FETTLING A Four

It all began with a regular ticking noise from the rear wheel or chain. I became increasingly aware of it over about the last five miles as we rode home. A few days later I had a proper look and found that the split link in the main chain had fractured on the riveted side. Amazingly we had travelled home with just the split side transmitting the power. We had several long journeys planned, so that meant new chains.

The main chain would be easy, or so I thought. But it was one link shorter than the already stretched original. I had fitted a new Roadrider tyre, replacing the old Avon SM. I hadn’t realised that although the dimensions are nominally the same, the Roadrider is rounder and thus somewhat wider at its maximum. (It also seemed much more difficult to fit to the rim.) This, together with the slightly shorter chain, meant that the wider tyre was pulled forward and rubbed on the mudguard, which on my 1955 Ariel Square 4 is kinked towards the centre to clear the chain. So the chainguard had to come off and be slightly bent outwards to allow the mudguard to be bent out. This gave enough clearance to align the wheels properly.

Bending the chainguard damaged the paint, so that had to be resprayed. While it was off the bike, I decided to fit the new primary chain. For a long time the gearbox oil seal