North Coast British Columbia A10 (1956 GF)

[Two Alpha]

Greetings everyone,

First post, thanks to Erling for assistance rendered, helped make the trip through the registration process fairly painless.

This is my first A10, purchased from a friend on April 20th, 2011.
It's a basket case now but it had been a chopper when the friend purchased it a number of months ago.
He had found it in somebody's basement and bought it, for next to nothing, with an eye to bringing it back as a chopper/bobber of some sort.
Unfortunately, he didn't get any boxes containing the BSA parts that had been removed in the original chopper building process.
After the main lump was removed (CA10 11xxx), the rolling chassis was dismantled and all the parts went into a 4'x4'x3' box. I'm pretty sure that was the last time my friend looked at what was in the box as he was unsure whether the frame was solid, plunger, or swinging, when I asked him about it he said that he thought it was rigid. He also didn't think he had gotten a carb with it (there were two).
His main focus was on the engine, which was seized up. Turned out to be just the rings rusted to the barrel, came free fairly easily and damage looks minimal.

I had last talked to him a couple of months ago, he still seemed enthused about the project then, just a little unsure about which chopper/bobber style he was going for. In hindsight I think he realized that something closer to stock would be the proper thing to do, and that he couldn't really justify another reasonably stock British bike. He already has a very nice 1972 Commando, looks original but has a few mods/improvements like oil pressure gauge, mikuni single carb, etc. It's a beauty and he rides it regularly through our riding season here.

About ten days ago I was in the process of cleaning out my basement, getting rid of an accumulation of old used small block Chevy parts. I was giving it all to the same friends son, he's about 25 years old, work's as a marine engine mechanic, grease on his hands night and day. He'll be able to make some use of all this "stuff" I had hoarded over the years. As we were chatting, I asked how his dad was coming along with the BSA, totally caught me by surprise to hear he was selling it!
I wasn't really interested (no, not really), both my already owned BSA's are still projects, did I really want another one?

Of course I had to take a look, find out why he was selling it etc., didn't want to be kicking myself later for not at least finding out what it was. My friend was pleased to hear that I was interested, he wanted to know that the bike was going to be brought back to life and he knew that I could/would be able to do that.
The main lump was all nicely laid out on the bench, he showed me the cylinders, a couple of broken fins and fairly minimal damage from the rings seizure, looked like it may come up fine with just a honing. I was pleased to see that the head was alloy and looked to be in excellent shape, hadn't expected the alloy based on the engine number. The chassis parts were still in the 4X4 box but it was on a shelving unit about ten feet in the air, this was at his workplace. He had propped an extension ladder up against it so that I could climb up and take a look at what was inside.
First thing I saw was the frame, which had the swinging arm and shocks attached. It had been painted a psychedelic paisley/tie-dyed green, I could see that somebody had put a lot of work into it as it had been completely smoothed out and corners blended with bondo. At least it appeared to be a complete A10 frame, un-butchered except for the paint and bondo. There was a horrendous looking set of handlebars in the mix, shaped like a couple of Z's. No sign of a gas or oil tank, no proper seat either.
I told my friend that I was a little more interested now and asked if he could give me a day to think about it.
It didn't take long, I called him that evening, we agreed on a price and arranged for me to pick it up a couple of days later (two day's ago).
It's still in the back of my truck (canopy) as I need to free up a  bit more room in my basement/workshop, hope to have it indoors before I go back to work next week.

I was curious about the head, brought it indoors to check it out a little further. The numbers between the intakes (remove-able inlet manifold) are 67-1106 J54 AM.

Looking forward to cleaning up the frame to find out what it's number is. I'll be sure to get a bunch of "before" photos before doing anything to it.

There really didn't seem to be any parts in the box that stood out as Golden Flash bits, that's what the engine would appear to be though, 1956 build?
My friend had also purchased some reference material, Haynes workshop manual, Service Bulletins, Parts book. Nice of him to throw them in as he had just paid good money for them.


Cheers,

John

[a10gf]

Nice intro post, & welcome to the forum, am hoping you will enjoy the place.

[Two Alpha]

Thanks, I already enjoy it here!

Lot's of great bikes and even the young guys are adults, what's not to like?

[muskrat]

G'day John, welcome to the forum.
 The head is a '54 Road Rocket. Nice find, those heads usually sell for more than you probably paid for the whole lot.
http://atlanticgreen.com/a10dph.htm have a look there.
Cheers

[Two Alpha]

G'day muskrat, it's a pleasure to be here!

I had stumbled upon that site a few days ago, after discovering the head was alloy. Even though I hadn't taken note of the casting number, I did recall seeing the separate manifold for the intake. My friend had already posted the engine for sale on the British Cycle Supply site, he had the engine serial number there as well so I was really expecting to see an iron head.

Are you sure the head is from a '54 Road Rocket? It looks to me, just based on the info at atlanticgreen.com, that it is a 1958/59 Super Rocket head. Does the J54 on the head indicate the year?

I'm the furthest thing from an expert, just started researching these bikes about a week ago! So much to learn.

Measured the valves, intake is 1.45", exhaust is 1.38". The intake ports measure .94".

[scotty]

Eh john

welcome to the forum.

lots of good advice from the members here.

I can't wait to see a paisley tie died themed a10 frame...pls post some pics when time allows

Where are you on the N coast ?

I'm down on the south coast here in squamish but i sail up the N coast a lot during the year.

Good luck with the build

cheers

scotty

[muskrat]

G'day John,
               yours is a '54-'55, from then on all were cast manifold. On that site he says his had '58-'59 valves not that it was a '58-'59 head. Notice the valve retainers are different, they are the SR type.
Cheers

[Two Alpha]

Hi Scotty,

I'm in Prince Rupert, pretty good chance you'll be stopping in here sometime soon.

Hopefully get some pictures in the next couple of days, make sure you're prepared for a flashback though.

Maybe we'll get a chance to shoot the breeze in person this summer.

Cheers

John

[Two Alpha]

G'day Muskrat,

Think I'm starting to get it sorted out.
There's more information at http://www.beezanet.com/twincarb/default.htm

1954 or 1955 Road Rocket alloy head it is.

Cheers

John




 

[trevinoz]

John,
             It is DEFINITELY a 1954/5 Road Rocket head.
The "J54" is the date code.
They can be found with different codes or with no date at all, which are probably the later made ones for the "speed kit".

   Trev.

[Two Alpha]

Greetings Trev,

So it seems that the engine is from a 1956 Golden Flash, with a 1954 Road Rocket alloy head added at a later date.

There were two carbs in the box, a 930 and a Monobloc. The Monobloc still had the throttle and cable attached.


Cheers

John

[trevinoz]

G'day John,
                   The number on the flange of the Monobloc will identify it.
Similarly the number on the side of the Concentric.
Original Flash carby is 376/1.
   Trev.

[Two Alpha]

G'day Trevor,

The number on the flange of the Monobloc is 389/81.

A little digging at www.amalcarb.co.uk shows it to match a 1962 U.S.A. Rocket Gold Star. That shouldn't really be much of a problem.

It's not all coming up roses though, photos of what's left of the bike are next.

Cheers

John

[Two Alpha]

For your viewing pleasure...

[Two Alpha]

I'm much more impressed with the engine than I am with the rest of it.

Frame looks like it used to be A7/A10. No passenger footrest loops?

Top yoke looks like it is Road Rocket, don't recognize the sliding tubes though.

Exhaust pipes look usable.

Levers and grips/throttle may be usable.

Does anybody recognize the swingarm as A10?

Looks like a long road back to respectable.

Cheers

John

[muskrat]

G'day John,
               the swing arm looks like a '56/'57 for the Ariel type hub without the chain guard brackets. Are the axle holes the same size or different. I see a brake plate of that type. The rear brake rod is different, those years used cable. Looks like a bit of a mix up.
Cheers

[scotty]

Oh yeah !

That would have brightened up the streets of Prince Rupert  

When you find a frame number it may explain the lack of passenger foot peg loops.
I think the A10 spitfire scramblers left the factory without them
The other explanation could be that a PO hacked them off.
I also notice the the gas tank mounting lug and the gas tank anti roll bracket are missing.
The steering head usually has a gusset connecting the head to the frame tubes.
Your BCS parts manual has a good schematic of the frame and the service notes have great frame measurement diagram to help figure out if she's straight and true.

HTH

Scotty

HTH

Scotty

[Two Alpha]

G'day Muskrat!

The axle holes in the swingarm are different sizes. Would the Ariel swingarm/hub be something that came from BSA on an A10?
I had a little concern that the original swingarm had been replaced with this one so as to match the small wheel and fatty tire that were with the bike.
The frame/swingarm is sitting right beside my TR7RV at the moment, a quick comparison showed that the Triumph swingarm was only about 1" longer. 

Mix up is right, mainly trying to separate the oddball parts from the BSA pieces at present.

Cheers,

John

[Two Alpha]

Hi Scotty,

Yeah, I can almost make myself believe that it may not have looked half bad.
I see black for it in the near future though.

Your point regarding the Spitfire Scramblers has gotten me a little optimistic about the frame. All but one that I found pictures of didn't have the rear foot peg loops. Also, the sliding tubes that I have look very similar to the ones in the various Scrambler photos, more so than the '56/'57 Golden Flash ones.
It seems like I am a little partial to the look of a Golden Flash in black, oh well, whichever model the frame was will be the direction I will go with the rebuild.

I had noticed the missing gas tank mounting lug and anti roll bracket, as well as the missing gusset at the steering head. The pieces where the chopper style oil tank was mounted must have been added by the bodyman/painter. That stuff will be taken care of after I find out what the frame number is, hopefully it's still there somewhere.

What's the best material to use when blasting these frames?

Cheers,

John

[chaterlea25]

Hi John,
The frame number should be on the headstock,
unfortunately if the frame is late the number was stamped on the gusset so maybe its long gone
Looks as if you have some oriental wheels as well???
Maybe some loon will pay you a fortune for those long forks on ebay
Dont despair just yet I have built a bike from a worse base than yours 

Regards
John O R