Author Topic: 1926 EW Questions  (Read 17114 times)

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Offline Simon Giles

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1926 EW Questions
« on: 19 May 2015 at 04:33 »
Hello Douglas Specialists,

I am getting my 1926 EW up and running after some years of inaction.
It has a major oil loss and oil burning issue. ie a huge amount of smoke and oil dripping from exhaust pipe.

What should I do to troubleshoot?
I have an excellent motorcycle mechanic on the case but he is unfamiliar with Douglas specifics. We have some information from web sourced manuals but not my model.

Is the plug in photo 1616 an oil sump plug?
Any ideas where to start?

Also, looking for a carby float, mine has been repaired roughly and is worn out.

Kind Regards,
Simon

Online cardan

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Re: 1926 EW Questions
« Reply #1 on: 19 May 2015 at 07:37 »

Hi Simon,

I'd guess no trouble shooting needed - probably just a sump full of oil from sitting around unused. Find the sump plug, drain the oil and put a little fresh stuff in. The guff attached might help. Sorry about the quality, but it's copied from a poor copy.

By the way the sump drain plug will always be at the lowest point of the sump. If it's not the one you point out, there may be one underneath. I'm not an EW person.

Cheers

Leon


Offline eddie

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Re: 1926 EW Questions
« Reply #2 on: 19 May 2015 at 07:38 »
Simon,
           If the bike has been out of use for some time, the oil may have drained from the tank into the sump, and often, the return pump is not large enough to quickly pump it back. As you have already had it running, plenty of oil will have been distributed around the engine, so it will be safe to remove the drain plug from the sump and drain all of the remaining oil. Replace the plug and top up the oil tank. On restarting, it will probably still smoke until the excess oil has been burnt off. Also, the rings may be gummed up, so several cycles of running it and then letting it cool may be needed before the rings free up.

  Regards,
                Eddie.

Online cardan

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Re: 1926 EW Questions
« Reply #3 on: 19 May 2015 at 07:44 »

Good advice Eddie. My reprint is so poor that I can't read much on the diagram, but from what I gather the "mechanical oil pump" in the EW is more of a "mechanical sucker" than an oil pump, so it basically meters the oil into the motor - no return for the oil, it's burned or on the road!

Leon

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Re: 1926 EW Questions
« Reply #4 on: 19 May 2015 at 07:48 »
By the way: nice looking bike Simon. See if you can get some red or black rubber tubing to replace the plasticy-looking stuff you have on the gas lights. (I can't talk, my bikes don't have any tubing at all, but having written this I will be shamed into getting some.)

Leon

Offline Simon Giles

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Re: 1926 EW Questions
« Reply #5 on: 19 May 2015 at 08:28 »
Leon and Eddie,

Thanks very much both for the quick responses!
I'll let you know how we get on.
cheers,

Simon

Offline David Lawrence

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Re: 1926 EW Questions
« Reply #6 on: 19 May 2015 at 12:15 »
To all you EW owners out there.

I note the comments about poor reproductions of the 1926 - 1930 350 manual.
The Douglas Club has a recently printed version taken from an original works publication, they are available for a mere £6-00 plus the postage.
Anyone who would like a copy please email me directly and  I will willingly supply one. All the profits from the sale of Club reprinted manuals go towards maintaining and improving our collection and providing a wider range of professionally printed issues.

I would like to take the opportunity to thank those stalwarts for the help and advice given so readily through this forum.

Dave, pp The Douglas Club.

Offline graeme

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Re: 1926 EW Questions
« Reply #7 on: 20 May 2015 at 00:08 »
Hi Simon

If you think the rings may be gummed up, which is highly likely, a trick I have found works is to put a cup of brake fluid into a full tank of petrol. Over the time running the fuel through the rings should completely un-gum. I freed up the rings on a bike that had stood without any spark plugs fitted for a number of years, virtually no compression and consequently really hard to start. Over a week of running it each day the compression returned and all was good.

Cheers, Graeme

Offline Simon Giles

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Re: 1926 EW Questions
« Reply #8 on: 20 May 2015 at 04:04 »
Thanks for that Graeme,

We drained the sump and on restart it ran much better, quite even idle and much less smoke. I'll discuss the brake fluid option with my mechanic - sounds interesting - better not spill on the beautiful tank paint!

Does anyone know about sourcing a carby float and (for the future) tyres?

Cheers,

Simon

Offline roy

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Re: 1926 EW Questions
« Reply #9 on: 20 May 2015 at 15:46 »
Hi Simon, very good looking machine.
One for the "purists" are the handlebars original?                                                                                                                                          Never seen any like that on an EW.
Looks as if they are from an early 23/4.

Roy.

Offline Alan

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Re: 1926 EW Questions
« Reply #10 on: 21 May 2015 at 02:58 »
Hello there...handlebars not correct and should be much straighter and sporty..
 If you have the original beaded edge rims, then you have the "curse of the EW owner" in that to the best of my knowledge, there are no beaded edge tyres currently available for this size...there has been quite a lot of discussion even recently re this with the  option taken by most people being the fitment of wired on type rims of. the same dia/spokes with rims and modern tyres available over the counter from classic bike parts suppliers

Offline Alan Cun

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Re: 1926 EW Questions
« Reply #11 on: 21 May 2015 at 09:39 »
Hello All,

No No No they are probably the correct handle bars (sit up and beg) which were an option as I believe  the TS varieties  had TT style or sit up and beg. My 26 EW is fitted with those bars and they are definately Douglas.

The other Alan.

Offline graeme

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Re: 1926 EW Questions
« Reply #12 on: 22 May 2015 at 00:07 »
Agreed Alan - they look to be the same type of bars as fitted as an option for the OB Douglas as well

Offline tck

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Re: 1926 EW Questions
« Reply #13 on: 22 May 2015 at 14:36 »
those bars are a douglas option and gas rubber pipe can be had from the UK VMCC shop
 (one of the few useful items they do sell :~)

Offline Simon Giles

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Re: 1926 EW Questions
« Reply #14 on: 22 May 2015 at 20:04 »
Thanks for your inputs everyone.
The exhaust smoke is much reduced after only a few minutes running.
I'll try to source some rubber tube for the lighting system closer to home in the first instance. Haven't looked at it yet.
Regarding tyres, if the wheels are original, is the advise to run non standard wheels and tyres if I want to do significant mileage?
Cheers,
Simon

Offline tck

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Re: 1926 EW Questions
« Reply #15 on: 22 May 2015 at 21:40 »
my EW has thinner tyres and it looks odd with the big mudguards
It would be nice if a supply of balloon tyres could be found.

Offline oily bloke

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Re: 1926 EW Questions
« Reply #16 on: 23 May 2015 at 05:10 »
The standard tyre size is 25" and unobtainable.
Most seem to re-rim to 26" and fit currently available BE tyres.
Another alternative is to fit a wired on type rim and fit 'normal' tyres.
Either way, if you have 25" rims, the tyres are due to be changed as they have not been made since the 1940's so new rims either way.
If your rims have been replaced to a more suitable size then search the web to see what is out there.
My EW now has 26" BE rims and 3" colonial style tyres made by Ensign.

Online cardan

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Re: 1926 EW Questions
« Reply #17 on: 23 May 2015 at 07:52 »

Hi Simon,
I think you'll find that while your rims are beaded edge they are not original. It looks to me that you have 26x3 tyres running on 26x3 rims. The original rims were a very funny size - technically to suit a 24 x 2 1/4" tyre, but flat base rather than Westwood (dropped centre) as fitted to the Round Tank BSA. While the Round Tank used 24 x 2 1/4" tyres, the EW used 25x3" tyres. The original examples I've seen were labelled 25x3 fits 24x2 1/4 rim. The rims were much skinnier than 26x3 and slightly smaller diameter. A 26x3 tyre can be fitted to an EW rim, but I don't think its a very safe option. I recent;y sent a pile of about 10 original EW rims to the scrap man - very reluctantly but it was the only option given that nobody wanted them, even for free.
26x3 beaded edge on the proper 26x3 rims is an excellent option. Personally I don't like wired-on rims and tyres on veteran and vintage bikes unless they were an original fitting.
Cheers
Leon

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Re: 1926 EW Questions
« Reply #18 on: 23 May 2015 at 07:57 »

Simon,

I found some carby floats in the shed this afternoon. If you post dimensions I'll have a look.

Leon

Offline Simon Giles

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Re: 1926 EW Questions
« Reply #19 on: 23 May 2015 at 09:28 »
Leon,

From photos I can see I've got 26x3 Dunlop tyres, bike is not here at the moment so I can't check the rims but they seem to fit correctly.
I'll measure the float on Monday and send details, thanks

Simon

Offline Simon Giles

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Re: 1926 EW Questions
« Reply #20 on: 25 May 2015 at 03:44 »
Hi Leon,
Float dimensions are 25x38mm
Have photos but can't seem to attach them to post?

Cheers,
Simon

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Re: 1926 EW Questions
« Reply #21 on: 25 May 2015 at 04:36 »
I think you'll find that while your rims are beaded edge they are not original.

I'm wrong. Although the 25x3 rims and tyres were standard, the 1926 catalogue tells us "26" by 3" tyres can be fitted at extra cost". So there: 26x3 beaded edge was an optional  wheel/tyre size on EWs, in 1926 at least.

Re the carby and float: The 1926 catalogue says AMAC, but yours is B&B (might have been fitted originally, despite what the catalogue says). The float you describe is probably the "B&B 1928 TF No. 104/18" (if top feed) or "B&B 1928 BF No. 104/38" (if bottom feed). Can't see your original pics while I'm in the editor. Sorry, I have nothing small enough to fit. I'll keep an eye out.

Cheers

Leon

Offline Simon Giles

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Re: 1926 EW Questions
« Reply #22 on: 27 May 2015 at 07:09 »
Thanks Leon,
Perhaps I have the optional wheels fitted. Getting my float repaired as an interim fix.
Does anyone know where to get calcium carbonate for the lights?
It seems the carbide system is complete and may be operable.
Cheers,
Simon

Offline Simon Giles

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Re: 1926 EW Questions
« Reply #23 on: 27 May 2015 at 07:12 »
Correction...calcium carbide!

Offline tck

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Re: 1926 EW Questions
« Reply #24 on: 27 May 2015 at 13:22 »
Try a cave explorer supply they use it for their hats

Online cardan

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Re: 1926 EW Questions
« Reply #25 on: 27 May 2015 at 22:05 »

Do they still use it in these days of high-output LEDs?

By the way, the calcium carbide really needs to be in lumps or at least granules. Powder doesn't work well in drip generators in lighting sets.

Hope you find some as the smell is marvellous and the brightness of the light surprising! All part of the fun.

Leon

Offline Dave

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Re: 1926 EW Questions
« Reply #26 on: 28 May 2015 at 00:36 »
Quote from: Simon
Have photos but can't seem to attach them to post?

Simon,

If you would like to send them to the address shown in this topic, I'll try to find out what's not working.

cheers, Dave


Updated details for emailing photos - Dave, 11Feb2021
« Last Edit: 10 Feb 2021 at 21:35 by Dave »

Offline Dave

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Re: 1926 EW Questions
« Reply #27 on: 30 May 2015 at 21:53 »
Simon,

Thanks for sending the photos. Both attached OK so I'm not sure what happened. You successfully attached photos in the first post so I'm guessing the problem may have been a temporary loss of connection with the server or similar.

Please note one of the photos contained the exact GPS co-ordinates. This can be a security risk. If you have some photo editing software, look for an option "Remove Metadata" or similar.

Both photos are attached here (GPS data removed).

Dave