Once again, the restored Ebay Mudlark is offered. Note the last time it did not meet reserve at $6,600 [?]
http://www.ebay.com/itm/1973-Other-Makes-/221329841309?&_trksid=p2056016.l4276
Dale Fisher
Penton Owners Group - Memberships
Facebook - Cheney Twinshock Racing Group - Administrator
'70 Six-Day 125 - V2017
'71 Six-Day 125 (Dave Fisher's) - V5553
'72 Mudlark - W257
'73 Jackpiner - 175 21159727
'74 Berkshire 100 - 40171056
And some silly other bikes...
I think it needs the proper 5A motor to make the reserve. :D
Also wouldn't hurt to tell what was done with the motor, in the listing. "Completely gone through" doesn't tell you much. You could completely go through a motor and not change a thing except put it back together.
I had Doug Wilford rebuild my motor and proudly display his decal on the left side cover. It was one of the last motors he did. I hope all goes well for Doug and his family.
(http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj52/Gordo83/100_1868.jpg) (http://s269.photobucket.com/user/Gordo83/media/100_1868.jpg.html)
Most of them came stock with the alloy barrel A or B motor.
All the Wassel trials bikes came into the country with the Sachs 125-6B engines with the alloy barrels. The 6B engines were pulled and swapped out with the 5-A engines that were still coming in on the Penton bikes at the time.
For Trials Riding competition, the 5A engine is a better choice with the larger diameter crank and Bosch ignition - for low rpm riding.
Alan Buehner
So,If you were restoring one as a Wassell or a Penton as delivered from the manufacturer the 6b would be correct,and as a Penton it might be one that slipped thru without the engine swap,or of course a non original engine?
From what I have read, if you were restoring it as a Wassell, it would have a B motor. If you were restoring it as a Penton, it would have an A motor.
I see in the listing the seller does have a 'buy it now' price, but you have to call the phone number in the listing to get it.
A true original Penton/Trials would have a 6B engine, not all of them were replaced and the original sales flyer as well as magazine articles show a 6B. This bike however is anything but original, very nice but a lot of incorrect parts.
At one time I owned a very low hours original with the 6B motor, It still had the webbing between the knobs on the Dunlops.
I am re-restoring the first one I bought now and it came with a 6B
All that said, They could have had an A,B,C,D,E,F,G, or any other engine they decided to put in them in Ohio and still be correct as sold new ;)
Dennis Jones
Would a pre B motor Eur 1972 Wassell tank labeled bike have a alloy barrel A motor?
23 Bids $7,400 and has not met reserve. It's a restored bike not a pristine original. I'm apparently missing something [?][?]
Based on the registry started - Serial numbered bikes up to W430 with one exception had alloy cylinders. (Note the registry is still a work in progress) Next registered bike is W483 with cast iron almost on all after that. The Ebay bike is one of the exceptions with serial #W624 ST.
Dale Fisher
Penton Owners Group - Memberships
Facebook - Cheney Twinshock Racing Group - Administrator
'70 Six-Day 125 - V2017
'71 Six-Day 125 (Dave Fisher's) - V5553
'72 Mudlark - W257
'73 Jackpiner - 175 21159727
'74 Berkshire 100 - 40171056
And some silly other bikes...
I think the Wassell badged bike of Kelly Owen might have a 6 A motor from the factory.
Just a note to mention that the original engine the Wassell trials was designed to use was the BSA 175cc Bantam engine. BSA would not sell Ted Wassell new engines directly as he had hoped, but Wassell still built about 50 units as rolling chassis, as Bantam engines were plentiful at the time.
Any ads or write-ups on the Wassell trials in original configuration, from England, I have ever seen all show it with the alloy topend Sachs, or the BSA Bantam engine.
In the January 1973 issue of Popular Cycling is a test of the Penton Trials. The article states that the engine is the Sachs "B" series engine. The article refers to another engine as being available, it states that the optional engines is the Sachs "B" engine, but Penton's own info states that the optional engine is the 152cc 5 speed, surely meaning the cast iron version, I think the writer was just a bit confused in the article, the photo in the article shows the alloy topend Sachs engine and refers to it as the "B" series engine.
Anyhow, most of you guys already know all this, just putting a few thoughts out there.... I agree with Dennis that all of the Sachs powered Wassell trails machines had the 6 B when shipped from England as the production run wasn't all that long, the 6 "A" engines were pulled from instock Pentons in Lorain and swapped out for the "B" engines. Who knows, they might have even shipped some "B" engines to complaining dealers to swap out. Just imagine having some of the "A" powered machines sitting on the showroom floor and finding out that the new "B" engine powered machines were cleaning up at the local races..
My guess is that the cast iron engines were in Penton's parts department as leftover inventory from days gone by and just reconfigured to 152cc jobs to get them off the shelf.
All the above is just my opinion mixed with a few tidbits from reading literature and such, please feel free to provide your thoughts as well, as the more info we provide to folks with an interest the better..:)
The byline in the above referred to article in Popular Cycling states, " Motorcycling's First Family Makes A Top-Notch Trialer".. Obviously, Mr. Super Hunky in his Dirt Bike article/test got it all wrong [}:)]
I will try to visit with Elmer Townie and discuss this soon, as he was very much a part of all of this, Elmer headed up Penton's parts department and was also employed by John and Ted when they were BSA dealers, before the Penton was even thought of.
Paul
Of the four bikes listed on the registry the lowest being W257 ST and the highest W483 ST three were reported to have alloy cylinders and B engines. Two higher numbers were reported to have cast A engines.
Dale Fisher
Penton Owners Group - Memberships
Facebook - Cheney Twinshock Racing Group - Administrator
'70 Six-Day 125 - V2017
'71 Six-Day 125 (Dave Fisher's) - V5553
'72 Mudlark - W257
'73 Jackpiner - 175 21159727
'74 Berkshire 100 - 40171056
And some silly other bikes...
Paul, your extensive knowledge always blows my mind!
74 250 Hare scramble
73 CMF 6day
68 6day V213
Correct or not,very nice and some people sure seem to want it.
A smaller set of photos, less information, but it's back with most likely the same type ($7,400 plus)reserve as not met previously ;)
http://www.ebay.com/itm/221424852245?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT
Dale Fisher
Penton Owners Group - Memberships
Facebook - Cheney Twinshock Racing Group - Administrator
'70 Six-Day 125 - V2017
'71 Six-Day 125 (Dave Fisher's) - V5553
'72 Mudlark - W257
'73 Jackpiner - 175 21159727
'74 Berkshire 100 - 40171056
And some silly other bikes...
Gordon ( or anyone ) could you pls post a clear zoomed in picture of the " Doug Wilford " rebuild decal .... And a question ... Did this decal go on all the motors he did and what was the location of it .. thks Brian T
Brian Taylor
I own a Penton 125 Wassell/Penton Vin # W735ST that has less then 50 miles on it. I'm looking at the title now Year 1976 Vin W735ST. Bike has never been apart, painted, it is like I took it from the box. Motor # 6774019 1251/5A. I think Paul helped me work on it once at vintage days. It will start and run but thats about it. Everthing is set right but will not run over 1/4 throttle. Even changed carb off my woodsman, still wount run. Anyway this is how it came from Penton other then tires. It has a decal on top of the tank "The Queens award to Industry 1973' 73 decal on a 76 bike??? Dale I sent you info on my two trials. Also pic's of this bike under Photos my Penton pics. I had the year wrong on the pic. Dave
Hi Dave,
First thoughts are air cleaner obstruction or exhaust obstruction. Hope this helps.
Paul
Both ok and lot of compression. Points new, good spark, fual to carb, air in tires 12#???? Dave
Timing?
Dave that has to be one of the last ones, I know rumor is around 1,000 were built but I believe that includes Tyrans too. Out of all the ones I've had none had a serial number near that high.
Dennis Jones
242 Dave, After some thought, I'll take a stab for a fix. Change your flywheel, the magnets may be weak and can't provide need at higher RPM.
Paul, In a magazine I have from UK "On Two Wheels" date approx 1978, there is an article with photos on the Wassell Program (author is Frank Glendinning). Some interesting info in it advises there were 2 proto-type bikes built. An MX model had a 125cc Puch engine, and the Trials model had the Bantam 175 engine. The first production line run was 50 units made with the Bantam 175, and all were for Britain. The article then advises they purchased Sachs engines (but does NOT say what model engine), and the real market was thought to be the US. The first units were trials bikes, 700 were badged Penton for the US. There were 50 for Canada and 250 for Britain, and I assume those had Wassell Badges. Because Ted Wassell wished to deal in the US market, and the active MX market, they then purchased Sachs GS125 engines and produced approx 1000 units with a Tyran badge for a Mitsubishi contract. The article then sums up saying the production lasted approx 4 years (1971-1975) with a total production of approx 2000 units total. Nelson McCullough
Highest Wassel serial numer I have seen to date is W932 on a bike in the UK.
(http://i957.photobucket.com/albums/ae59/CheneySachs/W932Bonhams_zps4115d22e.jpg)
Dale Fisher
Penton Owners Group - Memberships
Facebook - Cheney Twinshock Racing Group - Administrator
'70 Six-Day 125 - V2017
'71 Six-Day 125 (Dave Fisher's) - V5553
'72 Mudlark - W257
'73 Jackpiner - 175 21159727
'74 Berkshire 100 - 40171056
And some silly other bikes...
Quotequote:Originally posted by BrianTaylor
Gordon ( or anyone ) could you pls post a clear zoomed in picture of the " Doug Wilford " rebuild decal .... And a question ... Did this decal go on all the motors he did and what was the location of it .. thks Brian T
Brian Taylor
Here's Doug's decal Brian. I put mine on the left side cover, not the motor. I also have one that has never been applied, but want to keep it. Maybe Randy has some also.
(//%5BURL=http://s269.photobucket.com/user/Gordo83/media/DougWilford.jpg.html%5D%5BIMG%5Dhttp://i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj52/Gordo83/DougWilford.jpg)[/URL][/img]
To be honest, I'd rather have this one. http://www.ebay.com/itm/301159706765?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649
It has all the correct parts and motor. It's the perfect bike to restore. There's not much to these bikes and this one has it all, except the rear fender.
Fairly clean and complete. With good motor, too.
Lew Mayer
Thks for posting Gordon.....Brian T
Brian Taylor
Since I have had two calls from people who are trying to figure out which is right for a original Mudlark engine I will repost what Al said. I have had Mudlarks with A (5 & 6 speed transmissions) and B engines that came that way from Penton.a They were originally received from Ted Wassell WITH B ENGINES. So I hope this helps.
"All the Wassel trials bikes came into the country with the Sachs 125-6B engines with the alloy barrels. The 6B engines were pulled and swapped out with the 5-A engines that were still coming in on the Penton bikes at the time.
For Trials Riding competition, the 5A engine is a better choice with the larger diameter crank and Bosch ignition - for low rpm riding.
Alan Buehner"
Ron Carbaugh
I think it still had a couple of days left.
(http://i957.photobucket.com/albums/ae59/CheneySachs/Muddy_zps606908e0.jpg)
Dale Fisher
Penton Owners Group - Memberships
Facebook - Cheney Twinshock Racing Group - Administrator
'70 Six-Day 125 - V2017
'71 Six-Day 125 (Dave Fisher's) - V5553
'72 Mudlark - W257
'73 Jackpiner - 175 21159727
'74 Berkshire 100 - 40171056
And some silly other bikes...