Late 1970's Dohc Weslake

[rusky]

Richard Hellsen and Finn Thompsen also tried to use them,Thompsen wanted his for the world championship but didn't use it.

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Rickard Hellsen did indeed try the DOHC engine in both the UK and Sweden, with moderate success. He also tried the SOHC as well, but stuck with the pushrod variant - including his trusty magneto driven pushrod wessie.

[Ray Rocket]

Rickard Hellsen did indeed try the DOHC engine in both the UK and Sweden, with moderate success. He also tried the SOHC as well, but stuck with the pushrod variant - including his trusty magneto driven pushrod wessie.

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Hi Rusky

 

Was this a special conversion, or did the early Weslakes have magnetos?.

 

 

Regards.

[sandman]

if memory serves me the first Weslakes had batteries.

Edited August 17, 2007 by sandman

[BASIL]

If you look up Hesketh you will see that the cylinder heads and barrels from DOHC Weslake were you on a V twin road bike.

[rusky]

Hi Rusky

 

Was this a special conversion, or did the early Weslakes have magnetos?.

Regards.

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They were a conversion by a guy called Derek Hobson (I think) in Penistone Yorkshire. Reg Wilson, Pete Smith & Rickard were the only ones who I can remember using them.

They were around at the time that battery & coil were the major ignition source on the weslake, the magic boxes had just started to make an appearance but were hideously expensive (Derek made those as well). The magnetos used actually came from Concrete mixers, and produced a spark that was far stronger & consistent than either a box or battery/ coil setup. Derek used to re-wind his own magnetos in his garden shed ( I think he serviced all of Guy Allots mags, as well as mags from all of the speedway parts suppliers), and had all sorts of 'heath robinson' test equipment, as a youngster it was a fascinating place to visit

[sandman]

They were a conversion by a guy called Derek Hobson (I think) in Penistone Yorkshire. Reg Wilson, Pete Smith & Rickard were the only ones who I can remember using them.

They were around at the time that battery & coil were the major ignition source on the weslake, the magic boxes had just started to make an appearance but were hideously expensive (Derek made those as well). The magnetos used actually came from Concrete mixers, and produced a spark that was far stronger & consistent than either a box or battery/ coil setup. Derek used to re-wind his own magnetos in his garden shed ( I think he serviced all of Guy Allots mags, as well as mags from all of the speedway parts suppliers), and had all sorts of 'heath robinson'  test equipment, as a youngster it was a fascinating place to visit

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really interesting tid bit. i didnt think there was ever a magneto sparked Weslake so i learned something. I still believe England has some of the best back yard boffins in the world. it is amazing how many clever and brilliant people produce some really innovative products from garden sheds, even to this day.

[rusky]

really interesting tid bit. i didnt think there was ever a magneto sparked Weslake so i learned something. I still believe England has some of the best back yard boffins in the world. it is amazing how many clever and brilliant people produce some really innovative products from garden sheds, even to this day. 

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I think the numbers were very small, probably no more than a dozen or so. They were killed off by the magic boxes becoming more reliable and more importantly, affordable

[MARK246]

If you look up Hesketh you will see that the cylinder heads and barrels from DOHC Weslake were you on a V twin road bike.

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I thought the heads and barrels for this engine (Hesketh) were the same as the single they used in road racing. I was always under the impression they were 600cc. Not so sure now, but some one out there must know?

[sandman]

quite sure the Hesketh was a 1000 cc v twin. in all actual fact, a bit of a hunk of junk, although certainly collectible because of the rarity.

[marcusthepom]

really interesting tid bit. i didnt think there was ever a magneto sparked Weslake so i learned something. I still believe England has some of the best back yard boffins in the world. it is amazing how many clever and brilliant people produce some really innovative products from garden sheds, even to this day. 

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dont sell us ozzies to short my good man,perhaps the first ever maggie on a weslake was manufactured in townsville north queensland,im sure it came from a engineering place owned by neil fagustrom(R.I.P.)im sure the ex halifax gun merv janke rode this engine a great deal.im told by those who rode and worked on the engine that it pulled hard from the gate.the engine is still running and is in first class condition,its still in townsville.

 

i also have to say that i beleive the best back yard boffins would have to come from country australia,even back in 1980 if you stuffed your wessie up etc you had to either go with out,find another motorcycle engine part you could change and make fit or just make the dam thing,i have seen some weird s@@t riden on tracks up north queensland way.

 

so i think the poms have a long way to go,on and off the track

[rusky]

dont sell us ozzies to short my good man,perhaps the first ever maggie on a weslake was manufactured in townsville north queensland,im sure it came from a engineering place owned by neil fagustrom(R.I.P.)im sure the ex halifax gun merv janke rode this engine a great deal.im told by those who rode and worked on the engine that it pulled hard from the gate.the engine is still running and is in first class condition,its still in townsville.

 

i also have to say that i beleive the best back yard boffins would have to come from country australia,even back in 1980 if you stuffed your wessie up etc you had to either go with out,find another motorcycle engine part you could change and make fit or just make the dam thing,i have seen some weird s@@t riden on tracks up north queensland way.

 

so i think the poms have a long way to go,on and off the track

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The Magneto Weslakes used by Pete Smith, Richard Hellsen & Co were used around 1977 - 1978 if memory serves me right. The feeling was the same on the 'British' Mag engines, in that they were exceptional from the gate ( I believe that was the reason for Jawa sticking to the mag on the 897 also). Rickard still has his magneto Weslake I believe, not sure when he last had it running though

[marcusthepom]

The Magneto Weslakes used by Pete Smith, Richard Hellsen & Co were used around 1977 - 1978 if memory serves me right. The feeling was the same on the 'British' Mag engines, in that they were exceptional from the gate ( I believe that was the reason for Jawa sticking to the mag on the 897 also). Rickard still has his magneto Weslake I believe, not sure when he last had it running though

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oh it seems the poms came up with the idea first rikards motors were very well looked after,i purchased a real nice wessie from him when he lived at cowley in oxford around the late 70s early 80s,i toke the motor with me to australia.all the best stuff in it,all in tip top condition,a real good purchase.

 

i have purchased motors from other top flight riders whilst starting speedway and was ripped of more than once.i purchased a weslake engine from a ex poole and oxford rider that was s@@t inside when i got it home.so rickard is a up front a nice fellow.a smart hard rider to boot