AJS & Matchless Owners Club

Is it normal for the handlebars to hit the petrol tank or is mine the wrong one It all fits and has the cut out for the valve lifter but on full lock they hit..

I’ve fitted the big rubbers at the top but can’t fit the small rubbers as bolts are not long enough (all parts bought from the club) but when tightened up bars still hit

Probably the wrong handlebars.

What should they look like as the rise just after the clamp

They need to be as narrow as possible before the rise. You could also experiment with reducing the height of the tank mounting rubbers and trying the handlebars in different positions.

Also check the "stops" on the frame/yoke.

For clearance with the tank a pal has just cut a piece out of the centre of the new ones for his G80CS restoration, sleeved them internally and rewelded them back together. The join isn't visible under the h/bar clamp.

les ward wrote: ↑Sun Oct 10, 2021 8:30 pm Also check the "stops" on the frame/yoke.

Unless there is something missing I can’t see any adjustment

Two thoughts.
Is the petrol tank correct for the year? I have a 3 1/2 Gallon tank fitted to my 50 frame and the only way I could get clearance on the handlebars was to fit the thin rubbers below the tanks and the thick rubbers under the frame. Does not explain why the tank bolts don't fit though.
second thought the photo appears to show the handlebars quite far round. Are the stops on the bottom yoke fully slightly rounded triangular with a hole near the end of one (its intended for a padlock when using the steering lock). Its not unusual for them to be cut back to increase movement if someone has been doing some off roading/trials with a smaller tank.

Tazmantic wrote: ↑Sun Oct 10, 2021 7:10 pm I’ve fitted the big rubbers at the top but can’t fit the small rubbers as bolts are not long enough (all parts bought from the club) but when tightened up bars still hit ???

Hi the bolts should be designed to fit with a standard setup (are the bolts drilled for lockwire? if not you may not have the correct ones), something sounds modified if they don't are you able to post pictures of the bottom of the tank to include the mountings and the frame mounting points, additionally a picture of the steering stop lugs and boss they hit on the frame could be informative.

I have the same problem with my 1961 Model 16. I have fitted the thick rubber spacers below and thin ones above. This lowers the tank and bars clear to the left but hit the fuel filler cap on the right. However the tank now slopes forwards!

Tank has correct mountings for the frame. Don't know if what else to do.

Will post photos later.