Mersey RGS

[CheeserBeezer]

Just in case anybody needs a good cry I thought I'd post some photos of the Rocket Gold Star I'm attempting to restore. I use flickr as a photo hosting site so, rather than dumping a mountain of data here, I've pasted a link to the 'Mersey RGS' album. It makes me weep (well, almost!) to see photos of what was obviously a definitive Rocket Gold Star in such a state. Obviously some of it is beyond redemption and I'm going to be realistic about what can and can't be salvaged.. Have a look...have a laugh...have a cry!
 https://www.flickr.com/photos/157743213@N02/albums/72177720295334866

[Black Sheep]

There's enough... Quite a project but it'll be well worth the effort.

[Bsareg]

Bet that took some thought and effort to take apart, but well done.

[Greybeard]

What year is it?

Were you able to discover why it was dumped?

[CheeserBeezer]

Some information came to me via an unofficial channel!.... Insurance fraud maybe!

[CheeserBeezer]

Bet that took some thought and effort to take apart, but well done.

Actually I didn't take it apart, that's how it arrived! I was originally just offered the frame as the 'dismantler' reckoned the rest of it was worthless so hadn't even mentioned he'd got it. When I asked about the other stuff he introduced me to it as it was piled up in a wheelbarrow at the back of his garage. Good job I asked!

[Greybeard]

Some information came to me via an unofficial channel!.... Insurance fraud maybe!

So it might have been a viable machine up to point it got dumped.

The condition is really pretty good considering. I can't imagine the metals would have survived in brine, so was it in fresh water, do you know? Maybe it was not in the water for very long; maybe a few months.

[CheeserBeezer]

Some information came to me via an unofficial channel!.... Insurance fraud maybe!

So it might have been a viable machine up to point it got dumped.

The condition is really pretty good considering. I can't imagine the metals would have survived in brine, so was it in fresh water, do you know? Maybe it was not in the water for very long; maybe a few months.

Apparently dumped near where the Mersey joins the Manchester Ship Canal in the Helsby area, so not tidal and not salty but was in the water for at least 16 years. Definitely a viable bike when dumped in 1964ish. Was dredged out in the early 1980's when they were making a new quayside.

[trevinoz]

Plenty to do, Andrew.
Strange that it has a Rocket instrument bracket or is that standard on a Clubman?

[a10 gf]

flickr as a photo hosting site so, rather than dumping a mountain of data here

Please post pics here. At least some of the principal images?
Tons of file capacity available on the forum server, zero problem.

Using any external hosting, someday one changes host, moves files around etc > links on forums don't work, topics loose context & meaning.

Thanks!

& as an anecdote & example, this is what I got from flickr today for some unknown reason... (see attach.)

[CheeserBeezer]

Plenty to do, Andrew.
Strange that it has a Rocket instrument bracket or is that standard on a Clubman?

Hi Trev! That's exactly as it came out of the river. I don't know if the owner had made any alterations but, according to unofficial information, it was the first owner of the bike who chucked it in the river and I'm told it was pretty much untouched from new. However, it has fork gaiters, rather than steel shrouds, and the gaiters are held on with really nasty pipe clips which look as they've been shortened with tin snips. If anybody knows if the Rocket type instrument mount was ever used on an RGS from new I'd be interested to hear. The problem is, with the RGS, there are so many 'experts' out there, some of whom have collected information from other sources and some have actually owned an RGS from new so it's difficult to filter out what's good information and what isn't. The other problem is that the RGS left the factory in a number of guises and, I'm told, there wasn't really a definitive version as there were so many customer specific options. I'm trying to keep this one as I found it and I'm assuming that what i've got is how it left the factory, but I can't be 100% sure. I'm told that the RGS had double damped forks, this one hasn't. I'm also told that the RGS should have a battery tray with the wire clip fixing for the battery, this one hasn't... etc. etc.!! I've got the RGS parts supplement which suggests it should have the later type battery mount but there's another example of inconsistencies.

[CheeserBeezer]

flickr as a photo hosting site so, rather than dumping a mountain of data here

Please post pics here. At least some of the principal images?
Tons of file capacity available on the forum server, zero problem.

Using any external hosting, someday one changes host, moves files around etc > links on forums don't work, topics loose context & meaning.

Thanks!

& as an anecdote & example, this is what I got from flickr today for some unknown reason... (see attach.)

As requested.....

[a10 gf]

wow !  What's amazing is that you will very probably succeed in turning that heep of junk into something fantastic. Good luck, looking forward to some photos as it advances.

[trevinoz]

Hi Andrew,
I have had mine since 1970 and it had been messed about with pretty much.
It is a touring version so has gaiters on the forks which are undamped. The original stanchions were chrome plated on the top section which I believe is standard for Clubman bikes.
The battery tray is the wire clip type without the pressed section for an air filter mount.
The gaiter clips were the flat steel type with the hexagon pins.
It was pretty much all there except for the rear guard and a pear shaped badge tank but I got the original beaten up tank with it which I have since had repaired and fitted.
Your barrel is the rare late type, supposedly only fitted to the RGS.
There weren't many of them sent to Australia, I have been told only six, but three of them came to my home town of Newcastle, two in 1962 and one in 1963. Mine is 1962, the other one was around in the late 60s and I believe that the owner took it to Queensland. The 1963 is also still here.

[Greybeard]

1956 R R in original chrome.
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