AJS & Matchless Owners Club

I've just acquired a 1938 Matchless G4. The bike looks pretty original aside from the tank being wholly painted red rather than the standard red and chrome per the parts list and catalogue for the year.

The bike is pretty much ready for the road, just needs a minor rewire and some new petrol pipe. That should be sorted tomorrow.

I wasn't really aware of the G4 model before buying the bike. Was it a rare model in the day? Certainly seems to be now as I don't recall seeing another. It looks to me to be similar to the G3 with the exception of the enclosed valve springs and rockers. Are the majority of parts interchangeable?

Most of the spares suppliers seem to focus on post-war models. Are there any specialist pre-war suppliers I should focus on when and if I need any parts?

One thing I have noticed is that the wheel sizes in the parts list and catalogue state 26 inch. I assume this is with tyres fitted? The current front tyre is a 20 x 3.00 and the rear 19 x 3.25. I am a bit puzzled how these are different modern sizes but were the same old size??

Any advice or information gratefully received.

Alan

The Matchless G4 350 and G90 500 were top of the 350 & 500 range. In 1938 the AJS 250 350 & 500 Silver Streaks were also introduced as AJS top of the range. Note that G4 engine was also a Matchless engine used on other marques. See this months Jampot magazine

If you look in your parts list you will see which parts differ on the G3 & G4. Quite a few parts, mainly fittings were used in the post war years. If there is a part you need see if the old part number converts to a new part number. If it does have a new pt. no. look for the part via the new number. This change in numbering parts took place in 1952. So you need to convert old pt. no's to new for any pre 1952 AMC bike. Below is the part number conversion book.book.http://archives.jampot.dk/book/Spares_l ... ements.pdf

In 2009 I found 236 parts in club spares that converted from old to new pt. no's. Some of these parts used from as early as 1926 on wards. Here's a sample from my excel file.
There are few surviving bikes of this era. So making parts for such a small market is a non runner.
In the old days the tyre size was used for tyres. So 3.25" times 2 plus the wheel diameter is not quite correct. 3.00, 3.50 & 4.00 times 2 plus wheel dia would also be incorrect. Perhaps that is why they changed tyre sizes to the wheel diameter size.
I am puzzled about your 20 x 3.00" tyre. Wheel size is stated as being 19" dia.

Any pictures of the G4 you can post for us?

Sales cat. pic of a 38/G4

Sales cat. pic of a 39/G4. 38 forks would not have the cast cup for the speedo. Also different gearbox

Thanks Rob for the stock photo(s)
I was wondering if Alan Haynes had any pictures show us his new acquisition?
Its always good to see what machines have come out of the woodwork.

I did realise that Sam.

Hi Guys,

I will take some photos at the weekend and post them. It looks like the pictures Rob has posted, just a little more 'used'.

Alan

Sorry guys I can't post a photo to this thread.

A bit of a Luddite I'm afraid.

Alan

OEW591 wrote: ↑Fri Jul 16, 2021 6:35 pm Sorry guys I can't post a photo to this thread.

A bit of a Luddite I'm afraid.

Alan

You will discover how to add a picture here eventually, in the mean time I have copied your bike picture you posted in the pictures section. I also enhanced it a bit.
Rob H