What is/was this bike?

[Greybeard]

It was found on the banks of the Shotover river NZ.

[muskrat]

Phucked!

[Greybeard]

Phucked!

Andrew Guttman could fix it up 👍

[Swarfcut]

  ARIEL Red Hunter 350cc. Rigid Frame. 1947 Timex clock on handlebars still ticking....

[berger]

dunno but it's got it'a pet octopus 

[Worty]

Ogri's bike after a solid thrashing

[chaterlea25]

Hi All
I think it could be a B31/33
Looks like a six spring clutch?

John

[groily]

Hi All
I think it could be a B31/33
Looks like a six spring clutch?

John

Is what I wondered too. Front engine plate, traces of cyl fasteners in lower barrel fins, head profile, the clutch, all looked a bit B-ish to me.
Just needs a good wipe over with an oily rag  . . .

[Swarfcut]

 I based my guess on the footrest in the centre of the primary chaincase, the magneto position on the raised pillar to the rear of the cylinder and the characteristic finning at the exhaust port.

 Swarfy.

[Greybeard]

Is it likely that any engine internals would be useable?

[groily]

All good fun Swarfy. A nice diversion for anoraks!
I'll stick with a B though - footrest in right place for them too (but not sure about gusset or scrap-iron bit in rear triangle of frame). Unfinned bit at barrel base, exh port about right, magdyn, etc etc, nothing shouts 'Not B' from what I can see fromtrying to compare with pic here.
Who knows - but not THAT many teles + rigid to choose from if it was made like that, and it def isn't an early-tele-adopting Matchless. I think Ariels had plungers or Anstey wotsits by the time they had teles, but it's nigh on 50 years since I had an Ariel of my very own and was 'into' them a bit.
Or maybe it's a bitza-mixture.

[Greybeard]

The finned bulge for the exhaust port looks the same 👍

[Swarfcut]

  On the basis that it was likely to have been dumped complete, the absence of a primary cover points more to Mr G's reckoning it's a B. The sheet steel cover pressing has rusted away. Ariel had a rather elaborate alloy casting with a clutch access panel, which would have survived in the same way as the crankcase.

 Some oil bathed parts may be OK, so get your wellies on.....

 I'll get me coat.

 Swarfy.