Speedway Workshop

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The Weslake SOHC Manual

Weslake Logo

FEATURES:

Engine (Pushrod-S.O.H.C.)
Interspan ign. box.
Fork gaiters.
Light weight engine plates.
Safety handlebar clamp.
Alloy handlebar.
Steel type control lever.
Half turn alloy throttle.
Special nylon lined cables.
All alloy cinderguard.
Fibre-glass mudguard.
Nylon hub alloy wheel.
Short exhaust-silencer.
Forged footrest. R/H.
World champion WESLAKE emb.
Reinforced fuel/oil lines.
Igniton-box holder.
Nylon locking nuts all over.
Ignition cut-out.
All alloy fuel tank.
Centre carb.-frame.
Light-weight saddle.
Centre port engine.
Amal carburettor.
Carburettor cover.
K&N airfilter.
Fibre-glass mudguard.
Enclosed chain guard.
(N.E.B.) type clutch.
Renold rear chain.
Light-weight rear sprocket.
Light-weight rear axle.
Double sided alloy wheel.
Pirelli rear tyre.
Rear wheel spoiler.
Renold front chain.


DESCRIPTION OF MOTOR CYCLE.
 

The World Champion WESLAKE pushrod and S.O.H.C. engines has been designed for speedway and long track racing.

Its frame is fabricated from special steel tubes, the centre and rear parts of which are bolted together. The telescopic front fork has a travel up and down of 50mm. The rear wheel is not suspended. The steering column rotates in bushes. The frame is painted in stove enamel (aluminium silver). The engines are aircooled, and are of a S.O.H.C. and pushrod type vertical single-cylinder unit with a swept volume of 500cc. The engines are made of a special alloy. Valve seats are shrunk into the cylinder head. The S.O.H.C. engine is chain driven. The valve springs, - two for each valve - are helical. The big-end and small-end bearings are of the plain roller type with aluminium-steel cages. The piston is a forging of light alloy with two piston rings.

The total loss-oil lubrication system of the engines incorporates dual pump delivering pressure oil to the crank assembly and the cylinder head. The leakage path oil lubricates the valves and the timing gear. The volume of oil delivered to the head can be checked through a side glass and adjusted by means of one screw.
The ratio of the primary transmission, which is chain driven to the C/shaft, can be changed by altering the sprocket on the engine. The multiplate clutch is dry. The rear transmission is by 5/8" X 1/4" chain and the ratio can be changed by altering the rear wheel sprocket.
MAKING THE MACHINE READY FOR RACING:
 

Before starting the new engine or an engine which has been out of operation for a length of time. Remove the cylinder head cover and pour some l00cc of oil on the cam for pushrod engines on the rocker arms. This oil will lubricate the timing gear and keep it lubricated until the pump starts delivering oil.
Should the oil pump fail to deliver oil almost straight away, then the union on the oil input to the pump should be slackened of in order that the pump is primed and free of air. When oil is started to be pumped then the union should be tightened.
The engine can be started either by pushing the machine or by rotating forcibly the rear wheel with the machine resting on a stand.
The engine must always be warmed up using low rpm's. A new machine should always have one or two good warm up before racing. Excessive rpm's at light loads can cause damage to the engine.
CARBURETTOR ADJUSTMENT:

The carburettor is adjusted to methanol. It has to be readjusted when racing in other climatic conditions. With engines running on alcohol fuels, the high evaporation temperature is used for internal cooling of the engines, especially the piston. Adjusting the carburettor to a lean mixture is risky since it is likely to result in burning of the piston when running at full throttle, even for a short time. Therefore adjust the carburettor proceeding from the large jet to the smaller jet and never the reverse.

Weslake Manual - Part Two.



    Photographs of the Weslake SOHC machine were kindly given to me by Rick Newlee from Arizona, USA and are of his recently acquired machine that he has now lovingly fully restored ........

What can you say? .......
Truly a First Class job Rick, you should feel proud of this excellent restoration. To see Rick's work in progression, take a look at the "Rick's Restoration" Page.

**NOTE: Rick was not altogether sure of his particular model and writes:
"I decided to call Antig and speak to a Mr. Perry, Owner/Director of Antig. He did tell me that the SOHC that I have is the earlier one with the single bolt holding down the valve cover. The production on that one he said was around 200 or so. The later one that has 6 hold down bolts they made more of. He also told me that if I needed spares to give him a call as he had most of anything I might need." Many thanks Rick.



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