ARIEL VH LONG STROKE CONVERSION USING VB CRANKSHAFT

I've been tripping over this Ariel VB doorstop for the best part of 30 years and my original intention for it was to stroke a VH 500 just for the hell of it. Due to the rather premature demise of my VH big end (3000 miles) that time has just come and now the project is ready to test ride. I got a new big end fitted by Conway Motors just along the road from me and assembled the engine yesterday, and today it's testing time. I have to bed in the piston rings for a few miles, but so far it all seems to be well, with no strange vibrations that I expected for the first test before working out what factor to balance the crank to.

[@coles201]

Very impressed it started first kick and ran so well! You must be very pleased, how many miles will you do to bed the piston rings in?

[@thra5herxb12s]

Thanks. The Thorspark electronic ignition gives a huge spark at starting speeds and was a good alternative to having the magneto rebuilt. I've done about 80 miles so far taking it gently, and it seems to be getting better with not so much oil blowing from the breather. I'll start giving it a bit more throttle after another 20 miles or so. Ivor Dutton said I should assemble the piston and rings dry to speed up the bedding in process which I did, but oil flies around the inside of the cylinder after the first few seconds so I dont see how it would do much. I usually give new rings in an old bore a hundred miles or so before I start to give them stick without worry of them breaking.

[@coles201]

@@thra5herxb12s Was the electronic ignition hard to fit? Thats good to hear, my cylinder is the same after fitting a new piston...