THEMILLERMUSEUM
TheSammyMiller Museum in New
Milton, Hampshire, UK is crammed full
of in teresting machines–including
one of the biggestcollections ofexotic
racing bikes in theworld,and all are
runners!These include the V8Moto
Guzzi, AJSPorcupine,Mondial 250
with dustbin fairing,Nortons,Ducatis,
Suzukis,Hondas,Velocettes and many
more!TheRoad BikeHallincludes a
hugecollection of factory prototypes
and exotic designs from allover the
world,and ofcourse thereare plenty of
dirtbikes and trial icons,too –over400
bikes intotal.
TheMuseum is opento visitors
daily from 10ameveryday at New
Milton, HampshireB25 5SZ. 01425
620777 /www.sammymiller.co.uk. cks
p eoilt mounntedduunnddeerr
the crankcase (in whatlaterbecame best
Italian fashion, as practicedby MV Agusta and
Gileraontheir four-cylinder GPrace rs,and by
MV todayonthe la test version of itsradial-
valvefour –it’sstill essentiallyadry sump
motor, just as all those Latinfours were), and
delivers it via thathigh 70psi pressuretothe
mainbearings and,via passagesin the hollow
crankshaft, to the plain big ends.Oil from the
same pump is pressure-fedvia anexternal
pipe upto the rocker box, passing through
along four-tube oilcooler which definitely
appearsto have been hung on the leftside of
the enginevery much as an afterthought.
‘I do think they hadacooling problem
early on,’said BobStanley.‘Theoil cooler was
fitted at alaterdate,because the unions are
literally drilled inside and out through the
crankcasewall.Soi t’dbeabit of sticking
plaster applied sinceitr an toohot.When
we ranitt odayfor youtoride,itw as blue in
the pipe,and Idon’t think that’samixture
problem, it just runstoowarm.’
Thefiring orderfor theAJSFour is an
unusual 1-2-4-3 layout,instead of the more
commonplace1-3-4-2 timingformost four-
cylinder car engines–including theAustin
Sevenofthe day–meaning thetwoinner
pistonsrise and falltogether,asdothe two
sed
asimil unc ionallayout,too.T e
ddoommeed ppiissttoonnssrrun a lloowwllyy 66 .5 5 :: 11 ccoommppreessssiionn
ratio,and essentiallyfloatontheir respective
gudgeon pins,which forsome obscure
reason arelocked into the small end of the
conrod viaalittle screw.
Theone-p iece cast-ironcylinder head is
boltedto the crankcase via thetenholding-
down boltscomprising thecylinderblock
studs,and the single 15/16-inchAmal carbis
mountedatthe rear of the engine,feeding all
four inlet ports viaalengt hy induction pipe.
‘The indu ction tractiso ver12¾ inches
long fronttoback,soy ou can imagine the
carburation getsabit woolly at the frontend!’
said BobStanley.‘But it’s got aratherneat
four-branchexhaus tmanifold,which isvery
original andratherracy!’
Theengine is mountedinthe duplex
frame viatwolong bolts,which ar erubber-
bushedat each end,making thefour-
cylinderAJSanearly exampleofanengine
that’sbeen rubber mounted, presumably
to countervibration. Bolted to the rear of
the crankcase is the three-speed gearbox
withright-side kickstart, with theflywheel
assembly mountedonthe rear end of the
crank,incorporating anine-spring single-
plate diaphragm-type clutch squeezing
directly against theflywheel whenyoupull
in the clutch lever.And it is indeedahand32 I AUGUST 2019 More old bikes online: Real-Classic.co.uk