Christmas before last, Dearly beloved bought me a 'Project' to keep me
quiet of an evening. It was a New Hudson autocycle of about 1955
vintage (not the 're-styled'), missing several major parts, (like the
flywheel magneto for one), and looking as if it had been dunked in a
vat of maroon paint, and given a quick once over with a lavatory brush
(tyres and all). What was left of the engine was in good condition,
having a new un-run piston in a newly rebored cylinder. I suspect that
as whoever it was could not get it going, he then started pulling it
apart, and over the passing of several decades, lost the parts. It
became obvious why it would not run when I lifted the barrel, as the
cylinder base gasket had been fitted backwards, and had neatly sealed
the transfer ports. Although there is still quite a bit to do on it,
having today made up a clutch cable, I thought there is no reason why
it wouldn't run, so I mixed up a 1/2 litre of 2 stroke, pedalled off,
and what joy! It goes! I now have a re-newed impetus to finish it. If
anyone can help with a chainguard for the drive side, I have one for an
older (probably pre-war) one I could swap.
Cheers, Bob