"short" flyer frames

[Anonymous]

I don’t have very good records of frame geometry but today I was sorting though all my Scott rubbish in order to make a pile of bits that will eventually become a bitsa. When putting this pile together with a (I think) 1934 frame I realised the tank I had also put on the shelf for this machine is too long. Having measured both my TT reps and the TT bike at 24 1/2″ (give or take) centre to centre for the tank mounting, as per the tank I had, I realised this frame is around 23″ centres. The engine mount holes all correspond to a normal crankcase so what have I got? It is a normal duplex frame to look at and has the usual magneto platform lugs but why is it shorter than every other Scott I’ve got?

Any info appreciated!

Cheers,
Richard

[BRIAN MARSHALL]

Hi Richard.
During the 1931 to 1933 years only the single downtube frame was used, except on the TT Replica, which kept the duplex frame.
For 1934 they reverted to the duplex frame for all Flyers, and the Rep was phased out. The ‘new’ duplex frames were of different geometry and slightly shorter, hence the tank fitting problem. These frames can easily be visually identified without resorting to measurements as they dropped taper roller headstock bearings at this point, and so the bearing recesses in the headstock lug are much shallower, and can be seen at a glance. Webb fork type changed to suit these frames, with the top crown having an integral bearing housing. Hope this answers your query.
Brian

[Anonymous]

Presumably they went back to the longer frames though as much later tanks fit TT Reps? it just seemed there was this period where they made the duplex short frames, any idea when they went from the short to long duplex?

Cheers,
Richard

[BRIAN MARSHALL]

Hi
I think that the only “much later tanks” that will fit a vintage TT Replica will be those made for Reps ONLY in the period 1931 to 1934 when all the Flyer models of the era had the single downtube frame. The G.P. Scott models were also the equivalent to the Rep., and so I include those. GP tanks can usually be identified by their CMC ( Coventry Movement Company) tommy bar type filler caps and matching necks. HOWEVER, I do have a mystery tank that has these fillers, like a Brough Superior, yet it also has a cylinder wall oiling pump on the underside, like a Rep tank, AND it fits a vintage frame……
I intend to fit it on 1928 TT 1, as and when I get around to starting that rebuild, as it is VERY similar to a 28 TT ‘Works’ tank, except for the CMC fillers. Looking through period photos of vintage Scotts, the only bikes I can find with those fillers are the long tanked Sprint Specials, so I am fairly convinced that my tank came from the Competition Department. Perhaps they had a few CMC caps and necks left in stock when they produced the very small number of GP bikes, and decided to use them up.
The 1939 Clubman Special tanks were different again, and wider than a Flyer tank, but Flyer tanks 1935 to coil ignition/separate oil tank models in about 1948, were all pretty similar and interchangeable. Due to their propensity to oil leaks many Rep tanks have had their cylinder wall oiling pumps removed, and so get confused with standard Flyer tanks.
Brian

[chris wastell]

While we are on the subject of fuel tanks, and at the risk of sounding boring, can I go off at a slight tangent and remind any readers that I’m still in the market for a clubman Special tank, Thanks.

[Deleted User]

Just to add to the confusion re fittings that appeared on Scotts at different times I have a photograph of my father working on his 1931 Rep that shows the bike fitted with a temperature gauge on the left hand side of the radiator and a set of Amal “clean handlebars” with thumb operated air and ignition levers. I have the bases of the CMC filler caps that were fitted to the petrol tank. The bike was first registered on 28 02 1931. The picture was taken some time after 1936 because I can see the number plate of DLN 200, Bill Best’s 1936 Flyer that became my first Scott when Bill died in the mid 60’s Best wishes Jeff Reed.

[Author]

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