Welbike

scooter

scooter

Well-Known Member
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Wanted to share a picture of a recent acquisition. This bike was at the top of my want list and I consider myself very fortunate to have found one. Only about 3800 were made and not to many survivors are out there from what I have read. It’s a WWII Welbike built by the British to support their Special Ops. It was folded up, put in a canister and dropped with the soldiers as part of an air drop. The soldier would retrieve the canister remove the bike, raise seat and handle bars and push start the 90cc two-stroke engine.
 
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allenp42

Well-Known Member
That is one cool bike and an even better story. As simple as it looks, unless the internals are rusted, I bet will not take too much elbow grease to get it running.
 
red69

red69

Well-Known Member
The first bike I ever had, at age 14, was a Corgi two-stroke, also used by British paratroopers I was told. My brother and I each had one and my dad substituted a cork to act as a carb float in one of them.

I understand they were sold by Indian here in the states.

Bob


Corgi-1948-100cc.jpg
 
scooter

scooter

Well-Known Member
Red the Corgi was the civilian version that came about after the war. I believe it used the same engine and some other parts
 
scooter

scooter

Well-Known Member
cjpayne said:
Pretty cool. Be great if you could find one of those canisters too. Love the WWII history of it.
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Yes, the history and records from the war make it so interesting (at least to me). I was looking closely at the gas tank and you can see the raised original War Department Census Numbers that were painted on to identify the bike.

The blue paint I believe came about when it was sourced from war surplus back in the states by a Shriner to be used as a parade bike prior to the Z50s.
 
scooter

scooter

Well-Known Member
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Thought it was going to be cool that today I was going to get to use some of my standard size wrenches that have been in my toolbox for years. Nope - Not the case seems that the Brits used nuts and bolts that take 11/32 and 17/32 wrenches. I got the full range going in increments of 16ths, like craftsman and all the sears stores in my area closed. Crappie day - time for college basketball and a beer

Oh - and old bicycle axle threads are odd and previous owner used the wrong nuts. Fun is just beginning on this build
 
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allenp42

Well-Known Member
scooter said:
Not the case seems that the Brits used nuts and bolts that take 11/32 and 17/32 wrenches.
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Cool project. Just go to Lowes now that Craftsman tools are available there.

Yeah, the brits used a BS (British Standard) and maybe a BS Whitworth? Or maybe they're one in the same. Some of the smaller wrenches that we used on some UK sourced equipment used a 2BA, 3BA etc. It's been way too long since I was in that thicket to remember the details.

I ordered something a few months ago and found out the hard way that 3/4" BSP (British Standard Pipe) threads are not taped like NPT fittings.
 
scooter

scooter

Well-Known Member
New tires arrived from England last week - until a set of Dunlop’s show up which may be never the Chen Shen’s with the near correct tread will be going on

wanrep said:
Blimey....you need a set of British Whitworth spanners, old chum.

I bought a set of Whitworth sockets and wrenches when I owned a BSA. I haven't touched them in 30 years.
You can find them on Amazon. https://www.amazon.com/8pc-Whitworth-Combination-Spanner-Set/dp/B0017MHGAW

I'm wondering where you find a 12 1/2 x 2 1/4 tire...er...tyre?
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69ST

Well-Known Member
scooter said:
New tires arrived from England last week - until a set of Dunlop’s show up which may be never the Chen Shen’s with the near correct tread will be going on
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With rare machinery, it's like that. Sometimes, the best parts are the ones you can actually get.
 
scooter

scooter

Well-Known Member
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eBay is great appropriate wrenches and a new chain breaker - CT70 version wouldn’t work showed up in just a couple of days

Plan is to get the rear wheel and fender off today. Sounds easy but after 60 years of just sitting a lot of patience Is required
 
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