HELP engine and frame number I.D please.

Information relating to the Matchless G3 or AJS Model 16 350cc Heavyweight
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LAMBETHBOY
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HELP engine and frame number I.D please.

Post by LAMBETHBOY »

Hi guys. I have a rusty old frame and a semi complete engine. I think it's from around wartime but not sure.
It came from an RAF base. Could someone help me to identify the numbers ? Is this a Matchless or AJS ? sorry I'm out of my comfort zone.

FRAME NUMBER.. 4238 .
Numbers under the headstock, I think they are casting numbers. 42 G3L FF17 with what looks like A4 above. .. 42 G3L FF21
ENGINE NUMBERS... top number on the bottom of the barrel W4 G3L EI
Underneath on the alloy part is.... 46/16M 1909 It has telescopic forks and it is a hardtail frame,

Thank you. :)
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jackstringer
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Re: HELP engine and frame number I.D please.

Post by jackstringer »

Sounds like it's a Matchless G3L / AJS M16 from 1942 / 1946. But I am just guessing.

If you ask the dating thing on the main website then you will find better info.
LAMBETHBOY
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Re: HELP engine and frame number I.D please.

Post by LAMBETHBOY »

Thank you, can anyone answer this exactly please ?
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clive
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Re: HELP engine and frame number I.D please.

Post by clive »

The only way to find out is to check with the factory records through the club as AJS and Matchless frame numbers were mixed together. To know exactly you will have to use the dating records
https://www.jampot.com/Dating.asp the online dating one will not charge you if there are no details.
The engine is easier 1946 AJS model 16 (350) but bits and pieces get mixed and matched over the years and it is no guarantee the frame is AJS and 46 too.
clive
if it ain't broke don't fix
LAMBETHBOY
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Location: Surrey

Re: HELP engine and frame number I.D please.

Post by LAMBETHBOY »

That's great thanks for your help.
AndrewM
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Re: HELP engine and frame number I.D please.

Post by AndrewM »

Engine is a 1946 Model 16 350cc. Frame number is consistent with a 1946 model (1946 numbers were from 500 to 12760), headstock part numbers are correct for a 1946 model.

Have a look at the gearbox, if its the right one for the engine, on the top edge it should have stamped G1 # 46 where the # is a letter A to L for the month of manufacture, A being January, B being February ... L being December.

Parts list and user manual for the 1946 AJS 16M and 18M are in the archives, should provide you with a lot of information
LAMBETHBOY
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Re: HELP engine and frame number I.D please.

Post by LAMBETHBOY »

Wow thank you so much AndrewM
AndrewM
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Re: HELP engine and frame number I.D please.

Post by AndrewM »

No problem, good luck with it. Post some photos if you get a chance
AndrewM
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Re: HELP engine and frame number I.D please.

Post by AndrewM »

Correction, according to a document in the archives on gearbox numbers that Spriddler posted in another thread, the gearbox date letters skip the letter ā€œIā€™, so the letters used are A through M, not A through L
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