanks so much.
Interesting parts that I need like footpegs and others.
Title: Re: HELP TO RESURRECT A DOUGLAS
Post by: Manu FP on 09 May 2015 at 22:06
The first 4 parts that I need just started the restoration are:

- A repair clutch kit
- The gaskets kit for the engine
- One teeth of one gear in the gearbox is missing
- At least one small part is missing around the contact point.

.Please tell me if any of these parts are available or give me any guide to get them.   






Title: Re: HELP TO RESURRECT A DOUGLAS
Post by: Chris on 10 May 2015 at 05:56
Hi Manuel
Firstly, OG is the correct gearbox prefix for the CW model three speed gearbox. A missing tooth is not an uncommon problem with Douglas gearboxes. I am aware of attempts by other people to repair these but not aware of success. There is a remote chance that you may find a second-hand gear by advertising for the relevant item. The only parts of the clutch that normally require servicing are the friction linings riveted to the plates at the front and rear of the clutch and the bearing balls. Unlike the later flywheel clutches on the EW model the two linings are separate on individual plates with the driven disk in plain steel sandwiched between the two and ball bearings providing a combined radial and thrust bearing. (Later clutches have the friction discs riveted back to back on the driven disk and roller bearings for the radial location with a separate thrust washer). There are several firms able to supply and secure the friction disks and as with recent posts regarding Douglas band brake linings I have found "Saftek Ltd" very good.
All gaskets for the 2.3/4 hp engine can be cut from strong paper. The sort of brown manila paper used on legal envelopes is ideal.
I am not sure what the small missing part is that you refer to but if it relates to the contact breaker then it is unlikely that you will find any spare parts for early magnetos. The correct and usual magneto for the CW model is an EIC and these are unusual in comparison with most other magnetos in having a smaller taper on the end of the armature and mating contact breaker back plate and smaller diameter carbon brushes in the pickups. It is usually possible to make any missing parts in relation to the contact breaker points by using parts of other old contact points from any other source of car or motorcycle. The LDMCC normally keeps the spun points covers in their spares scheme for both EIC and BTH magnetos and replica pickups are now available from some magneto specialists which use Lucas larger diameter carbon brushes which are more readily available.   Chris.
Title: Re: HELP TO RESURRECT A DOUGLAS
Post by: Manu FP on 10 May 2015 at 17:24
Many thanks once more Chris.  I'll follow exactly your indications and I'll keep you informed if you don't mind. 

Bases on what you say my first idea related gearbox is to order to a local specialist the manufacture of the complete damaged individual gear with the missing tooth.

I've postponed any other searchs of parts to the satisfactory resolution of these mechanical important things.

Also, I sent an email to Dick, the responsible of pre-war bike parts.