Back in February 2026 I put the bike in the hands of my mechanic friend Kim to sort out the clutch. The clutch had completely failed thanks to a combination of the clutch cable being old, the clutch spindle being completely worn out and the wrong lubrication being used. Kim was able to insert the new clutch spindle, replace the cable and re-sand and replace some of the cork blocks that had broken apart.
However, he that the crankshaft had unexpected play.
This play is not normal - but not surprising in an 88 year old motorcycle.
So, it was time for the motor to come apart. All up, there was some wear of the bearings - which we will now try and source and replace - but the piston and rings were in reasonable condition.
I had often wondered what the difference was between the many models built in the 1930s. It seems to me that most of the differences were internal to the engine. In the SB models, the crankshaft ran directly on the bearings, which led to increased wear. Later models, such as the NZ made improvements.
Well, I had not planned on a full engine rebuild, but that's where we are. I've got some more parts to source .....
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