WD 16H Exhaust

[Cyborg]

Can anyone explain the exhaust with the upturned pipe on the silencer? Pretty sure its a 16H or a Big4

https://www.livescience.com/61755-submerged-motorcycle-cemetery.html

more info at: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...ions-ship-sunk-German-bomber-coast-Egypt.html

 

[timetraveller]

My guess, and I emphasise that, is that it was to give the bikes some wading ability. Enough ,say, to get the water up to the top of the crankcase but not enough to get it up to the carburettor

 

[Mike 40M]

The only picture I find in the link showing a silencer is not a Norton but a BSA M20.
Note difference in how exhaust pipe bends coming out of cylinder and tank shape.
In a good WD16H website I found this picture http://www.wdnorton.nl/16H_old/catalogus.jpg

 

[david bowen]

MOD sales near Bedford fifty years back box of 50 10 Pounds, Ron Kemp bought a box of 50 Lucas stop light switches 10 pounds,ex RAF side valve Triumph twins 10 pounds each memories memories place Kempston

 

[david bowen]

As a young apprentice, I was told the time the exhaust was made like that to stop the wind blowing up it and blowing the spark out on the Lucas magneto !

 

[david bowen]

The MOD depot was at Elstow Nr Bedford, on the A421, Birthplace of John Bunyan 1628 how things have progressed ! also a few miles down the road where Dave Hills (of Vincent stands ) served time in the last war at the Cardington RAF Base the 1914/18 Airship hangers are still there.

 

[Cyborg]

Got this back from Bob the WD 16H Guru.

"These bikes were made on order of the British Army in India, often referred to as “India Office”.

The pipes were upturned in the attempt to keep the rear end above water when crossing rivers/stream or whatever water.

India office was the only service ordering these exhausts.

They were built between 1937 and 1940. They also sported parts like sump guards, front mudguard grab handles, Vokes Aircleaners, pillion equipment and rearward extended luggage carriers where the British army did not have any of these at that time".

 

[david bowen]

Picture will be put on the forum shortly by a friend, with my Father on 1940 16H he had no trouble with water up the exhaust pipe.

 

[davidd]

David Bowen's Dad:

David

 

[david bowen]

Note the water storage tanks in the background I was told reclaimed sea water in them .