New member 1961 BSA A7SS Melksham UK

[Desburnett]

Went to Shepton Mallet on the weekend and purchased final bits and bobs (mag pickups, leads, plugs, cables, fuel taps......) Soaked the new taps in fuel overnight, nice on off action when fitted to tank. Checked for leaks...all fine. 5.5 pints of oil into the oil tank, kicked engine over with plugs out to prime oil pump. Fitted new plugs, 1/2 choke, fuel on, retard ignition, tickle carb, she went on the first kick. I must admit that as the point of starting was nearing I was actually feeling nervous. Its 39 years since the motor was last run. Looking at the oil return pipe and feeling for pressure or returing oil I was relieved after what seemed a long minute return oil was being delivered to the tank. Stopped the motor as only straight pipes are fitted with no silencers, music to the ears. Still some way to go with tinware painting and electrics but a milestone achieved today.

[rocket man]

well done mate 

[muskrat]

Well done mate. It's a great feeling. Not long now till you ride off into the sunset.
Cheers

[Desburnett]

Updated update...

Went to Stafford show, thats two weekends in a row visiting bike shows so have a few jobs to do around the house to balance things up. Saw a Royal Enfield 150 Ensign same as my first bike but the £9 I let mine go for in 1967 has transformed over the years to £695. Came away with a new set of down pipes and silencers and more bits and bobs that I never knew I needed. Since starting the motor for the first time last week I have actually dismantled more bits than assembled. The Oil tank (thankfully still in primer) has a hairline crack at the seam weld next to the front frame bracket. It weeps a tiny amount of oil but needs fixing. The plan is to stop off the feed and return pipes, breather and to modify a spare filler cap by machining a hole to take a tyre valve. Inflate to 10 / 15 psi and immerse in a tank of water. If there are any leaks it will be obvious where they are. Another drawback is the paint I used on the carb drip tray is not petrol proof and has blemished. Its gloss black from Halfords sprayed over an undercoat. I have some clear spray laquer which I am testing out to see if that will do the trick. The dynamo is out at the moment to a place in Yate near Bristol. Sean the owner is very helpful and will be supplying a service exchange unit and a updated voltage control unit. One problem I noticed regarding the carb drip tray. It is fouling the manual advance cable cover on the magneto. I seem to remember a heat resistant spacer block between the carb and head but apart from not having one the studs dont appear long enough to accommodate anything more than the current gaskets, carb flange and drip tray. Despite making a new splined footrest mount for the left side, I found that the right side turns in its splines when mounted in the normal riding position. Will make a new shaft and cut splines later this week. Seem to have gone backwards over the last week.........

[chaz]

Hi Des

youve posted more on here than me.
Hopefully Shaw will have another A10 starting up soon and another close after.
both rescued form the great fire of '08....

[LJ.]

I seem to remember a heat resistant spacer block between the carb and head

Hi Des...

There are no heat spacers on either of my A10's or the twin carbs on my A7. But My M21 has one and wont really run while hot without it... Perhaps you had an M20/21 sometime ago? Got your New Old Stock speedo cable coming tomorrow which gives me the clue about your enquiry of these spacers. 

Cheers!

P.S Enjoyed your stories immensely!

[Desburnett]

Hi Lj

Nearly right, the M21 belonged to my mate Roger who I mentioned in an earlier post. When he emigrated to USA in 1977 I had boxes of his bits and pieces athough I couldn't persuade him to give me his Egli Vincent!
I would have used the cable on my A7 but it's too long. I measured it at 54" and according to Draganfly catalog its the correct length for the M series.
That reminds me..........back in 1968 ish was when Roger bought the M21, it was fitted with a double adult side car which another mate Norman and I were sat during a night ride to the Lickey Hills south of Birmingham. There is a steep hill (Rose hill) which the unit climbed 3 up quite easily and once over the crest we turned right down a country lane. It was pitch black with no road lighting and I can recall the headlight giving as much illumination as a candle between flickers. Just at the point of reaching a left hairpin bend the lights gave out completely. The road went left, we went straight on, up a bank and through a hedge. It was like a scene from the carry on films. I heard a yelp from Roger as the action of going through the hedge had wiped him from the bike leaving Norman and myself in the sidecar. We emerged from the other side of the hedge with handle bars flapping from side to side tracking across a ploughed field. The thing had so much torque that even on tickover we were being transported at walking pace without anyone at the helm. I was stuck in the back and Norman couldn't get the door open for laughing. We were eventually stopped by a shallow ditch and apart from a few scratches from the hedge we all survived.

[LJ.]

Nice story Des! This is getting more like Jackanory every day!   [For the overseas: Jackanory was a UK TV childrens story time program during the late sixties!]

Here is another M21 on the top of that Hill at Lickey... This was when I was doing the Round Britain Rally, covering some 11,000 miles in six months and one of the Land Marks I had to find and visit was the trough at the top of the hill. (Remember this?) This was an ideal place for horses to stop and take a breather and cool drink after that long slog and what a slog it is! More reading about that Rally here...

http://www.ljswain.btinternet.co.uk/rbr.htm

Edit: Speedo cable just arrived thanks!

[Desburnett]

LJ,

I remember it well. Dead opposite the horse trough is a cemetary (pun intended) it's where Herbert Austin of Austin motor co is buried. The lane we came unstuck on is first right after the trough after climbing the hill. Happy days and what a small world.

Great web site and pictures of your round britain rallies!!!

Des

[Desburnett]

Update...

Not much progress of late. Been working abroad but looking forward with tinkering with a few bits this weekend. The side stand needs some attention and the correct carb drip tray (offset) has arrived from SRM. Oil tank is in two halves being cleaned out and wiring is all in place. I have a new old stock Lucas King of the Road 6 volt battery that I aquired in 1969, its never had any acid in it so I hope it will be ok.

Cheers

Des

[Desburnett]

Update.....

Real slow progress, mainly due to cold weather. I don't have the luxury of a workshop so working outside is not currently an option. Side stand sorted and oiltank is now welded back together after splitting and cleaning out. Decided to send tinware to Allan Templeton (Lewis Templeton) to do the paintwork, he did a fantastic job on the tank so in for a penny......
Have thought about erecting a workshop size shed in garden but the garden is small and access is a problem. A decent size shed will be too overpowering so now contemplating moving house to aquire enough room for a decent workshop. Target date for completion Spring 2010 ......

Des

[Desburnett]

Update...

Woke up the other morning and decided to return to trials riding after a 44 year break. Wife thinks Ive gone mental. Had a look around and can see some nice machinery for the pre 65 (bike that is) but the design of the modern machines is something else. Would like a Bultaco, "Oh Ive just sold two of those exclaimed brother in law"....... Back to the Shooting Star, as mentioned in previous post progress is slow awaiting tinware to be returned from the paint shop.
Had the tank, rechromed, painted and hand lined some time ago but the plater missed the stripped threads that hold the knee grip brackets in place. It was stated clearly on the order but was overlooked. So with loads of protective covering I set to to drill out and re-tap the four 1/4 cycle threads. Progress was slow and thankfully no slip-ups as I was dreading scratching the new paint.
Off to Shepton in two weeks time but there is a trials show in Telford this week-end so might be tempted....

[Desburnett]

Update.

Whilst still waiting for the tinware to come from the paint shop have indulged in a Classic trials bike (Fantic) Would rather be putting the finishing touches to the BSA but progress report from the paint shop is disapointing....no progress in a month! Shepton show last week end was better than last year with more stands and an extra hall due to no auction. The expected spring completion date now looks as if it will be summer....providing we get one.

[Desburnett]

Update.

No progress.................I am beginning to regret sending the tinware to a "reputable" painter. Four months and not started. Promises but no action. Just entered the last chance saloon.
If the finish from this guy wasn't so good I would have pulled the plug and taken items elswere. So a spring completion date is now a summer target. Off to Stafford Bike show on Saturday, Thruxton last Sunday, balance of payments with houshold jobs is negative.

[muskrat]

G'day Des,
              the old saying good things come to those who wait is applicable. It gives you time to sort out all the other bits so you don't have to be removing and replacing all that nice painted stuff too much.
Cheers

[LJ.]

Ohhhh I know the feeling of having to wait and wait etc... I like to get started with things and get done! Hope you sort things out soon. Enjoy Stafford!

[Desburnett]

Thanks.......I suppose the moral of the story is if the painting is to be farmed out then do it first. Logical really but I did not expect a five month wait!

Pondering on wether to take a trailer with me to Stafford but should really wait until one project is finished until I get another but its tempting when something is sitting there waiting to go to a new home.

Des

[Desburnett]

Stafford Classic bike show...Saturday 24th April.

Supposed to have taken a friend but due to volcanic disruption he's stuck in Spain.
Set off from home at 7am in the West country arrived Stafford to a huge traffic jam. Entered the show ground at 11am. Really sunny with loads and loads on display. Normal silly prices but noticed a few reductions on marked up prices before the day was over. The Bonhams auction is set for Sunday so didn't buy the catalog (£20)
Saw the guy who is responsible for the hold up on my tinware, promised to get it sorted directly after the show....we will see. Rocket 3 and Tridents were featured as its the 40th anniversary, saw Percy Tait and John Cooper milling around.
Nowhere for a civilised lunch so joined the queue for a burger, at least it was pleasant on the lawn in the sun.
Departed at 5.30 and decided to stop off south of Birmingham for something to eat. I looked up a chineese restuaunt that before moving South I used to use, Surprisingly it was still there and even more surprising was run by the same guy.  On entering  "you still here, it must be 20 years since I was last in here"
"Yes, still here, what do you want, your usual?

[Desburnett]

Update June 12.

Tinware now finished and collected from paint shop. It's brilliant, will post some pics. Waited six months but all of the frustration has gone after seeing the supurb job thats been done. You can see your face in the black on the rear number plate.
Moved house since last post, not far, just next door but have gained a double garage and a plot of land which I intend to erect a fair size workshop. What I can't understand is when I moved everything from my single garage to the double garage its filled it!

Des

[LJ.]

Hi Des... Nice of you to pop back to us with your update... Sounds like you need another move to a Triple size garage then! See you on the next update....