WD Motorcycle forum

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Oct 18, 2021 - 9:50AM

Re: A few quick questions - Matchless G3L

Ron - Just looking at the levers (brake & clutch) in your photos. Are the lever blades correct as they look to be non solid pressed steel - the Bowden levers I have are the same as yours i.e. brass air and mag but with solid brass brake and clutch levers. When I acquired them they appeared to be WD as they were covered in post war bronze green paint.

email (option): keithchandler@clistandchandler.co.uk

Alun Mills

Oct 18, 2021 - 12:03PM

Re: A few quick questions - Matchless G3L

For those of us who decide on repro levers, until I can find originals, the handlebar is 7/8" and not 1", but I see comments relating to pivot distance and have seen measurements of between 7/8' and 1'1/16" for this distance.

I assume too short and there is not enough pull for the clutch activation and obviously a big issue for braking.

Is there a specific pivot distance required for the G3L?

Cheers

Al

Ron Pier

Oct 18, 2021 - 12:53PM

Re: A few quick questions - Matchless G3L

Keith if you look at the parts list illustration that Alun posted. Those are the exact levers I have. They were the Bowden lightweight type as fitted to G3L's until the change to standard Amal levers. That change took place at Frame 39512.

The type you refer to are the earlier (pre war) type as fitted here on my G3. Ron

email (option): ronpier@talk21.com

Ron Pier

Oct 18, 2021 - 1:15PM

Re: A few quick questions - Matchless G3L

Alun Mills

I just measured the pivot distance on both sets of my Bowden levers and they're all 1 1/16" centers. Ron

email (option): ronpier@talk21.com

keith chandler

Oct 18, 2021 - 8:12PM

Re: A few quick questions - Matchless G3L

Ron Pier

Thanks Ron - a font of knowledge indeed - I acquired a couple of sets of the all brass Bowden levers and used a set on the second Big 4 as I only had one set of original levers for the Big 4 and those seem to be pretty scarce.

I have not forgotten the photo you asked me for - have not been in the garage for a while I'm afraid but I will get it done for you.

email (option): keithchandler@clistandchandler.co.uk

Ron Pier

Oct 18, 2021 - 9:54PM

Re: A few quick questions - Matchless G3L

Thanks Keith, no panic.

Ron

email (option): ronpier@talk21.com

Alun Mills

Oct 19, 2021 - 1:13AM

Re: A few quick questions - Matchless G3L

Ron

Thanks for that.

Al

Mark Towers

Jan 15, 2023 - 7:01PM

Re: A few quick questions - Matchless G3L

Good evening all,

I seem to have lost the little round brass fixing from my G3L break lever (the thing that secures the actual break cable nipple to the break lever - the pressed light weight type - identical to Ron’s in the photo in this thread)

I must of lost it when I removed the break cable last year ??😐

Can any kindly advise me where I may be able to purchase another?

I’m not sure what they are called and have searched all known part lists online.

Many thanks.

Kind regards

Mark

email (option): Towersmark84@yahoo.co.uk