Tag Archives: Model 9

Amac 10MDY needle jet adapter

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Having recently re-acquired my little Emco Compact 5 CNC lathe I found time over the Xmas holiday period to experiment with a little project that I’ve had in mind for a short while. I had noticed that the ’30 M90 was running rich at running-in speeds and sooting up the plug. Not a major problem, but closer investigation revealed a home-made needle jet in the Amac 10MDY carb.

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Although, conveniently, this needle jet was made to accept the later small Amal main jets it was badly worn and the likely cause of rich running low-down. I asked around but was unable to locate any replacement needle jets or needles for that matter. So, following a chat with the ever helpful (and patient) Martin Bratby I decided to look into producing an adapter that would allow 29 series needle jets and needles to be used with the earlier Amac carb.

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After a few false starts I came up with a design that could be produce on the little Emco. It was tight as there isn’t much wall-thickness to play with if everything is going to line up correctly but I was pleased with the result. The photo above shows the Amac jet-block with an original needle/main jet assembly next to a 29 needle/main jet screwed into one of the new adapters.

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The next job is of course to try one on the bike to see how well it works. The plan is to start off with a 106 needle jet and the middle-clip of a 29 needle. I’ll probably adjust the position of the needle jet up/down in the adapter to fine-tune rather than move the needle clip itself as the “correct” relationship between slide-needle-needle jet is of course difficult to establish when mixing and matching the 29 and 10MDY elements.

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To help with this, I have use of a decidedly un-1930s Innovate LM-2 AFR data logger that uses a Bosch car-type Lambda sensor rammed up the exhaust pipe to monitor the exhaust gases. Once lashed up on the bike, it is relatively easy to record the air-fuel-ratio at different throttle openings, engine speed and load. This makes fine-tuning of carburation using the modern fuels a lot less hit-and-miss for someone with my lack of sensitivity in such matters.

Sunbeam Model 9 from the Land of the Rising Sun

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Many thanks to Takeshi Okazaki for getting in touch and sending some photos of his rather splendid and original 1927 Model 9 now being well cared for in Japan, some 6000 miles from its Wolverhampton birthplace.

Sunbeam from Japan

Sunbeam from Japan

I’ll let Takeshi give a little bit of the history of the bike that he now uses for long-distance touring…

“I was lucky enough to obtain this 9 two years ago from a famous dealer in Austria who specialized British Vintage Motorcycle.  Based on documents accompanied, the 9 was owned previously by Mr. Brian Wise in UK, and detailed observation on the 9 revealed that it had received careful treatment by Mr. Wise with much of love and enthusiasm for the motorcycle.  I am so pleased to own this motorcycle, and thus think to pass it to the next owner like Mr. Wise did.”

1927 Sunbeam Model 9

Spares and information are difficult enough to source here in the UK but the challenges further afield are significant. As Takeshi so succinctly puts it ” “Far East”,  which indicates “far from information” in case of my Sunbeam”  It’s great to see these bikes appreciated by enthusiasts around the world and I hope we can help with information and useful contacts.

Takeshi also has a friend with a 1931 Model 9 and hairpin spring head and I hope we can see some photos of this bike in the future. In the meantime perhaps it could be time for the Marston Sunbeam Club to start a new far-east section?

1927 Model 9

 

 

Druid fork handlebar clamps

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I was short of a set of handlebar clamps for the ’28 bull nose Model 90 that we are working on and so had a few sets cast and machined-up using an original Marston clamp from the ’30 bike as a pattern. They came out quite nicely in high-tensile brass and will be serving in place of decorations over the Christmas period.

Handlebar clamps for Sunbeam motorcycles with Druid rather than the later Webb-type forks.

Handlebar clamps for Sunbeam motorcycles with Druid rather than the later Webb-type forks.

I had a few extra sets produced and will put them on the shop in due course in case anyone out there is also in need of a set.

 

Sunbeams at the National Motorcycle Museum

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Many thanks to Rob from Racing Lines Derby for a grand day out at the TT riders Association luncheon yesterday. This annual celebration of TT riders past and present  was held at the National Motorcycle Museum. Whilst Nick Jeffries acted as MC, we shared a table with the legendary and apposite John Cooper. Others present included 5-times in a week TT winner Ian Hutchinson and Triumph factory rider Percy Tait. Publisher and TT rider Malcolm Wheeler rode into dinner on a Ducati to take over presidency of the association.

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Beforehand, we squeaked a couple of hours to check-out one or two of the many wonderful exhibits.

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It is of course impossible to do justice to such a collection so I didn’t bother. Instead, I took a lot of photos of the Sunbeams on display which included a number that were restored by our good friend Peter Woodward. These included a Model 80, Model 9 and two Model 90s and they can be seen in the gallery together with many other detail shots.

Debates about provenance may continue in certain circles but the 1925 Sunbeam Sprint must be one of the most beautiful bikes in the museum.

Ex-Dance racer, unbeatable in its day

Ex-Dance racer, unbeatable in its day

Art-deco masterpiece

Art-deco masterpiece

Pistons now available from Sunbeamland shop

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I’m pleased to say that we now have the recently manufactured high-quality, lightweight forged 7.5:1 pistons available on the Sunbeamland Shop in +0.020″ and +0.040″ oversizes.  Modern materials and CNC machining mean that all-up weight is within a few grammes of the original Marston’s item and I’m enjoying the experience of running one in on my own 1930 Model 90. They should fit any of the late 20’s early 30’s 500cc OHV bikes and we hope to be following up with production of a small batch of 6.5:1 pistons aimed more at the Model 9.

Forged piston for Sunbeam Model 9 and Model 90 7.5:1 compression ratio

Forged piston for Sunbeam Model 9 and Model 90 7.5:1 compression ratio

Annual Sunbeam Rally 2013

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A beautiful weekend for the annual Marston Sunbeam club rally this year with some iconic models on display before the Saturday morning run out.

With the damper at the top, the druid forks fitted to this beautifully restored bike would date it around 1930. The twin port head suggests Model 90 but the valanced mudguards point towards Model 9.

This immaculate restoration won John Phizacklea an award at Stafford this spring. The bike is John’s take on the perfect Sunbeam green-laner. You can see more of John’s works including the amazing 95R on his website : http://www.johnphizackleamotorcyclerestoration.co.uk

Ready for the off, a magnificent site with the sun beaming down.

This rare 350cc Model 10 made an appearance having been ridden down by the owner from Runcorn. It seems the Model 10 shares few parts with other Sunbeams but its smaller dimensions create a stylish, sporting lightweight.