1952 Flash in India

[anjimehra]

Hi guys
Took the Flash out for her first x country run post monsoons yesterday & she behaved beautifully for the full 180 kms run through the back roads near Pune.

On the way back unfortunately hit a very deep pot hole at around 40 mph & the top & bottom shrouds of the TOP spring jammed together in the compressed position. Any thoughts on how I can free up the top spring other than dismantling the rear end. They are locked really tight together.

Attaching a few photos of the ride.

Thanks
Anji

[anjimehra]

Heres another taken at a nearby dam
Anji

[Dutch]

Heya Bloke,
                Um, I'm guessing but maybe the bottom(rebound )springs are causing the problem, in that the only reason I can think of in 4 seconds is that when you've hit the hole the bottom shrouds have 'overlocked if you know what I mean'-I s'pose that's how it'd go?? Possible remedy, go find the fattest heaviest dudes you can find to sit on it(or similar) and jiggle the shrouds till they untangle themselves.??  know this might sound a bit unconventional but can't see any other way they'd get tangled,and it seems no-one else's come up with anything?? And another odd thing- I ain't kiddin'- Good luck, duTch

 ps The only other way is maybe go hit the hole again

[muskrat]

G'day Anji,
              You should be PROUD of the job you have done on her, she looks GREAT.
Try loosening the pinch bolt through the spindle clamp lug (middle bit for axle). You could try taking out the bottom bolt and top screw out and give the shaft a tap or two.
Never seen that before.
Cheers
 Dutch beat me, give that a try too.

[Goldy]

Fantastic anji apparently your model was the origin of the name "golden" flash

[Brian]

Thats a bit unusual Anji, the inner sleeve has somehow jammed on the shaft. You may well have to dismantle them to see what has happened.

If you do dismantle them be very carefull as the top spring is the big one, if its fully compressed it will have a lot of force behind it when it lets go.

[anjimehra]

G'day Anji,
              You should be PROUD of the job you have done on her, she looks GREAT.
Try loosening the pinch bolt through the spindle clamp lug (middle bit for axle). You could try taking out the bottom bolt and top screw out and give the shaft a tap or two.
Never seen that before.
Cheers
 Dutch beat me, give that a try too.

G'day Muskrat

Thanks for your appreciation of the Flash. It was helped along  by useful tips from friends like you  on the forum . As a comparison, attaching a few snaps of pre restoration
Regarding the plunger, the compressed top spring assbly is free on the shaft & slides up & down. Its just that the top & bottom spring shrouds  have locked into each other with the top spring fully compressed. Iam reluctant to take it off in the compressed state as it would be safer to have the spring open on the spindle thereby eliminating possibility of smashed fingers & faces!!!!!!!!!
Since its free on the shaft , bouncing the suspension is not really an option
Anji

[anjimehra]

Thats a bit unusual Anji, the inner sleeve has somehow jammed on the shaft. You may well have to dismantle them to see what has happened.

If you do dismantle them be very carefull as the top spring is the big one, if its fully compressed it will have a lot of force behind it when it lets go.

Hi Brian

Agree its a bit unusual . Actually, the inner sleeve hasn't jammed on the shaft. Whats happened is that the inner & outer shrouds have jammed in each other & got stuck with the spring fully compressed. The whole assembly is free on the shaft. In view of the dangers involved I would prefer to separate the 2 shrouds in situ & then rwemove the plunger assbly as a whole to check out the problem.

Thanks for your advise Brian
Anji

[anjimehra]

Fantastic anji apparently your model was the origin of the name "golden" flash

Thanks Goldy. Yes, I think these were the few plunger Flashes which were suopplied in gold. Attaching a few WIP photos

Ride safe
Anji

[anjimehra]

Heya Bloke,
                Um, I'm guessing but maybe the bottom(rebound )springs are causing the problem, in that the only reason I can think of in 4 seconds is that when you've hit the hole the bottom shrouds have 'overlocked if you know what I mean'-I s'pose that's how it'd go?? Possible remedy, go find the fattest heaviest dudes you can find to sit on it(or similar) and jiggle the shrouds till they untangle themselves.??  know this might sound a bit unconventional but can't see any other way they'd get tangled,and it seems no-one else's come up with anything?? And another odd thing- I ain't kiddin'- Good luck, duTch

 ps The only other way is maybe go hit the hole again

Hi Dutch
Tried bouncing the rear over potholes. Didnt work as the top & bottom shrouds have locked into each other  & just slide up & down on the shaft as an assbly. Thanks for the suggestion Dutch
Anji

[a10gf]

Excellent to see story & photos about the bike, thanks for posting. Maybe present one of your pictures in the 'best picture' board?

ps, may be better to not mix post content, just make new topics as needed, f.ex. the plunger spring problem would find a better home in the 'frame' board.

[anjimehra]

Excellent to see story & photos about the bike, thanks for posting. Maybe present one of your pictures in the 'best picture' board?

ps, may be better to not mix post content, just make new topics as needed, f.ex. the plunger spring problem would find a better home in the 'frame' board.

Hi A10 GF

Thanks. The bike is running thanks to your kindness in sending me the rocker shaft. I would love to meet you & host you here in india as & when you decide to come
I will take your advice & trey & post the querie on the FRAME board, but you will have to advise me how to do this
Thanks once again
Anji

[a10gf]

thanks to your kindness in sending me the rocker shaft

Very nice to read it was useful in helping getting a bike running.

& host you here in india

That'd be great indeed. I was in India many, many (30?) years ago, a 1 month holiday visiting several places. Would be nice to do that again, but sadly, health is not at it's best ftm, but your invitation made me think...

post the querie on the FRAME board

A little late now, as the plunger content is well embedded inside the bike presentation post. And you get help with the problem, that's the important.

And you've done a fantastic job with the A10.
e

[mike667]

beautiful bike!

[Dutch]

Hey Anji,
             As the others say, it is a nice looking job you've done, good competition for a10gf...! You've probably already figured this, but a suggestion for when you dismantle the units (if not already done?),to contain springs from exploding, as you slide out the main column/shaft, replace it with a length(needs to be ~350mm,to exceed free spring length)  of threaded rod and BIG 1" +hole washers on each end to contain spring assembly. Maybe slide the shaft up first and put bottom washer in, then the T.rod can go down inside the shaft as it goes out the bottom, then wrestle unit out of frame and unscrew the nuts to slowly release the Sp. tension....something along those lines anyway,but keeping one nut close to(bottom?) end of T.rod , I hope you get the drift. good luck, duTch

[fido]

Hi Anji,
I used to exchange emails with a BSA enthusiast in India called Joji, I think he lived in the Pune area. I wondered if you might have met him:

[anjimehra]

Hi Anji,
I used to exchange emails with a BSA enthusiast in India called Joji, I think he lived in the Pune area. I wondered if you might have met him:

Hi Fido
Cant recall meeting anybody by that name in Pune, Fido. Judging by the umber on the bike, Jojis probably from Hyderabad. how long back was this. Have you been to India?
Anji

[Gavin]

Not sure if you have resolved the problem yet, but I'd be inclined to "seal" the compressed plunger with what we call cable ties, or electrical ties. I'd use a few of them, keep the compressed assembly compressed, remove it, knowing it can't escape and "explode" on you. Then manage the "uncompressing" in your vice or similar.

[anjimehra]

Not sure if you have resolved the problem yet, but I'd be inclined to "seal" the compressed plunger with what we call cable ties, or electrical ties. I'd use a few of them, keep the compressed assembly compressed, remove it, knowing it can't escape and "explode" on you. Then manage the "uncompressing" in your vice or similar.

Hi Gavin

Thanks for the advice. I finally decided to strip the plunger assbly & now have the offending member off the bike. I cant figure how it could have jammed so tight. Its refusing to budge. The spring is locked solid fully compressed. Will let you know how I get on
Anji

[fido]

Hi Fido
Cant recall meeting anybody by that name in Pune, Fido. Judging by the number on the bike, Jojis probably from Hyderabad. how long back was this. Have you been to India?
Anji

No, I have always wanted to visit India but have never managed it so far. It is some years since I lost  contact with Joji, the usual story, hard disc failure and email address book lost.