A.J.S. 8, 14, Instruction Book, Page: 11 / 60

To engage a higher gear the pedal is pressed downward with the toe and a lower gear is
obtained by raising the pedal with the instep. To engage first gear from the neutral
position, the pedal is therefore raised. After each pedal movement, internal springs
return the pedal to its normal horizontal position.
The pedal must be moved to the full extent of its travel when selecting a gear, either
up or down. It must not be "stamped down" or jabbed, but firmly and decisively
moved till it stops. A half-hearted movement may not give full engagement. Keep
the foot off the pedal when driving and between each gear change because, unless the
lever can freely return to its normal central position, the next gear cannot be engaged.
R U N N I N G IN THE ENGINE
It is a natural desire to learn the capabilities of one's machine, similarly it can be irritating
to be overtaken by a rider of a machine fitted with a smaller capacity engine. Never-
theless, the owner of a new machine must, in his own interest, strictly adhere to the
principles of running in, which will result in a quieter engine, with a better performance
than a similar machine owned by a rider who is unwilling to drive with restraint during
the initial stage of running in.
The load imposed on the engine is governed by the amount of throttle that is used, and
the makers of your machine, know from experience, that if the throttle or twist grip is
not opened in excess of one-third of its total movement for the first 1,000 miles independent
of road speed, the engine cannot be overloaded.
After this distance the amount of throttle can be progressively increased.
Special attention must be given, during the running in period, to such details as valve
rocker adjustment, chains, brakes, contact breaker points, 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 only be necessary at lengthy intervals.
Do not overlook instructions for changing oil (see page 14).
9
www.ajs-matchless.info