Pioneer Veteran & Vintage Motorcycle New Hudson Big Six V-Twin engine 770cc

Pioneer Veteran & Vintage Motorcycle New Hudson Big Six V-Twin engine 770cc

This early V-Twin New Hudson Big Six engine is incomplete. But it would do as a good basis for a build-up. It comes with the cam gears, which is always a good start when rebuilding an engine.

It’s difficult to be certain on the age of this particular New Hudson Big Six V-Twin engine. In part, it’s because there seems to have been some mis-matching of information on these early 6 HP models. They are known as the Master Model Big Six.

According to a write up about the launch of this model, it became available in November 1914 as a “new model” for 1915. It was designed as a passenger machine and came with a 3-speed gearbox. The V-Twin offered 6 HP from a 770cc, 50 Degree, motor.

However, when I researched this model, it appears that there are Big Six models out there that are dated 1913 and 1914.

The engine numbering on the 1913 and 1914 models is logical though. they are both in the early 1000’s. By 1915, the engine numbers are stamped 12xx. It’s interesting that one barrel on this engine is stamped with the engine number from one of the engines mentioned here. There’s nothing odd in that. It was common to stamp the base flange of the barrel with the same number as the engine. As I suspect there aren’t many of these engines around, this one has ended up with a barrel swap.

The engine number on this engine begins with a letter prefix- V. There is also a single stamp with “H”. Without access to any factory records, I can’t accurately suggest a date of manufacture. However, when I compare with JAP engines that were made pre-WW1 and post-WW1, there is a similarity. Before WW1, JAP stamped their engines with numbers and no letters. In 1920, JAP began to use a letter prefix / suffix system for date and model type. So, I would think this New Hudson Big Six V-Twin engine is likely made during, or just after WW1.

Condition of the New Hudson Big Six V-Twin engine

It’s comfortably 100+ years old so expect wear and minor repairs. It has a repair to the lower part of the crank case and a repair to the timing cover. (both shown in the images). It has marks and scars from use. It is also incomplete.

It comes with:

• A set of engine cases, with raised castings of “New Hudson” and “Birmingham”. There is a repair to the bottom of the engine cases. I have shown this in the images. It’s a decent repair.
• A set of barrels. Some of the fins are chipped. I have shown the chips in the images. Overall though, they are in decent condition and OK inside. One barrel has a nut missing.
• A flywheel / crank installed, together with the crank end nut that holds the drive sprocket on.
• A pair of connecting rods.
• Two pairs of valves and one valve cap.
• The timing gears etc as shown in the images.
• Timing cover, without fixing screws.
• The carb manifold. This is the correct one as it has the cable guide.

Overall, the screw threads are all OK.

Other Pioneer and veteran motorcycle parts

I have some. Please take a look at the pre-1915 parts for sale here, or go to the 1915-1930 parts here.

Buyer notes

Shipping is charged ON TOP of the price for the item. There are too many variables to include shipping in the checkout, so please contact me before you buy and I will give you a shipping price.

I usually ship to most destinations.

International shipping available. Let me know where you are and I will send you a price for shipping with tracking

Combined shipping available. 

Viewing: Please come and check it over before you buy. It is at PE28, near St Ives in Cambridgeshire.

Collection: If you don’t want it shipped, I have plenty of space. If you can’t collect for a while, it’s not a problem. However, I will need to be paid very soon after the sale. Thanks.

Payment: Good old fashioned money on collection is preferred. I can accept payment through PayPal or by bank transfer as well. I can accept EUROS. Please ask. 

Import Taxes: Please note that IMPORT DUTIES are not something I can control. If you are buying from outside the UK, there is a chance that you will have to pay import taxes. Import taxes vary from country to country. If there are charges to pay, it is the buyer’s responsibility to research the cost and pay the duties. The price that you see on my advert is for the item and not the item plus whatever taxes might be due.

If you aren’t a member yet, it might be worth joining the Vintage Motorcycle club.