Stopping The Machine - Matchless 46/G3L 1946 Maintenance Manual And Instruction Book

The exhaust valve lifter is N O T used in normal driving on main and secondary roads.
When travelling slowly, such as may occur in traffic on a hill, and the engine commences
to labour, it is then necessary to change to a lower gear. Engine " knocking " or
" pinking " and a harshness in the transmission are symptoms of such labour and although
relief can sometimes be found by retarding the ignition, it is generally much better to
change down. A good driver is able to sense such conditions and will make the change
before the engine has reached the stage of distress. The gear box is provided to be
used and consequently full use should be made of the intermediate gears to obtain
effortless running and smooth hill climbing.
Keep the feet clear of the brake and gear pedals when not actually using them and keep
the hand off the clutch lever when not is use.
Drive as much as possible on the throttle, making the minimum use of the brakes.
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STOPPING THE MACHINE

To stop the machine, close the throttle, declutch by lifting the large lever on the left
bar, and gently apply both brakes. Increasing the pressure on them as the road speed
of the machine deceases. Place the gear change foot pedal in the neutral position
and stop the engine. (See Para. 6).
Before leaving the machine, turn off the fuel supply, because should the carburetter
flood while the engine is stationery, there is a possibility of neat fuel entering the cylinder
via the inlet port. When this occurs, there is a risk of fire when re-starting and real
danger of oil dilution with the consequent risk of engine seizure.
When using the machine on wet or greasy roads, it is generally better to apply BOTH
brakes together, because sudden or harsh application of either brake only, under such
conditions, may result in a skid.
In all conditions, it is advisable to make a habit of always using both brakes together
rather than to habitually using the rear brake and reserving the front brake for emergency.
10 RUNNING IN
For at least the first 500 miles, care to avoid over-driving must be taken and, under no
circumstances must the engine be driven on full throttle during this "running in"
period. Above all, the engine must not be allowed to attain a high rate of revolutions
either when on the road or running idle. To be on the safe side, the following speeds
should not be exceeded in the various gears : 1st. 10 m.p.h. ; 2nd. 15 m.p.h. ; 3rd.
25 m.p.h. ; and top, 30 m.p.h.
Special attention must be given during the running in period to such details as tappet
adjustment, chains, brakes, contact breaker points, wheel bearings and steering head
bearings, all of which tend to bed down in the first hundred miles or so. Particular
note must be made of the adjustment of steering head bearings, which, if run in a slack
condition, will be quickly ruined. After this bedding down process has taken place,
adjustments to such details will probably only be necessary at lengthy intervals.
11 AFTER RUNNING IN
After the first 500 miles of running, speed on the various gears may safely be gradually
increased, but under no circumstances should the engine be driven at maximum
power output until at least 2.000 miles have been covered. Although the engine is
capable of " revving " very fast, over-revving must, at all times, be avoided, particularly
on the lower gears.
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