1929 AJS M6 350

purchased from Gordon Finlay in Blenheim 2015.

Bike came with a frame, forks front and back wheel and a side valve engine and fuel tank, the engine wasn’t matching numbers. In 2017 I was at the Sturgess collection in Nelson looking at an AJS and started talking to another person Dave also looking at the same bike, I asked if he had one like it, the answer was yes he had inherited it from his father and had featured in a copy of beaded wheels only months earlier, anyway as you do I asked if he had any spares he would part with, my ears pricked up when he said he had a spare ohv engine a deal was done and engine picked up luckily very complete, a carburettor was also sourced from the same Dave at a later date. Next a gearbox was found in a sorry state ,Les Freeman (who helped immensely with parts and advice) agreed to overhaul the gearbox for me. Les also supplied foot rests mag platform and rear stand. At the Jampot rally in Masterton I was riding my 1929 AJS M8 500, I was approached by Peter from Masterton he said he also had an M8 not quite ready for the road ,as you do I asked if he had any 350 parts his reply was he had an oil tank, couldn't go right then but arranged to meet him after the rally run. On the run had a lot of trouble with my gearbox anyway eventually got to Peters place to see a very nice oil tank for the M6 and also a 1929 AJS M9 which belonged to his brother in law which was also up for sale so both went into my van. Coincidentally Les told me about this M9 a few years earlier when it was for sale in Nelson, but I was too slow and the machine was sold to the North Island , went through a couple of owners before I purchased it returning it to the mainland. Rob Hey was contacted regarding machining new valves and machining piston and valve guides to suit. 15

A suitable mag was sourced and Tiger Lyons who shifted here a few years ago reconditioned this for me. Rob suggested a friend of his to assemble the engine, it was my lucky day I was introduced to Graeme Mcclintock ,Graeme has helped me immensely also , very knowledgeable and can do all sorts with a lathe, mill and welder I envy him as I have no skill with these things. New guards were sourced from vintage steel in Perth, very happy with the service and quality of them. As the frame wasn't perfect I decided to powder coat this, the tank original tank decals in magenta were purchased and tank painted. A reproduction chain case was brought from another enthusiast who manufactures parts in Slovenia. Brake plates and drums are not correct but if you can supply some let me know. So six years after first getting the bike it was time to start it up, the carb also is not correct and gearing is also a bit of a guess , so not sure how this will go, got the oil flowing through so added some fuel and after quite a few kicks it fired up, maybe it had forgotten how to go ? Once running starts first or second kick now. The mag and choke levers haven't been re plated this was a gift from a great guy and friend of many Mark McClellan who tragically was killed on his way to the 2018 Norton rally in New Plymouth so this lever will stay as given to us by Mark. Motor sounds sweet and pulls like a train ,frame is only slightly heavier than a bicycle so goes really well although brakes need a bit more work. Seat cover is a reproduction and doesn't fit correctly ,so if you know someone who can make one let me know also.