Valve pushrods

[dthompson1941]

I’ve just started to sort out my bits and pieces of a ’49 A7 longsroke plunger I picked up (engine: ZA7 1451 HC, frame: ZA7 S 546); most of what I’m missing, I’ve bought at Draganfly.  I still can’t find valve push rods and clutch spring cups. I hope someone may be able to point me in the right direction.
With the buckets of parts for the engine, there were only three valve push rods: one longer steel (exhaust?), and two shorter aluminum (inlet?) The aluminum rods could almost certainly be wrong for my A7, and there is no certainty that the steel one is correct as well. So, I need to get a set: 67-57 (2-inlet) and 67-58 (2-exhaust), and they are nowhere to be found. Any advice would be greatly appreciated,; equally useful would be if someone can provide dimensions (lengths, etc.) for the correct push rods.

Also can’t find the clutch spring cups 67-3248 (6)

 By the way, the separate A7 longstroke board was a great idea, and already is helping me out.

[terryk]

Hi the longstroke A7 has different pushrods then the latter A7 of 1951 onwards. It sounds like you have pushrods for the latter A7 which are wrong altogether because longstroke ones are not alloy.
The longstroke pushrods are steel with a cup on one end. Unfortunately they are hard to find and there doesn't seem to be any new ones being made.
I bought some new old stock ones a few years ago and I have several old ones but I'm not parting with any.
There was some NOS ones on ebay in the last few months so keep watching there. I think you need to contact Draganfly, C and D Auto etc in UK and start chasing some. There has to be some over there in the UK somewhere.
When I think of it I will get some pics and measurements for you so you know what you are looking for. There would be some at autojumbles, swap meeting etc. Dont panic they will turn up just keep going with the rest of the bike. I'm sure an engineering company could make some as a last resort if you have measurements and pics .
Keep in touch with this forum. 
I may know where to find some NOS ones here in Australia I'm not sure if they have any left it was a few years ago.

[bikerjohndavies]

Hi, a set of NOS ones sold on Ebay a couple of weeks ago for £24.99. They were listed by a shop in Cirencester called Peter Hammond Motorcycles Ltd, 44 Watermoor Road  Cirencester, GL7 1LD Tel 01285 652467. I see that he has been listing a number of long stroke parts as NOS so might be worth a ring to see if he has any more.
Cheers, John

[Brian]

This is what you need. The long ones are 205mm and the short 180mm.

I had a thought while looking at these, I think C11 ones are very similar. If they are as long or longer you might be able to use them. They are solid so you can shorten them and round off the end and re-harden the end. C11 ones should be very easy to find so it might be worth looking into if you cant find a set for the A7.

[BSA_54A10]

The other way to go is to cut down some car rods.
Pushrods are still being mad for a lot of car engines.
In OZ I used some from a grey series Holden motor.
Most "Old car pats specialists" or "Hot Rod shops" should be able to sort you out.
Other than that get some B50 ones and cut them down.
Both PES in the UK & ED V in the USA will make you up some custom pushrods from their excellent improved B 50 lines at a reasonable cost.

[dthompson1941]

All great replies! You’ve given me a bunch of good new leads and ideas; I’m working them.
Terryk: I put in an enquiry to C and D Autos who replied quickly that they had none at the present time; any pictures and measurements you can provide will be much appreciated; the VMA Swap Meet is next month during Bike Week at Daytona and I will be there, others are down the road; and if it comes to that, my vintage-loving son has the machine tools and the metal working skills to fabricate them if we have pics/dimensions; if there are any NOS ones over/down there, I would appreciate the info.
Bikerjohndavies: I’m contacting Peter Hammond Motorcycles  now to see if he might have more in stock; sounds like another good contact I hadn’t known about.
Brian: thanks for the pics and length dimensions; I’ve checked out the C11 pushrods and this looks like a good alternative if all else fails.
BSA_54A10:  An ‘old car’ friend of mine looked at the pictures and thinks this idea might be do-able, if needed; also looking at the idea of using the B50 pushrods; looked in on website of Performing Engineering Services and it’s another good link; so far, I only find “ED V” on B50 Forum (www.b50.org) so I’m not certain of this one (looks like it’s definitely E and V Engineering, another good link?)

[BSA_54A10]

Yep,
E & V Engineering.
Most pushrods are just  length of tube with a couple of ends shoved into the tube with a little crimp to stop them falling out.

[beezalex]

Dale,

http://www.shopevengineering.com/

It's best to call Ed, he nearly always answers the phone.

Cheers.