Author Topic: Military simplex find  (Read 8868 times)

68bird

  • Newbie
  • *
  • Posts: 17
    • View Profile
    • Email
Military simplex find
« on: April 23, 2015, 12:58:05 PM »
Found this at a local swap the motor has a military issue tag which matches the block most parts are there. Don't know much about it except it's pretty cool

68bird

  • Newbie
  • *
  • Posts: 17
    • View Profile
    • Email
Re: Military simplex find
« Reply #1 on: April 23, 2015, 01:03:15 PM »
Can't post pic of tag too large of a file.. Sorry try later

68bird

  • Newbie
  • *
  • Posts: 17
    • View Profile
    • Email
Re: Military simplex find
« Reply #2 on: April 23, 2015, 02:54:23 PM »
Hope this works

HGontheHD

  • Jr. Member
  • **
  • Posts: 64
    • View Profile
    • Email
Re: Military simplex find
« Reply #3 on: April 23, 2015, 03:07:51 PM »
The front rim appears to be off a later model Simplex.
From what I can tell the rear rim looks to be what they call a drop center which is correct for this year range.

Are the rims different from each other?

I can't make out the second number on the tag following the M1.
Huston
hgonthehd

68bird

  • Newbie
  • *
  • Posts: 17
    • View Profile
    • Email
Re: Military simplex find
« Reply #4 on: April 23, 2015, 03:16:30 PM »
Those are sequential numbers that are on the block stamped m13907b yes the front is larger and the rear is drop center.

rldebuse

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 132
    • View Profile
Re: Military simplex find
« Reply #5 on: May 10, 2015, 03:10:18 PM »
Here is an ID plate included in the Wheels and Tracks article.  Serial No M14070B Mfd during 8-53.  The article also mentions a USAF disposals auction listing  in Febr 1956 for Simplex Serial 08195 with engine M16500B mfd in 1954.  My brother-in-law once complained that when he wanted a motorcycle during high school, his father bought 3 rough Simplexs at an auction at the airbase in Cheyenne, which he promptly junked.  This would have been about 1960.  I remember  a government surplus auction in Lincoln Nebr which had 2 blue USAF Simplexs, complete and in near running condition.  Also NOS engine spare parts, including one crankcase and a few pistons.  I bought one box of parts, including a .005 oversize piston.
« Last Edit: May 10, 2015, 03:31:36 PM by rldebuse »

68bird

  • Newbie
  • *
  • Posts: 17
    • View Profile
    • Email
Re: Military simplex find
« Reply #6 on: May 17, 2015, 07:03:47 PM »
That's so awesome.. Great information this really helps me a lot. So is it possible that it was blue in color or army green?

rldebuse

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 132
    • View Profile
Re: Military simplex find
« Reply #7 on: May 18, 2015, 05:23:22 AM »
Over the years,  I have seen probably 25 USAF Simplexes, and all were painted blue with USAF stenciled on the tank sides in white or yellow. 

68bird

  • Newbie
  • *
  • Posts: 17
    • View Profile
    • Email
Re: Military simplex find
« Reply #8 on: May 19, 2015, 09:09:03 PM »
 ::)  blue  nice...I like that color. Then I'm going yellow letters. Thank you for your help.
« Last Edit: May 19, 2015, 09:10:34 PM by 68bird »

68bird

  • Newbie
  • *
  • Posts: 17
    • View Profile
    • Email
Re: Military simplex find
« Reply #9 on: June 05, 2015, 05:08:04 PM »
I just found this air cleaner setup today. It is the original oil breather for it. I believe it's for this bike. The former owner bought it at the same swap I got the bike. What are the odds on this.