My Restoration Log

Here is the story about my Ariel Square 4 restoration

I told the wife…

It was time for me to take up a hobby that had been put on hold while the kids were small……

Getting the bike to Australia

Getting the bike to Australia

Another family bereavement a few months later meant another opportunity to start the process of relocating the bike. The first part in getting it close to a port was easy enough as I had a friend who could help move it and (I think as way of subtle encouragement to...

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A bit about this Square Four

My bike is a 1956 4GMKII. First registered in Gosport, UK on 3rd April 1956, it remained on the road until 1965. I am unsure of its history after that until my father imported it to New Zealand in 1977. I do not recall my father riding it much as he had a Norton...

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Ariel Square Four Bottom End Assembly Again

Bottom End Assembly Ariel Square Four bottom end assembly is quite a broad statement. So what does it mean? There are three separate processes that we are covering off here. Setting crankshaft end float for both cranks. Then set main bearing clearances, fit the con...

Ariel Square Four Restoration Engine Assembly

Happy Birthday Ariel Happy Birthday Squariel! November 26 1955 saw this Ariel Square Four roll off the production line at Selly Oak, Birmingham, England. Happy Birthday Ariel! One of my many broken promises to my Ariel was that we would be on the road for the birthday...

Squariel Ariel Square Four Restoration Update September 2020

Squariel Ariel Square Four Restoration Update September 2020

Still Waiting for Parts If the world was a reasonable place, this update would be all about assembling the bottom end of the Squariel. Unfortunately, one of my orders from overseas was missing some parts. This means another month or so wait while Covid era...

Wet Blasting Alloy Casings Ariel Square Four MKII

Square Four Engine Cases prepared for wet blasting Better than new! Cases (and photos) back from Specialised Blasting Services Brisbane A major step forward in cosmetic progress if not actual progress is having the alloy cases of the Squariel wet blasted. I have a...

Ariel Restoration. Where has the time gone?

A lot has happened in the word since I last posted to www.Squariel.com.au. So much, in fact, that I have been wondering where the time has gone to. It would be great to be writing a post about how the restoration is about complete and I am ready to start the square...

Tanks for the Memories

Has my tank finally arrived back from its journey? Tanks for the memories indeed. Of course it hasn’t! The good news is that it is finally finished. The repairs are complete. Shiny Bits have finished making its bits shiny and the insides have been sealed to provide...

Smiths Chronometric Speedometer

Smiths Chronometric   Nothing says quality British quite like the words “Smiths Chronometric”. My thoughts tend more to Lawrence of Arabia than had I been talking about Lucas, the prince of darkness. The insides of the speedometer, while not totally unknown to me...

Honing in on the money shot

The Money Shot The money shot indeed. It is well documented by anybody who has owned, restored or even had a passing interest in Edward Turner’s less known legacy. That is that Ariel Square four engines that have been poorly maintained or stored for a long time are...

Squariel Dynamo Rebuild Part 2

Squariel Dynamo Rebuild Part 2 Squariel dynamo rebuild part 2 leaves no room for ambiguity for this weeks blog. John from hobby mechanics supplied me with a 5BA tap and some screws. It then took Aus Post 2 weeks to bring the 25 odd kms to my place. The result led to...

Restoration Log