Lockdown Velocette

While at the end of 2020 we were going ‘great guns’ with Project Lockdown, the cold, wintry start to 2021 has seen things slow somewhat, which I confess hasn’t been helped by my own situation – trying to move house (and workshop) in the current straightened circumstances brings up all manner of issues. So a combination of it being freezing (literally) outside and not much warmer in dad’s garage, plus time – and rather crucially money – being spent on house selling and buying, has meant things reached something of a hiatus.

However, as the climate, both literal and metaphorical, has improved, then so things have started to come together. First off, on one of my visits back to Horncastle, a 160-mile round trip from where I am currently at dad’s (I did it four times in one week, moving bits and pieces and after months of holdups, suddenly the house needed clearing rapidly), my Lincolnshire-based pal Rob arranged to not only drop off a load of boxes to help pack all those obscure bits of motorcycle I’ve accumulated over the years, but also mentioned that he ‘had a mudguard or two’ that might be suitable for the rear of our machine.

He duly delivered… Not one, two or even four, but six guards, which he left with me and said ‘see what best suits.’ I piled them all into the groaning car, on top of such assorted bounty such as a selection of vintage cylinder heads (Blackburne, Big Port Ajay and Velocette KTP, to name but three), headlights and petrol tanks, all things I didn’t want to leave at the mercy of the removal men. They could take all the household junk; buying a new plate or mirror is easy, but try finding an undamaged twin-port cammy Velo head…

Not only did Rob deliver the sextet of mudguards, he also generously left me with a Thruxton seat, a much better item than one I had kicking around. I confess to really liking the look of the single seat as currently in situ, but the twin seat does give me an option, or saves the potential expense of having the single one recovered. The seat – and tank, another source of dilemma – will be the last two things we need to worry about, so they can be put aside, literally and metaphorically, for the time being.

Rob’s mudguard haul included several bare steel examples, a chrome one and a black-painted aluminium offering, which looked the most suitable for the job, at least the closest match to what is fitted on the front. Problem was it was painted black… so it was either remove and repaint the front mudguard to match, or out with the paint stripper. I say out with the paint stripper; we realised we didn’t have any, so it was order some for next day delivery…

Meanwhile, dad had been rooting about in his sheds again, having realised we had a few other bits missing – namely a rear numberplate and light, as well as a horn. Father disappeared into one of his outbuildings and after some rustling and prodding about, emerged clutching both items; not really sure what they’d come from or off, but both were in decent nick, so they’d be grand. The numberplate may even be Velocette. Dad straightaway started rubbing down the numberplate, though he decided to wait until the next day delivery of the paint stripper… so in the meantime, he went back to getting the rear mudguard fitted up.

The necessary remover arrived and soon there was

Another month of limited progress… Better than the month before, but, still, not up to the productivity levels of the latter part of 2020. WORDS AND PHOTOGRAPHS: JAMES ROBINSON

paint being stripped with abandon and as it wasn’t quite as freezingly cold as other days, he’d soon got some primer on it, too, and in quick smart fashion, the whole assembly was on and fitted.

Meanwhile, we’d also had some debate about the headlamp – we had one that was complete but the (chrome) shell was rusty and another chrome shell that was just a shell, but had actually been sat on a shelf for years and time had taken its toll. It was almost okay but after a good dose of looking at, it was decided to order a new headlamp shell, which duly arrived, and, from the bits we had – so glass and innards, ampmeter and switches – make up the best we could. Again, it didn’t take long, and the job was soon accomplished and the headlamp fitted in place, supported in its shiny chrome brackets.

In the meantime, a few other bits are on the way to being sorted out too – including dynamo and rear shock absorbers, as well as oversized fixings for the primary chaincase – but more of that next time.

Right: And here’s how we stand. Rear shock absorbers should be here soon.

After the paint stripper arrived, the numberplate surround was soon attended to.

Milder day, so able to get some undercoat on the numberplate.

Rear mudguard, also cleaned of black paint and fettled into place.

Two becomes one. Rusty old shell gives up its internals, to be fitted into the new.

The ampmeter came from the old shell as well.

It nicely fits in place.

Numberplate and rear light all done. A pressedtype actual numberplate will be added later.

Horn came out of one of dad’s sheds.

And the dynamo cover rear.

Another day, another box…

Inside was this sparkling headlamp shell.