Numbers on the crankcase

[Ady00]

Hi
I have the letters and numbers HM6771 stamped on my twin's crankcase below the engine number does anybody know what these could possably be about.

Thanks......Ady

 

[ET43]

I expect that the engine was rebuilt by Hillgate Motors who used to be run by Martin Peake in Stockport, Cheshire. He stamped my twin engine too. Hopefully your numbers are the same as the original numbers. ET43

 

[Graham Smith]

Phil's right.

Hilgate Motors took to stamping their rebuilt engines in this way.

 

[Ady00]

Thank you both for that, thats cleared up that little mystery,

Many thanks.....Ady

 

[TouringGodet]

Boy, that would annoy me, to have a repair shop stamp my crankcases like that. Did they tell you before hand they would do that?

 

[Albervin]

A bit like a watchmaker leaving his mark inside a case after a repair. It meant they stood by their work; something that is rare these days. I love the marks scratched inside the case of my 130 year old fob watch, it adds history and patina. I doubt that I can claim on warranty though.. It still keeps excellent time when I remember to wind it up.

 

[ET43]

Hi Steve D, My Shadow was built up from parts by Hillgate when I worked in Bermuda, and only saw the component parts on a shelf when I was home on leave. What I actually got I realised later was probably not what I saw, but the machine came with a new registration number, for 1973!!!. It had a Shadow engine and a Rapide chassis. I think that this is why their numbers were stamped on to the crank case. But having spent four years on an island with a 20mph speed limit, I was not too worried. Cheers, ET43

 

[Hugo Myatt]

Does anyone know if the shortlived 'Harper Engines' rebuilds were re-numbered? I met a bloke outside the Bisley Shooting Club in North Harrow. He had just bought a 'new' one, a C Twin, and said it did not handle. He was surprised when I pointed out that the rear hydraulic damper was missing.

 

[TouringGodet]

The marks inside a watch case are cool, out of sight, plus nearly invisible to the naked eye. And stamps inside a crankcase would be fine, too, whether easily visible or not. But altering the outside is a whole different ball game IMO.