Carbie and forks wanted for 1914 2 3/4

[ste]

Wanted: a carbie for a 1914 Douglas. Also a pair of forks around the same era.

[alwyn]

Wanted: a carbie for a 1914 Douglas. Also a pair of forks around the same era.

Hi Ste,
Welcome to the forum - thanks for joining and we wish you luck in your quest for parts. Can you tell us more about your machine and your restoration progress - presumably it's a 2 3/4 hp 350cc which was the predominate bike of '14, or is it a 3 1/2 hp which also appeared that year? - given a frame and engine number we may be able to determine which. This is a photograph of a typical 2 3/4 hp model of the era

[ste]

Thanks for the reply. The bike was built before we bought it as a "bitsa" with numerous errors, which I am in the process of fixing. The frame is wrong but I have a genuine frame of the correct era. Thus I need correct forks. The motor is also genuine with 1914 stamped on the crankcase. The photo you sent is very close to the model we have however, and any forks that look along those lines (and carbie) would be greatly appreciated. The engine number is 11780 but I can't find a number on the genuine frame. Where are these numbers stapmed on the frame?

[ste]

Sorry, meant to add that it's a 2 3/4 350, not the larger motor.

[Doug]

The engine number falls in the late 1913 era, so could be one sold in 1914.  The frame number is stamped on the side of the lug that the transmission bolts to.  Frame and engine numbers would not match, even from the factory as components were built in batches and put into stores till assembled.  Numbers for 1913 would be 6940-12500 and 1914 12500-19000 or there about.  

I have seen dates engraved on the timing chest cover, but not the crankcase proper (or not yet anyway.)  Covers can be changed between engines so the engine number is more reliable.  A lot of parts interchange between the years, as you are probably finding out!  

-Doug

[ahzhu]

Can't comment on later machines but my 1912 does indeed have the year stamped on the crankcase behind the flywheel, and so do the water-cooled engines made by Douglas for Williamson machines.

[trevorp]

im not sure if the frame and forks are right but look on ebay sales the have forks and a frame for a 1912 bike doug would be the man to comment as my speciality is the mk models
see our child board on parts for sale in this forum

[Chris]

Engines up to 1915 to my knowledge had the year date cast, not stamped, into the crankcase in large raised numbers behind the flywheel.

[ahzhu]

Can't comment on later machines but my 1912 does indeed have the year stamped on the crankcase behind the flywheel, and so do the water-cooled engines made by Douglas for Williamson machines.

Chris is correct: it is not stamped but rather cast "proud" of the surface.

Ahzhu

[Doug]

im not sure if the frame and forks are right...on ebay sales...for a 1912...doug would be the man to comment

Well no, not really.  I do not know the veteran models very well at all.  When I said:

I have seen dates engraved on the timing chest cover, but not the crankcase proper (or not yet anyway.)

 
I should have clarified it was due to limited exposure to these models.  Reading back over it, it sounds like I am implying I have examined many, and found none to have numbers on the case.  This is not the case (bad pun.)  So I'll defer to those that know these early machines better.  In the "Identifying Douglas Models" Doug Cross and I had a lot of help from other contributors in the veteran section. 

-Doug