A Velocette MSS complete

Inspired that Ed G. was back in the shop, I decided to have another look see at the 1947 MSS project.  Its one of "those" projects; every thing that might be ok, isn't. 

The biggest difficulty has been that its a complete bike. Complete is a funny word in this case. As is everything is completely worn out, busted or just bodged. When purchased, the Dowty forks leaked air. Within a few seconds after removing the air chuck they'd fall. So there was no front suspension except for the front fender on the sidecar lug. 

 Upon a more through inspection of the Dowtys, I found the frame was cracked on the down tube. It might have been cracked before at a lower spot. However that had been covered over with a patch and some welding. So this was a new crack right through the frame down tube.  But the engine was unstuck, the mag sparked and if it was provoked, might just fire off. What would be the point though if you can't ride it?

So it sat, and sat and ,sat some more until last fall when I had enough of a complete non-roller bike. It looked the part but was about as useful as a cinderblock in the dark. So the Dowty forks were torn down and apart. Just about everything on the forks is functionally obsolescent; tubes are worn, lower triple is cracked, brass spacers fell off years ago and are mangled to the death. bearings are all rusty, races are ready for the bin and a dodgy air valve. if you bump it, the forks collapse in a heart beat. With a super duper extra long valve stem cap the air now stays in. After a replacement of all the seals and a good filling of oil the forks can now hold a person and the bike up. And as worn as they are, they can go a few months before sagging back down it seems. 

Dowty forks have many small parts and seals

This summer, the forks began to leak oil. They stayed dry for about 6 months and then just began to leak. Seems the old solder joint in the base, where the lug meets the tube can't handle the air pressure? With a bit more time of observation its looking as if the front wheel is offset of the frame. Hard to really say though; is the frame more bent, the forks twisted or the spokes not correctly laced? One couldn't see this directly with the fenders on. Nobody like a stinky llama, time to tear it apart.

On one hand it would be great to get this bike back on the road. On the other, its complete as it rests. If you tear into it as stall, you run the risk of a basket case or worse. And this bike has it all going wrong. As things come off more and more is wrong.

the oil can be used as paint

not even sure where to start with this.

Hammer tite threads?

As things came off to get down to the frame a list started to present itself. The carb flange will need to be address, generator a full rebuild if possible, magneto is a given for a rebuild, respoke the wheels in the proper pattern, exhaust has no baffles, fuel tank is leaking, clutch slips, shifter is sloppy, chains are worn, sprockets worn too. Pretty sure the engine needs attention if its anything like the rest of the bike. good thing the battery died decades ago as the wiring wasn't up to the task and the horn just rattles internally. So the bike is complete; completely worn out!

Sadly, the stupid thing still looks good and the forks hold air now.