New member 1961 BSA A7SS Melksham UK

[Desburnett]

That did not work either....Here is the Rocket 3....hopfully!

Found the (more attahments) but i need to reduce my file sizes.

[rocket man]

what about some pics ove your bike

[Desburnett]

Current status,
Engine rebuilt ready to drop into frame.
New rims / spokes, tyres
Seat refurb but with "original" fringed and studded cover.
Rolling chassis
Tank rechromed and painted and hand lined (Dont ask the cost!)
Dynamo rebuilt.
Magneto rebuilt.

[tombeau]

Hello Des.

I haven't said hello yet because I don't like interrupting a good story.

I'm enjoying hearing about your history with the bike, and I think it's great that by keeping your fringed and studded seat cover, your restoration isn't eradicating the bike's history and character.

My own bike (originally an A7ss) has an Eric Oliver dealer plate on the numberplate/light unit. It was the first thing I noticed on the bike when viewing it, and whatever changes I make to the bike, it will remain there. There is also a dent in the tank which is special to me, I wont have it removed.
Anyway enough about me...
Cheers,
Iain

[Desburnett]

Hello Iain, Nice to hear from you.

I removed the seat cover from the pan and had to discard the original foam. It had become brittle and crumbled when compressed. I still felt a pang when I junked it in the skip. The seat pan needed a tidy up so I welded a thin strip of metal to the edging which had corroded. A good brush up and a lick of paint sorted it. As for the cover it seemed in good shape so I washed it in the washing machine and ironed it inside out. (Apparently this is what women do to trousers). One or two of the fringes are missing and as mentioned I replaced the chrome studs but made sure I fitted one of the originals (chrome missing) for old times sake. The new foam was supplied by Leightons of Birmingham but try as I might I couldn't get the thing to fit. I was like trying to get an octopus into a jar. I sent the whole lot to Leightons for them to fit the cover. A few days later a chap called me to say, " Hey we can fit you a new cover instead of this old one". No thanks, If you had seen some of the birds that have sat on that you would know why I want to keep it.

I know what you mean about the dealer badge. I had forgotton that mine had a oval badge rivited to the front guard just in front of the number plate. It announced that the bike was originally sold by Copes on the Hagley road Birmingham. I still have the plate and if I can carefully remove the paint that was applied over it years ago I will try to refit although I recall in removing the rivets the holes tore through the sides.

regards,

Des

[rocket man]

she is looking very tasty so far  whats the compost for are you going to grow an engine

[Desburnett]

Hi Rocket man.

I planted a D1 Bantam and just kept watering!
Found some pics of the dual seat refurb....

[rocket man]

nice one des nice to have you on the forum 

[Desburnett]

Update....

The motor is now finished, I have some pics to post later. Invested in a jig to hold the motor on the bench so decided to build complete rather than fit the bottom end to the frame and go from there. I saw a clip on youtube dated from the 60's inside the Meriden factory where a guy was lifting the complete engine direct into the frame. No lifting aids just skill and strength. He had the job done before we could do a risk assesment these days.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ipiD6nm7Iy0&feature=related 
(The film is 10 min long, the motor is fitted at the 8.5 min stage)

Interesting point...I have rebuilt the motor without using any gasket cement, just the gasket with a smear of grease on both faces. All covers had their studs removed, threads checked / re tapped and most important holes re chamfered to remove any "pull" on the material that supported the first threads. It will be oil tight.

[rocket man]

thanks des thats a great video first class worth watching

[Desburnett]

Its actually film two of three. If you go back to the link and search on Youtube for "Triumph Factory" you should see the other two.

Last day at work tomorrow then off for two weeks in France so putting the motor in the frame will be about three weeks off.

[Desburnett]

Back from holidays so now need to fit the motor.......Oh......Fitted wardrobes to complete first, there's another week end gone! 

[Desburnett]

Managed to replace the rear chain guard that I foolishly discarded in the late 60s. Cost more than the bike did back in 1967, come to think of it everything I have replaced cost more than the original price including the stainless fasteners!
Pics are of trial fitting which needed a little "adjustment" to line up fixing holes. Its the original stove enamel paint, seems a shame to strip it off and re paint.

[tombeau]

...How long before you remember why you "foolishly discarded it"?
Cheers,
Iain

[Desburnett]

Iain,
Yes, back in 69, thought I would change the look. Came by a set of chrome stanchions with headlight brackets and a chrome headlight shell, twin spedo and rev counter Spitfire style replaced the naff Nacelle.
Looked good then but now its got to go back to original. Planning to fit the motor this week end but I will need to enlist the assistance of some willing heavyweight to lift the motor in. I posted a link to a film where a guy in the Triumph factory is fitting complete engines, I recon its a spoof where there are no internals...or were they just more fit in those days?

Regards,

Des

[Desburnett]

Fitted the motor as planned. Its been 40 years since the motor was last in the frame so a bit of a milestone. Used some pipe lagging to protect the frame paintwork plus it comes in useful to put round the edges of the bike lift, saves cussing each time I walk into it. Got to fit the front engine plates and dynamo then can start to work on the drive side.

I have a question relating to the two fixings that hold the front section of the fully enclosed rear chain guard in position. The hole centres line up and are identical to the two holes in the inner primary chaincase and it looks as if the two bolts that locate the sliding plate in the inner chain case serve the same purpouse if they were longer. I can see the reference of the shorter bolts in the parts list but can not find a reference to any longer bolts. Any info greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Des

[rocket man]

hi Des shes looking good mate beautiful job

[trevinoz]

Des,
         You are correct in thinking that the sliding plate bolts secure the front guard.
The part number you want is 42-7520.
If you want to make them here are the dimensions.
Hex head - .600" AF x .090" thick.
Shoulder beneath head - 5/16"d x 3/32"
Shank - 1/4" x 1 11/16" with 5/8" 26 TPI thread.
I hope this helps.
Trev.

[Desburnett]

Hey Trev, that's brilliant, thanks. I thought I knew every nut and bolt on the old girl but having swapped out the fully enclosed unit for a single top guard 40 years ago I cant recall modifying the bolts.
Aim to do some more work on Sunday but there is eight hours of British Superbike, Moto Gp and F1 on the box so progress will be limited!
Thanks again.

Des

[Desburnett]

Update...

Managed an hour or so to fit the primary drive side. This unit has the four spring, five plate Triumph clutch. The corks had swolen in places so decided to fit replacements. I had to leave out the nearside footrest mounting spindle as it was bent. Made a new shaft / tube and had a stroke of luck. Question...what size and how many serrations on the end of the spindle. Measuring the OD it was a shade down on 0.750" and counting the serrations = 48. Bingo....same as Jaguar and Rover steering columns / pinions back in the 80s. A quick rummage through storage unit produced a control ring that I used to use to pass off new broaching tools with 3/4 x 48 serrations, offered it up to the footrest mount, fitted perfect. A new shaft was turned and 48 straight cut serrations milled into the end. The milling took with setting up around 1/2 hour but when I used to produce these serrations on steering colums they were cold rolled and took 3 seconds each. Its a bit tricky to remount the footrest mounting shaft in the space between frame tubes and primary drive but I did check that it will fit now I have mounted the drive side. A little bit of usless trivia.. As the footrests are mounted on serrations and are therefore "adjustable" each serration will alter the radial angle of the footrest by 7 degrees 30 Min.  Must get a life.....