More work done on the Scott Single project. The gearbox and clutch have been reassembled from the the two complete Sturmey Archer FW boxes I have managed to source and installed into the empty box supplied by Ken Pratley, which came complete with the clutch which must therefore have been the original Scott clutch.
I was a bit apprehensive that the Sturmey Archer catalogue (now copied in the documents section) boasts that the clutch has “ample strength for engines up to 200 cc” ! The clutch has a single plate and the catalogue shows a clutch sprocket with three rows of cork inserts whereas the Scott plate has only two rows . The clutch sprocket in the donor was for 3/16 inch chain, which seems to be standard specification for a FW box, and the Scott clutch sprocket fits 5/8 inch chain. The clutch centres are also different in that the Scott item runs on larger ball bearings. So, I am hopeful because it seems that the clutch was beefed-up for use with the 300 cc Scott engine.
I started the job of re-corking the clutch plate myself and soon decided that although it was a straight-forward exercise I couldn’t be certain of the reliability of the end-result of my labours (I have a short attention span !). I therefore turned to Andy and Quae of the Clutch Cork Carvery in Carmarthenshire ( 01559 371779, info@theclutchcorkcarvery.co.uk) who completed a superb job within a matter of days and for a very modest charge. They even added a tracing of the plate to their archive for future reference.
Attached are some pictures of the box and the clutch before re-assembly . Note the sideways “SA” logo on the gearbox cover due to the non-Scott component.
In the meantime the wheels have returned from the powder-coaters. The original 1930 catalogue specification was 26 x 3.25 (19 inch wheels) and they appear to have been wired-on from the start. The road test in The Motor Cycle suggested 26 x 3.00 but either seem reasonably substantial for a lightweight machine.
The choice of suitable vintage-type tyres is still limited and I originally intended to fit Ensign Universals. However, I seem to have ordered a pair via the internet directly from China and no doubt due to the current situation with shipping they have not arrived – and not sure whether they ever will. I would fit Avon tyres (not least because they are made in Britain) but feel that Speed Masters are just a little bit too modern for a late 20’s bike. To avoid a trip to Vintage Tyres at Bicester for fitting Ensigns I decided to have a look at my local tyre fitters where they offered the Czech Mitas brand. The Mitas H01 which has a classic zig-zag pattern which seems to me to fit the bike well so I decided on these, front and rear.
More to follow.
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