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Disowned & desperate
Guido’s first foray into classic ownership is proving to be traumatic…
You know you’re in for a challenge when you try to buy some basic bits for your bike, and the world’s only remaining manufacturer of parts for that brand effectively disowns you. For those who are wondering what the devil I’m on about, muggins recently bought a Sunbeam S7 which – typically for old bikes – is proving to be a source of both joy and frustration.
Here’s an email I got from Stewart Engineering in the UK, which specialises in the brand:
“Reference your e-mail enquiring about some spares for your 'early' inverted lever S7, unfortunately we cannot help you on this occasion. We do not stock or manufacture cables for the early S7, we only have them for the later S7 Deluxe which are totally different and will not fit. The same applies to the petrol cap seal - sorry.
“As you probably know, the early S7s were only made from 1946 to 1948 and only 2104 were produced. Of this original 2104 only a handful of this model still survive (mainly overseas). The vast majority of Sunbeams in existence being the later (1949 to 1957) S7 Deluxe and S8 models.
“Consequently our catalogue and virtually all of the parts we make are only for these later models. The differences between the early S7 and the later models, whilst looking very similar, are quite significant. They are different in just about every respect i.e.:- dimensionally, forks, handlebars and controls, rear suspension, petrol tank, engine mechanics, etcetera. This means that a great many of the parts we stock are totally unsuitable, will not fit, and are not available for the early model. In a very few cases later S7 Deluxe parts can be modified to fit the early model, and a small number of the parts are common to all the models and will fit straight on.
“All we can suggest is that you contact a cable manufacturer local to you and see if they can make you some new cables using your old ones as patterns.”
I have to admire any enterprise where someone goes to the trouble of actually composing a letter of that length – it makes a refreshing change from the sodding “your enquiry is important to us” twaddle you get while being fobbed off by many firms. But it didn’t actually solve any problems.
Oh well, it’s not the end of the world, but it feels a bit like being ditched by your parents. (Subsequent discussions by phone have revealed they have engine bits -- which was reason enough to crack open a bottle of red.)
Of course nothing on this bike is turning out to be simple. Like tracking down tubes for the 500 x 16 tyres. That’s actually a car size, but I need rubber, offset, valve stems. After a bit of rooting around, trying to find vintage car suppliers who had gone out of business, it suddenly flashed up in the memory banks that local dealer Harley City dabbles in classic H-Ds and even the odd Indian. Sure enough, they had them in stock. So maybe there’s hope after all.
Today I’m spending the morning making an air filter, and the afternoon sussing out whether there is anyone in Melbourne who just might have a gasket set gathering dust on their shelves. A top bet is Modak Motorcycles in Elizabeth Street, which is an ancient and old-fashioned warren of mysterious bits run by people who I can confidently say are not regular attendees at those irritatingly boisterous motivational seminars. In fact, I half expect to see Gollum serving at the counter.
The bike, named Winston, is currently with classic guru Phil Pilgrim, who is preparing it for the upcoming all British Rally in Vic. The gate prize is a classic Triumph Daytona 500, so it’s possible I’ll arrive with one set of problems and return home with two…
Pic: Phil Pilgrim & the Sunbeam
You’re always welcome to get in touch via the palatial Motorcycle Trader offices at locked bag 12, Oakleigh 3166; Or on the wire at guy.allen@traderclassifieds.com.au.
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