Working on the "D"

[Raya]

I had both the exhaust and the drive shaft tube chrome plated. All the other bright bits are nickelled.

[Collector Inspector]

You are doing very nicely.

This resto is interesting to watch aye!

BnC

[Raya]

Both the fuel pipe and water outlet pipe were missing from the box of parts. These were easy enough to replicate although I did have to order the nipples from England. The 1/4 pipe was readily available from a plumping supply shop near where I live.

I copied the shape of the fuel pipe from a 1946 era photo and copied the shape of the water pipe from one off a later model. My pipe bending skills are limited so I made up a couple of wooden jigs to help out. Most water pipes that I have seen have been nickelled. It was a bit tricky (and slow) to nickel plate the pipe with my primitive equipment but it turned out OK. The water pipe fitted well to the motor when complete.

I'm still awaiting the nipple and backnut to complete the fuel pipe.

These Jigs made things easy.

The pipe nuts were recycled.

One with Nickel and one without.

[Oyster 49]

Nice job, loving the attention to detail

[Raya]

I thought I'd post a couple of pics of the D now that it is back together. It is reasonably original apart from the later head. I'm still looking for a cowl with just Seagull on it and the correct throttle control but am pretty happy with how it turned out. I haven't started it yet but am confident that it will run.

1946 D model Seagull

1946 D model Seagull

[Horsley-Anarak]

Looking good, I made a pipe years ago, filled with sand plugged the ends bent very easily.

H-A

[Oyster 49]

I made one out of nickel brake pipe on an earlier project, and bent it using a hand held Bending tool. I’ve also made a SD pipe the same way,out of copper tube.

You have made a great job, the attention to detail sets a standard for all. Love those correct gearbox cap brass bolts

[Raya]

I like the gearbox cap bolts as well. The design is well thought out with the smaller size, but longer, head on the 5/16 bolt designed to allow room to put on a spanner despite the dome shape of the cap. The thicker than normal brass washer enhanced the convenience of the design. The bolt was not a standard size and I can see the parting off marks where it was produced on a lathe. My guess is that these bolts were made inhouse by Seagull.

The change in specification in the early fifties to a smaller, cheese head, steel bolt was a retrograde step in my opinion. The new style was likely cheaper and looked better, but would prove troublesome in years to come.

Gearbox cap bolt part no 1378 with washer 1378/W

[Oyster 49]

Yes, I can imagine somebody producing those on a capstan lathe, couple of minutes for each one!