How can I see the diffence between a civilan James ML and a WD James ML??

Anders

The frame number should tell you (us if you disclose it) The engine number should read AAA****A.

Ron

email (option): ronpier@talk21.com

What if someone restamps a 'civvy' one to pass it off as a wartime one?...Ian

email (option): ian@wright52.plus.com

Well there is that of course. Personally I have never studied a civy one to dictate a list of differences. But if I had some pictures of a suspect bike I could compare them with what I know to be correct for a military ML. They do have different centre stands and a military bike should have folding foot pegs.
Scrutinizing the numbers would be a start though.

Ron

email (option): ronpier@talk21.com

I'll get the frame number one of the day, and then I will post it here, along with some photos of it.

it has been sitting in a barn for 40 years.

The man who has it, asking 600 EUR. for it. is it too much??? they only missing parts is the saddle and center stand.

Anders Nielsen.
Denmark.

For 600 euros it would be worth buying if it was a military or civvy one, the cheapest one you'd see in the Uk on eBay would be around 1200 to 1800 GBP and that's for a civvy one, double that for a military one, the frame number will tell you more, the number is stamped at the bottom of the headstock and is very faintly stamped..

email (option): davmax@ntlworld.com

Dave I agree that the headstock stampings are very light, I have a very civi looking ML (still in maroon paint) with the wartime no, over stamped with xxxxx and a new post war no, the stands are different, plus other tell tales, that we shouldn't go into on here,A second frame I have has a wartime no only, I believe that James ML bikes like the RE flea were sent back or bought back by the factory for turning back into civi machines. Prices depends on condition but 600 euros seem a good price for a post war one Andrew.h.

email (option): warbikes@gmail.com

HI all..

The fame number is ML7674 and the motor number is 539/86-11

how do i post pictures on this forum???

Anders Nielsen
Denmark

Anders, that is just wartime, last contract, of 3000 bikes, and the last 1500 got cancelled, but this one is is in the uncancelled bit (7000-8500)

Engine number should start with AAA??

Have heard there are more Flying Fleas and James bikes in Denmark, but never found one, if I were you, I would buy it quick!!

Re. posting pictures, I'll leave that explanation to others! you can allways email them to me, then I'll post them.

Cheers,

Lex

email (option): welbike@welbike.net

anders, Buy it,if all the tin ware and wheels sound, engine parts easy from Villiers services, Metal magic for repro parts Andrew.h.

email (option): warbikes@gmail.com

Hi. all

So now, I am also the proud owner of a James ML.
it is in good condition, has been injected into oil for the last 40-50 years.
Almost complete, except the center stand and unfortunately all the miliary parts, such as, tool box, foot rests, handelbar-quick release, and front and rear lights ..

so if anyone has these parts for sale, I am the buyer for them.


can some tell me how I get the flywheel of it??

Anders Nielsen

You should use a Villiers 'Hammer-tight Spanner' to remove the flywheel, but failing that a good stout ring spanner will do. The centre nut is captive within the brass flywheel, so hold the flywheel still and give the ring spanner a couple of smart whacks with a hammer. Once the nut starts to move, keep undoing it and as you do the flange on the nut will draw the flywheel off and it will become loser and loser until it can be taken off. The nut should be turned in an anti-clockwise direction and after a couple of turns will start to feel like it is tightening up again, but keep going and it will come off eventually.