Author Topic: AJS 350  (Read 455 times)

Offline Guy Wilson

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AJS 350
« on: 11.04. 2022 09:01 »
I'm putting together an AJS 350 .. engine number says its a 1962 model with an alternator + a magneto ignition - an unusual combination but apparently correct and they do exist..
I'm looking for any links or parts diagrams to assist putting it back together correctly. It came to me dismantled in boxes and is a jigsaw puzzle.. any help greatly appreciated!
thank you
Guy

Offline Rex

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Re: AJS 350
« Reply #1 on: 11.04. 2022 11:01 »
You need a good manual for the bike. I had the FW Neill book years ago and that was good but I'm sure there must be better diagrams etc available on the Net now. After all, they're not rare even after all these years.

Online groily

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Re: AJS 350
« Reply #2 on: 11.04. 2022 12:01 »
http://archives.jampot.dk/book/Workshop_manuals/1957-1964__=M=_Workshop_Instruction_Manual_all_models_SEARCHABLE.pdf
http://archives.jampot.dk/book/Owners_manuals/1962_AJS_Manual.pdf

http://archives.jampot.dk/book/

Suggest you start with the Instructions and Manuals above Guy, and then scour the 'Archives' (shorter link) to your heart's content, manuals, instruction books, parts list innumerable for all years from the 1920s until the mid '60s, heavyweight 350 & 500 Singles, all the twins, later 'lightweight' 250 and 350cc singles as well as for Norton-engined hybrid twins.
There are few marques better supported in terms of info and resources, and there's also a very active forum https://forum.jampot.com/ open to all, mostly (some bits for Owners' Club Members only). Well worth signing onto the forum there for specific info from some of those who are walking encyclopaediae - there are a few, just as there are here.

If yours is an alternator & mag bike, then there's a ton of info on the Lucas bits in those Archives as well as elsewheret, and ditto for the mag. By 1962 I THINK the heavyweight 350 and 500CS singles used NR1 on Comp models, and the standardbikes were coil and battery, but the singles aren't my thing so that could be wrong! Could also have an SR1 on it quite probably, as many folk prefer them, and maybe the standard versions did too.
Bill

Offline Guy Wilson

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Re: AJS 350
« Reply #3 on: 11.04. 2022 12:18 »
thank you Rex and Groily! this is very helpful. The Neill manual I have is not a clear copy.. the links are much better and clearer and answer most of the questions I have.. I'm sure the other answers are in there too...
The alternator & Mag combination does seem to have continued when the coil option was also available. Its most likely an export option and makes a lot more sense in Africa not having to rely on a battery.. I'll also check out the jackpot forum.
Guy.

Online groily

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Re: AJS 350
« Reply #4 on: 11.04. 2022 13:22 »
The point I was making in my 2nd para Guy - badly! - was that by '62 the standard H/Weight 350 M16 models were all alternator & battery/coil, with points on the timing cover. Only the more 'interesting' models retained the magneto, with various significant differences to the engine to accommodate. If you have a Comp engine, then that's a really nice bonus.
There were so many differences year on year it'll be necessary to probe those files quite deeply I think. Not sure if there were 'export' differences on all models, but there were on some, that I do know. Also be prepared to fall into holes where there are gaps for certain versions (all markets), and to look in the 'supplementary' lists that sometimes came out in years where there were fewer differences - not enough to merit a whole new book. It can be a time-consuming and head-scratching exercise, but one way or another you'll get there I know!
Bill

Offline Guy Wilson

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Re: AJS 350
« Reply #5 on: 11.04. 2022 14:52 »
the engine number has is as 1962...16/41617 and it has a NC1 competition mag although it has  9 / 57, so maybe an addition or mod.. the frame is the twin down tube although I can't find a frame number on it but is probably a match for the engine number .. it had the twin side lights either side of the headlight - so it sounds like a bitsa...which doesn't matter as long as its fun to ride and is reliable..

Online groily

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Re: AJS 350
« Reply #6 on: 11.04. 2022 18:38 »
https://www.matchlessclueless.com/mechanical/identification/frame-number/
Finding the number!

NC1 is tasty, speaks to Comp motor maybe, but I was expecting the engine number to include a date. The fact that's it an NC1 as opposed to a standard N1 doesn't really mean a whole lot absent other data, but they are sought-after instruments with a 'ringcam' as opposed to the face cam of the std version.
 
Think you could benefit from the Club dating service and advice from Singles Owners over 'there' in that paralllel world as it were - and if you care they can tell you year of both bits usually, although Comp models can be harder.

Whatever it is is or was, I think what you have there is a really good base for a very usable bike.

Twin downtubes came in quite late, '59-ish, and the chaincases are nice. Alternators were adopted earlier than that on some models.

Brain fade prevents my saying which years had the torpedo side lights, and indeed a whole host of other things.
I'm just glad mine of the marque ('54 and '61 twins) are complete and work, always have and with any luck always will - and I don't mind too much when folk tell me bits are 'wrong'. I know that.

'Where's Yours, so I can Compare' is a good riposte I have found, even if it doesn't win friends when the audience doesn't have anything that actually, er, works. (But not many people have a three-owner 'half million miler' in their shed, like my disgustingly grubby Mod 20 twin).

Even my much-loved recently-departed A10 couldn't match that, although its new owner came round on it just yesterday as it happens, and said he couldn't believe how reliable it was after a good few thousand miles without needing to touch it. Which he clearly hadn't - it was 'first prod' every time)!

Much - No, correction, a LOT -  to be said for 'unrestored working bikes', where a little bit of available money goes into the guts and none elsewhere. That Ajay would be a fine member of that increasingly rare class.

Bill

Offline Guy Wilson

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AJS 350
« Reply #7 on: 12.06. 2022 11:40 »
does anyone have any pictures or could tell me where this bracket fits? It has the rectifier on one side, a horn on the other (although that. doesn't look like the original mount) The battery leads are fairly short, so I know it goes in the area of the battery box...I've been  through the various manuals online and cant find a reference...
thank you
Guy.

Offline Guy Wilson

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Re: AJS 350
« Reply #8 on: 13.06. 2022 06:43 »
I think I have figured it out...