RESTORATION OF DS 7725
Connaught motorcycles have embarked on the restoration of its vintage Connaught 340cc motorcycle. The company will be undertaking the restoration works and rebuilding of this rare machine in house. The aim is to keep the bike as original as possible so any part that can be reused will be. The bike is being fully disassembled checked, repaired if necessary, refinished and then reassembled. It will not be to concourse level but to a good standard enabling the bike to be used and ridden reliably.
The picture to the right shows the bike pre tear down. It vas in pretty good original condition but wasn’t running and it needed a number of issues attending to, so the decision was taken to restore it.
We plan to follow the rebuild work through the various stages of the restoration. We will bring you regular detailed instalments through the restoration and to finally getting the bike running.
As well as developing new motorcycles we are in the process of restoring our vintage 1923 Connaught Motorcycle as shown in the photographs. Chief mechanic Kevin Feltoe is in charge of the project and will be undertaking most of the work himself with the help of the experienced in-house works team.
Our vintage 340cc engine Connaught registered as “DS 7725” is in the early “flat tanker” style having the flat-topped fuel tank fixed below the frame top cross member.
The documentation during disassembly of “DS 7725” is extremely important, ensuring we can return the motorbike to its former glory as accurately as possible. When our Chief mechanic first tested the engine, it was noted that the engine was not receiving the necessary oil for lubrication and the decision was made to begin a more thorough inspection of the engine. A very important step to note in the rebuilding of this rare motorcycle is to ensure that the routing for the oil pipes is correct, since there is no manual available for the restoration process.
One of the first steps in the restoration of “DS 7725” is to completely disassemble the bike and label each individual component before cleaning and refinishing. The frame and other painted parts will be media blasted before being painted to match the original finish. Aluminium parts will be polished.
The aim with the restoration of “DS 7725” is to keep it as original as possible retaining existing parts wherever we can. The finished motorcycle should look like it came straight out of the factory.
The photos show the frame and various components being painted gloss black after being stripped and prepared. The painting process is done in house in the company’s purpose-built paint booth, ensuring a perfect finish.
The engine in “DS 7725” is a typical 1920’s single cylinder two stroke unit which in this instance has a 340cc capacity. The simple kick start engine will be checked over for spark and compression and if necessary, undergo a rebuild to ensure reliability as we plan to ride the finished motorcycle.
Sympathetic cleaning and polishing of exposed metal parts helps keep the finished bike looking factory fresh without looking over restored.
During our initial testing, a considerable oil leak was discovered coming from the engine – gearbox area of “DS7725” Following a thorough clean and retesting a large crack was found in the casing of the Burman gearbox. This now adds a further difficulty to the restoration process. The casing will have to be aluminium welded, a job which is not for the faint hearted.
The mudguards of “DS7725” are in rough condition, being the originals fitted to the motorbike. After sandblasting there is plenty of evidence of previous repairs and some small corrosion holes. Care is needed here in the repair to reinforce these original parts so they can be used again. Deep seated mud was found underneath which must be meticulously removed before painting by our experienced in-house painter.