Gerald Gardebled in Beijing
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"Here's the new grey LRM solo bike built with quality parts as usual: PLA issue brand new jugs with cross hatching, short skirt 3 ring M1-2 pistons, all FAG bearings in engine and rear end, sealed FAG bearings for the wheels, Japanese roller tapered steering bearings, vintage style wiring etc..."











August 22, 2006  
This 12V SV solo was recently completed by LRM.
August 6, 2006  
Clutch adjustment from an older 6V. The ball and groove prevent it from turning freely and therefore staying in adjustment.
July 30, 2006  




"Here is an LRM solo M1 made to resemble an R71 from WWII. The bike features the following tapered roller bearings in the steering head, NTN bearings in the engine and final drive, sealed FAGbearings for the wheels, vintage NOS PLA-issued gas tank with rubber knee pads, short skirt three-ring M1-2 pistons and nice vintage NOS PLA issue jugs with cross hatched cylinder walls."











July 9, 2006  
Here's a PLA sidecar bucket with a military marking that seems to be from a MP unit.
July 1, 2006  
An M1 tranny with a marking from Factory 3017.
July 1, 2006  
"Here is a Type I engine built using 80mm car pistons and a tune up camshaft."
June 28, 2006  
Max and Alpha were recently featured in a Chinese pets magazine. The enlarged image shows the whole thing.
June 11, 2006  
"Out of the Wonderland are these five, beautiful PLA issue final drives from the seventies. Top quality item."
May 26, 2006  
"And this is how the inside of a PLA issue final drive looks after 30 years in the stock."
May 26, 2006  
"Good quality OHV jugs. They've been cross hatched and have better cooling fins than new ones. As you can see, the newer ones have an iron ridge between the fins. If interested in these jugs drop me a mail."
May 26, 2006  


"I found some SV air intake pipe sealing rubber rings that are marked 7425 Factory for the factory that produced them (a PLA factory that used to produce a lot of rubber parts for the CJ.) On the other side they're marked 721077 for the part reference number in the catalogue. Little details, but these are what makes a vintage restoration more authentic and interesting."
May 26, 2006  
"This picture from a 1983 calendar shows Shan Dong 750 solo bikes powered with M1 sidevalve engines on Chang An avenue."
May 6, 2006  
"Here are some pictures of Max and me taken today by Donna Photo Studio. They needed Max as a model, the second time this month."
March 7, 2006  


"Here are some pictures of the building of a 750 D engine (M1M, sidevalves, 12V) I recently built. You can see the pressing in of the crank bearing and the crank itself. Also on these PLA jugs that have been crosshatched, I noticed stamped numbers at the intakes for the carburetors, a 2 on the left hand cylinder and a 4 on the right hand cylinder."



March 7, 2006  
"An interesting engine case from the mid-eighties. This 6V crankcase features four Chinese characters: An ji ben lu. (Ben lu means a running deer.) The engine tag is from the Yue Yang factory in Hunan province, also known as the Number 52 Factory. On the timing gear "53" is for the Number 53 Factory where the gear was produced."
March 6, 2006  
A famous Russian "bottlecap" wheel with a Russian 400x19" tire mounted on the rim. Early CJs sometimes had these wheels.
March 4, 2006  
"Here is an air cleaner cover from the sixties. The main difference with the newer ones is the clamp. It's not spot welded but riveted."
"Air filter elements.  1.) Third generation   2.) Second generation   3.) First generation   4.) Latest generation.  A little detail but to make a correct restoration, for some it is very important."
February 26, 2006  
"Here's an engine with a crank problem. I have been working on it tonight. I haven't removed the crank from the engine yet so I cannot tell right now what is the exact reason of that failure. As you can see on the picture the rear part of the crank came out and the right hand rod is having a big play. Happily the jug and piston did not get damaged thanks to the play at the wrist pin."
February 22, 2006  


More PLA issue cylinders.

The cooling channels are properly cleared and the cylinder walls are crosshatched, very important for an air cooled bike. The crosshatch holds the oil for a better cooling.

PLA parts are just higher quality than the other stuff!

February 13, 2006  
Here is a timing gear cover from the Yue Yang factory— also called Factory Number 52 in Hunan province. The logo is quite different from what we have seen until now. This one come off a PLA engine from 2001. (The enlarged image shows the entire cover.)
March 27, 2005  




"Here are pictures taken at Clay's place. As I was a bit busy today, I asked him to go to the train station to pick up some jugs made during the 1970s for PLA bikes. These are much better made than the newer ones found nowadays."

March 26, 2005  






"Here are pictures taken this morning at the Citroen teaching center in Beijing. We are having a class to teach CJ owners how to perform the minimum maintenance needed on their bikes. The idea came from Jean-Marie Bussiere and the lessons are taught by Daniel Rouche (electrical aspect) and me (mechanical aspect). These lessons are open to everyone and free of charge."



March 20, 2005  


And here's another gorgeous bike soon to be shipped to its new owner.

March 20, 2005  
This Type I petcock was used on PLA bikes. It was one of the surprises that turned up in my latest package from Gerald.
And so were these vintage brass carburetor floats which will indeed find their new homes on my bike, GSII.
January 15, 2005  


Look at this! These are Xing Fu 250 forks. They came with patriotic slogans painted on them. One has the Mao quote "Follow the Communist party!" and the other "Listen to Chairman Mao's words!" They were made by the Shang Hai Motorcycle Factory during the Cultural Revolution as written on the certificate that came with them. There's a Mao quote on the certificate as well.

Cooooool!
December 30, 2004  
A box of 10 brass floats from September 1967. They were made by the Shang Hai Motorcycle factory, makers of the Xing Fu 250 two years later the Dong Hai 750.
December 29, 2004  


Here are pictures of the inside mounting bracket for the light bulb of the sidecar fender taillight. In the past, this taillight was in fact the same as the bike's taillight. What is interesting in the one shown here is that it features two bulbs—one for the brake and running light and the second for the license plate as this one was used as the bike's taillight.

This bracket is different from the standard one (third picture) and is of very good quality, not often seen on Changs.
December 29, 2004  
This is a Type I engine from 1965. It has the correct front cover from the period. This particular engine will find its way onto a future restoration. Gerald currently has more than 15 Type I engines awaiting restoration.

December 25, 2004  


Here's M1M is built exactly as a PLA bike from 1990s should be. It's authentic in every detail.
December 15, 2004  
Clay took this excellent picture of Gerald and Alpha in action. What a way to travel!
December 15, 2004  


This is interesting. These are vintage final drives from 1971 from a PLA stock. Gerald discovered a Russian bearing with 1958 engraved on it when he took one apart. Also, there are two part numbers—one with a 750 designation and the other with 72, another example of the intended M72 and CJ750 applications of these early parts.
December 11, 2004  
Here's a vintage Type II CJ headlight from 1970. The differences are the rim with visor and the dimmer switch inside the headlight, now supressed. It still has the BMW type ignition switch and a Chang Jiang logo stamped on it.
December 11, 2004  




Here's a set of handlebars from a PLA warehouse. At first glance they look pretty standard but if you take a closer look you'll noticed that on the left hand side there's an unusual switch—the same type used as the starter switch on modern 12V bikes. What's it doing on a vintage PLA bike from the early 1970s? 12V electric start bikes only came out in 1986.

In 1970 the Chinese made a change on the CJ horn-light-advance switch. The Type I switch was replaced by this one. But according to the manual from the period some other modifications were made. They were using a truck light switch installed in the headlight. That unusual switch on that handlebar was for the horn. These handlebars should be from the early 1970s—the earliest would be 1970.





December 9, 2004  


Every now and then Gerald makes a special trip to a secret place he calls CJ Wonderland. On this visit Clay went along and as you can see in these pictures, they really hit the jackpot. That truck is loaded with vintage NOS CJ parts for use in restorations. Whoa.



December 9, 2004  
 
These are PLA-issue inner fork tubes from the 1970s. They're still wrapped in protective waxed paper!
December 8, 2004  
Gerald had one of those vintage PLA CJ tanks painted in the traditional BMW style. It looks like 8.2 million RMB! (That's a million bucks.)
December 5, 2004  
CJ clutch disk from 1974—slightly different from the ones used nowadays.
December 3, 2004  




Gerald's latest purchase—a 1965 Chang Jiang. This bike features a Russian M72 built-in tool box gas tank, a Type I sidecar frame, a Type II headlight (the 1970 model with the hooded rim and BMW-type ignition switch. And, as you can see, it has the Chang Jiang logo stamped on it.) This bike also has a Type I engine and gearbox with an M72-style driveshaft. There are grease fittings for the seat and steering head. This bike could be the Gamma Project.

December 2, 2004  


These are PLA-issue gas tanks from the 1970s featuring rubber pads on each side and CJ decals instead of the stickers used nowadays. They are of very good quality.
December 1, 2004    
Today was my very lucky day. I received a surprise package from Gerald and this was inside, a vintage sidecar running light lens and bezel. The lens has the CJ logo cast into the glass. (That's right—glass, not plastic.) It would indeed look great on the bike but, by the same token, it's too nice to actually use. Its new home may be the display case instead. Thanks a million Gerald!
December 1, 2004    
A box of PLA carburetors float from April, 1978. They were made at PLA Factory 7430.
December 1, 2004    


PLA-issue carburetor rebuild kits that contain only the upper parts, a very unusual item to see. The kit was made by PLA Factory 7420. It contains two upper parts, two limiting needles and the intermediate speed adjusting screws. One thing to be noticed is that the two locking rings for the upper part are made of plastic and not metal as on the standard carbs. The explanation? Possibly to avoid rust and therefore not being able to easily take the carb apart.
November 30, 2004  


Clay Jones recently bought an NOS 1974 PLA-issue engine from Gerald. The big surprise was finding Japanese Nachi bearings inside—straight from the factory. There's no way counterfeit Japanese bearings were being produced in China back in 1974. This is a very interesting matter since it further illustrates the high quality that went into CJ engines from this period.

On the left is the certificate that accompanied Clay's engine. The bearings appear on the right. The builder was the State Owned Hong Xiang Jiang Machine Manufacturing Factory.
November 29, 2004  
How about this? These are Chinese-made sparkplugs from 1974. The certificate on the right lists the name of the manufacturer as the State Owned Nanjing Electrical [can't make it out] Factory.
November 29, 2004  


This box is marked Chang Jiang 750 12V, Shanghai Car Light Factory. But it's also rubber stamped with Chang Jiang-750 6V, much to Gerald's delight. Inside was a beautiful vintage Type III headlamp assembly which has small threaded holes on each side—not like the big holes they use for turn signals nowadays.

November 28, 2004    


These are PLA-issue donuts in their original packaging. They are very strong and of good quality.

November 28, 2004    
This is PLA-issue fuel hose from Factory 7425. There are three different pieces—one for the balance tube, one for the right carb and one for the left. They're threaded on the inside and are stronger than the hoses that come with newer factory bikes. These particular hoses were intended for use with the CJ Type I petcock.
November 28, 2004    
These are PLA-issue spokes in their original packaging. But take a close look at the nipple on the right. It's decorated with a PLA emblem consisting of a star, leaves and bars. This goes way beyond cool.
November 27, 2004  
Gerald noticed this trademark on some old cylinder head gaskets. It's that of a manufacturer we haven't encountered up to this point.
November 27, 2004  
This is great so be sure to enlarge it. It's a packing slip from a PLA-issue gas cap made by PLA Factory 7436. It has a quote from Chairman Mao.
November 27, 2004  
Gerald carries John Heim's gorgeous leather products for CJs (and other bikes.) Here's a sample of saddle bags and seats.
November 27, 2004  
Vintage final drive case covers wrapped up in protective wax paper. They have one cast reinforcement as opposed to the two found on newer drives. What makes these especially interesting is the PLA Factory 7416 marking on the casing.
November 26, 2004  
A box of SV cylinder head bolts made in 1977 by PLA Factory 7424. They're black whereas modern bolts are yellow Parkerised. These bolts are of very good quality.
November 26, 2004  
Another product from Factory 7425, a PLA plant that produced all the various rubber parts used on Changs. Geralds says this is a very strong seat.
November 25, 2004  
"Here's the box containing two seals for the final drive. It specifies both CJ750 and M72. They were made by Factory 7425 in January, 1978. On the back is a quote from Chairman Mao."
November 24, 2004  


"Here are pictures of a box containing a rubber for the kick start lever, made by Factory 402 in the Chengdu military district, Sichuan Province. (Notice the 402 factory marking.) The certificate indicates that it was manufactured in June, 1965. What makes this otherwise insignificant part interesting (besides its age) is how high the quality is compared to today's rubber. The thickness is ideal for an M1 6V which you kick to start. This rubber doesn't come off like the newer stuff and it lasts much longer. I had one on my first CJ and four years later it's still on it." (Be sure to view the enlarged images.)

November 22, 2004  
Here's a rarely seen item—a straight CJ center stand.
From October 12, 1965, the box for an inner fork tube seal. These were made by Factory 302.
November 21, 2004  
Here is a vintage CJ steering damper plate. It was attached to the frame at the same place where the sidecar connecting rod is attached to the motorcycle frame, the same as on early M72s.
November 19, 2004  
You've got to see this to believe it. (The enlarged image shows it all.) It's a vintage sidecar running light lens. It's made of glass and is embossed with a CJ logo!
November 18, 2004  
Not all CJ carburetors have plastic floats. Gerald sent this example of original vintage brass floats that were standard components in Chang carbs at one time.
November 17, 2004