Hazel's Place

Hazel's Place
Picture modified by Pete C (W650 rider)

Friday 25 February 2011

Dismantling an Ariel 3

I had a day off today so I decided it was time to attack the Snot Green Ariel 3.

First of all, I removed the bird's nest from the engine compartment:

Next, I decided to try and remove the lid to the engine compartment.  The heads of the bolts were almost impossible to get a spanner on and the nuts were pretty well rusted on to them anyway so I had to attack them with a hacksaw:
I must be a bit slow on the uptake because it was only now that I realised that something rather important was missing - no fuel tank!!  This is where it should be:

Next step, was to remove the carburettor and then the exhaust - I was pleasantly surprised to find that the nuts were all fairly easy to remove.  What's left of the exhaust seems pretty solid but the silencer is looking a bit sorry:
With the exhaust out of the way, I could access the nuts and bolts holding the engine enclosure in place.  Again, these were fairly trouble free and I soon had a naked Ariel 3.
The drive belt is missing but these are available on ebay for £28.  I'll certainly need new tyres - these are also available on e-bay but cost more than the Ariel 3 is worth!  Alternatively, bicycle tyres of the correct size are available for only £4.99.  The Ariel 3 is barely any faster than a bicycle but there might be a issue with getting an MOT.  I'm trying to spend as little money as possible, not least because I have several far more worthy projects.

I need to look into getting a log book for it.  I know the registration number and it has an old tax disc still attached to it so I'm hopeful that I can keep the original number.

More piccies are here:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/bsanorthstaffs/sets/72157626010175587/show/

2 comments:

  1. Looking good, err making progress at any rate. That's some large nest there. Can you put it on E-bay for "bird's nest soup"..? or sell it off as the latest fashion in head coverings...... Hairy Larry

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  2. The more you take it apart the better it looks SFB! (It's ok, feel free to say something 'orrible about Cubbie in return!)

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