George Ridgeon’s lifelong passion is classic and vintage motorcycles, something that still consumes a lot of his time today, despite a serious accident in 1981 while working as a fireman. Although George has seen plenty of changes over the years, among the few constants across more than four decades of classic and vintage motorcycle restoration and racing is his use of LOCTITE products from Henkel.
Now in his 71st year, George’s pride and joy is a Greeves Oulton 350cc model. Although the machine today is around 50 years' old, in the past it has taken part in illustrious races such as the Isle of Man Manx Grand Prix. Naturally, the bike has benefited enormously from the application of LOCTITE products. The picture shows one of George's friends doing the necessary.
“In 1973, I wrote a letter to LOCTITE to see if they could help me prepare my motorcycles for racing,” he says. “Much to my delight, I received a large tub of LOCTITE nut lock and another of LOCTITE stud and bearing fit.”
In sending a photo of his good ride in the 1974 Manx Grand Prix, LOCTITE agreed to help again in preparation for the 1975 race. Indeed, LOCTITE was so taken with the story of George’s success that they invited him to bring his motorcycle to London for the grand launch of several new LOCTITE products. Upon arrival, George found himself rubbing shoulders with the representatives from JPS Racing (Lotus), British Leyland and Reliant, as well as Colin Wilson, then the chief engineer from Beaulieu Motor Museum, with whom he struck up a long-lasting friendship.
Although over 40 years ago, George still retains his admiration for LOCTITE products to this day. “LOCTITE is a very good product, especially for classic and older motorcycles where gaskets and bearings inevitably work their way loose,” he says. “My motorcycles still retain many original parts from the 60s and, where aluminium components are involved, there’s often wear and tear. This is especially true on items such as the drive side main bearing in the crankcase and the gearbox bearing. The problem is easily solved though, with LOCTITE 270.”
LOCTITE 270 is a high strength anaerobic threadlocking compound that provides maximum efficacy in the securing and sealing of bolts, nuts and studs. The product serves to permanently lock assemblies which must not come loose under vibration. It works on all metals, including passive substrates such as stainless steel, aluminium and plated surfaces.”
George says that another product, LOCTITE 648 high temperature retaining compound, is used for parts in which excessive wear in the bearings is detected. LOCTITE 648 cures when confined in the absence of air between close-fitting metal surfaces and prevents loosening and leakage due to shock and vibration.
Among other problems for which George has found a fast, reliable and cost effective solution with LOCTITE, includes one relating to an engine pulley. He explains that issues are sometimes encountered with the engine pulley on a straight shaft with a Woodruff key. This wears, causing a mild interference fit to become quite slack.
“I tried LOCTITE 243 on the shaft to take up the slack and it worked very well,” he says. “In fact, in the past we’ve used it both for the practice and the race in the Isle of Man – a total of 150 miles.”
The use of LOCTITE 243, a general-purpose, medium strength threadlocker with excellent oil tolerance, means that parts can be separated using hand tools. Disassembly is necessary, as the parts have to be removed to change an oil seal.
Anaerobics, however, are not the only LOCTITE products to be found on the Greeves, as George can confirm: “I find the rubber silicones are particularly good on two-stroke barrels, while the temperature gasket is good on the expansion chambers where the stub fits into the cylinder barrel.”
Although George does not race his bikes as much as he would like due to do his disability, he still takes his beloved machines to vintage motorcycle fairs around the country. Indeed, the more sedate pastime of lawn green bowls takes up more of his time these days.
“I’ll never forget the help LOCTITE gave me when I needed it,” he says, “and I can remember the LOCTITE product launch in London like it was yesterday. I think I did the royal wave to the guards on my way past Buckingham Palace from a 1909 Renault belonging to Beaulieu.”
Over the years, many have called George a loveable eccentric, and he has lost none of his charm and idiosyncrasies to this day. In fact, in the 2015 General Election, George was the official Monster Raving Loony Party candidate for Gloucester. For those thinking that is indeed eccentric, in 2010 the Gloucester Citizen reported that George acquired Winston Churchill’s gold dentures for the sum of £10,000.
