The BSA A7-A10 Forum
Bikes, Pictures, Stories & more => Introductions, Stories, Meetings & Pictures => Topic started by: cbranni on 18.08. 2022 16:31
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Hello to all,
As the title says I am a new member so thank you for allowing me to join this very informative forum. My name is Colin and I am from Swansea (Wales) aged 72 and single, retired toolmaker (ex Bowden) and I have bought an A10, it runs quite well, brakes are poor and it is very shabby been brush painted black a few times including most of the fixings and shiny bits, saying that it's all there and in solid condition.
It's had four previous owners and has always been black, for some reason it has a lot of chrome nuts, bolts washers, maybe a previous owner fitted them. My aim is to rebuild to a decent standard and useable, it won't be shiny and I will reuse as much as I can like the exhausts, seat, tyres, speedo, mag and dynamo are in good enough condition just need good clean and the chrome on the tank will do, it has some epoxy liner in it and two gallons of fresh petrol.
I bought the bike two weeks ago and made a start on it last weekend stripping it completely down labelling and bagging as we go, I say we because my lifelong friend Leon works with me on a Friday and Saturday he is also retired and a is very good with paint, fabrication and welding for a short person.
I could log our progress if that is allowed on here and of course if anyone is interested so I shall see what response I receive. For those who like "it's only original once" this may not be for them.
Thank you for reading and I shall be asking a lot of questions as the build goes on, to be honest the search engine is my best friend.
Kind regards Colin
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..... he is also retired and a is very good with paint, fabrication and welding for a short person.
😁
I'm not sure you are allowed to mention a person's height in these days of 'wokeness' 😜
Your local BSAOC clan are a great bunch.
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G'day Colin *welcome*
Good onya for joining the best forum on the planet.
Loads of help here and remember there's no such thing as a silly question (may be some weird answers).
Cheers
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Great to hear about another A10 getting put back on the road, properly! Any help you need is on this forum, simple as that.
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Very good to see you on here Colin. Definitely in the right place, as you can already tell.
Best from here, Bill
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Hi Colin, from one to another also with 1960-61 A10. Welcome *welcome*
This is the best place for advice and argument discussion.
Colin
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Thank you all for the warm welcome you have given me and I hope I can be of help to fellow members but as my knowledge of BSA twins is minimal maybe not but time will tell. Last weekend the bike was totally stripped down and frame wise only the brake shoes needed replacing front and back, swinging arm was solid as was the rear suspension, head bearings were taper rollers and okay, fork bushes are fine , wheel bearings okay too. the rims need replacing, the spokes are stainless so will polish up nicely. the wiring harness is a mess and went straight in the bin.
We took gearbox apart and all is fine, there is a 4 spring clutch fitted so I may be asking questions later but it did work well, the primary is in fair condition, couple of helicoils here and there and signs on the outer casing of both the shock absorber and clutch coming loose, both chains are shot but on the whole no big problems (my boss used to say there are no problems only opportunities, yeah).
Now we come to the engine which was running very sweet, no smoke or rattles so good bits first plus twenty on the bore and ring gap is .010" and no lip in the bore so I think that's fine so nothing to do there, the big end are on standard and within limits, I shall replace the shells as the drive side looked a little tarnished, the timing side bush is on minus thirty and feels okay. The bad bits are the valve guides very worn and will be changed, recut the seats and re grind the valves all doable and finally the sludge trap, I failed to remove the either of the plugs using heat and impact driver so I put it up in my CCM and drilled the both out, drilled shade under taping size and gently coaxed what was left out. When the sludge tube was removed it was well full, the photo shows the quantity in the tube but maybe I have moved it all to one side.
Also last weekend began my favourite job........................paint stripping, using paint stripper, wire brush and a Stanley blade, oh what a joy
Last Monday I placed an order with Drags for shells. sludge tube and plugs, guides, seals, locking washers plus all the little bits need to rebuild the box and engine, I ordered a full bike set of gaskets from SRM including solid copper head gasket for just over £61 which I thought was good value, I would like your thoughts on that.
So this post took us up to last Saturday I shall post again on Sunday about our exploits this weekend, please comment good or bad I value your opinions, also are the photos big enough this time.
Kind regards Colin
PS Cheers Bill
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Seeing that clogged sludge trap makes me very happy 👍
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Honestly Master Greybeard I am just lost for words.
Is there no limit to your depravity?
What can I say 🙄
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Hi all,
Not much to show but it was a dirty couple of days stripping paint, the frame wasn't too bad only one coat of black on top of a layer of grey came off very easy but the engine plates, forks, stays and chain guard had couple of coats of black over primer over red lead was hard work. The oil tank and tool box were both black over red, the machine was all black when sold new.
So progress is being made, take all
Regards Colin
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SHM i don't understand anything at the moment *smile*
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Hope everyone is well, we wanted to put the engine back together this weekend so first thing was to set the end float, which was before dismantling the engine .010", trawling through this very knowledgeable forum I found end float values ranging from zero to .005" and the book says .003" so I went for .0025". (but that was by luck more than judgement)
Once that was sorted we went to fit the new big end shells and fit the con rods but on opening the big end box we found it only contained one pair of shells not two, not good but the supplier is sending replacements next week, so engine build was put on hold.
On to the head, removed the old worn out valve guides and replaced with new, recut the seats and reground the valve face, lapped them in and build up the head, job done. The plugs in the head are old ones just to fill the hole.
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We had time to spare so the gearbox was build up, replacing bearings, springs and seals, it went together nicely and Leon even "chucked" some primer on a few parts, it's all progressing well.
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Your toolmaking past is clearly paying huge dividends.
Thanks for an interesting thread.
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SHM this could have been a line for Peter Sallis in "last of the summer wine "
I have always thought that not knowing is an important skill. The perfect way to push yourself into gaining answers.
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Not a lot to show this week, Leon had laser work done on Friday so was unavailable, on Saturday we opened the gearbox and fitted the "part left over" bit, am so happy we found a home for it, thank you. Leon progressed with the priming and I sonic cleaned the carb and rebuilt it plus the mag got a clean and tidy up, there's good spark so shall see how it performs.
Kind regards Colin
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P.S. Anyone guess how long it took an A10 to come off the production line back in the day?
Let’s have a quizz. Factory tour for the winner… *smile*
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bet they came off the line faster on a friday afternoon nearing clocking off time !! mind you bantam wheels on an a10 should have looked strange LOL
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It may look like another "not much to show" weekend but we did well but I'm not sure if the laser treatment is having the right affect on Leon............................seems to want lie down a lot!!!!
Most parts for the frame build have now had two coats of primer and are ready for black paint next weekend, weather permitting, both hubs have had black and will be ready for lace up in a few days, rear suspension legs are also done.
My big end shells are still in stores "waiting to be unpacked" I will cancel today and order elsewhere, it's holding up the engine build.
Kind regards
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You are doing a superb job there I am really envious I would love to be doing what you are doing now but with only a single garage 2 bikes workbench etc I just do not have the room, keep at it and keep the photos and info coming.
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Seeing that clogged sludge trap makes me very happy 👍
Yep, that may be one of the best, or most important, pictures on the forum, ever. It ahould be logged for reference.
Richard L.
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What's the blue bike?
I'm guessing a late AMC machine, AJS?
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Thank you all for the comments, much appreciated, the connections on the oil tank have not been masked off but they will be before the next coat goes on, should I give Leon another verbal warning to go with the one for laying down on the job!!!
The blue bike is a AJS Model 14cs replica (well spotted that man) we built maybe ten years ago, I have a soft spot for AMC lightweights my father bought me a two year old Matchless G5 350cc for £70 (that's what he told me it cost, knowing my father he didn't pay that much) when I started my apprenticeship with Bowden in 66 replacing the D3 Bantam which was his and the Tiger Cub, he said I needed something reliable for work.
Ten years ago I bought a pile of Lightweight bits and built one Model 14 road going bike which I still have and the bike in the photo which I have just sold to a very nice gentleman in Leeds.
I am hoping to sell a few more as space is of a premium at the moment but the market is pretty flat so may wait till next spring, has anyone got any thoughts on this.
Kind regards Colin
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Thank you Slight for that suggestion I may well do that, due to only spending Saturday in the shed we don't have much to show again and I am still waiting for replacement shells after lots of promises plus Leon has asked me to say that it is not he that is having the laser treatment but his dog, Chip.
About three quarters of the black was sprayed on Saturday plus the two mudguards have been repaired and primed ready for top coat, cylinder and head have had a coat of high temp black gloss, I am hoping to make inroads next weekend but that all depends if I get the shells, we shall see.
Kind regards Colin
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Hello to all,
The good news is I received the replacement set of big end shells on Thursday but as Leon's dog had an appointment at the vets again (I have edited in case it offends, thanks Slight) on Friday we only had Saturday on the bike and it was a busy day.
First job fit the stand, I had previously bored the worn out journals from 1/2" to 9/16" and made a new spindle to suit and it fitted and worked fine, swinging arm and rear shocks were fitted, need to make some decent fixings next week.
With the frame on it's stand and some suitable blocks of wood to steady it the engine and gearbox plates were fitted and gearbox slotted into place. Then the new shells were fitted and crank fitted to cases not forgetting the camshaft and then the crankcase dropped into place between the plates, the cylinder was fitted and bolted down and all the fixing bolts were tightened up, pushrods fitted and the head and torqued down. the mag and dynamo were offered up as a dry fit and seemed okay.
We did have a mix of bolts and studs some too long which were shortened and there is a sleeve nut (nearside to right of dynamo) part number 67-1292 which I don't have but I can make, anyone know what purpose it serves, there is a photo showing the location.
Hoping to do the timing and fit the forks next weekend, anyone got any tips on fitting the trousers?
Kind regards to all Colin
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G'day Colin.
Wow M8 you don't mess around. Can I send my next project over to you?????
Re the forks I use one of these https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/112739134622
Back in the day a broom handle screwed into the thread, lift with both hands and get your 3rd and 4th hand to do up the pinch bolt.
Cheers
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The sleeve nut definitely goes against the engine plate. The same nut was used on the plunger and rigid bikes and I can see no purpose for it.
A friend and I have been arguing about its location for years, he being of the same opinion as Hitch but has now come around to my way of thinking after seeing numerous original photographs.
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Thanks for the comments guys and I too cannot see any purpose for this sleeve nut other than better accessibility for a spanner around the dynamo but why would you need it as it doesn't hold anything else in place, something to think about.
Have a good day everyone
Colin
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G'day SHM.
Yes that's where both mine go.
Cheers
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Sadly Leon was absent again on Friday so he is now a final written warning, so instead of twiddling my thumbs the rims and spokes arrived so I was able to spend Friday assembling those, I have a fixture which holds the rim while I true it up, the front wheel fitted without issues but the rear wheel spindle was too large so I set it up on the bike and trued it in situ, so both wheels trued up and ready for tyres, please see photos.
Saturday arrived and so did Leon, first job was to load the van with some bikes as we had entered three bikes in the Mid Wales Classic Bike Show at Pant-y-Dwr on the Sunday (yesterday) bit of a squeeze to get them in but all securely in place.
Rest of the day was spent assembling the timing side which went well, mag and dynamo fitted and everything timed, tappets done and we also assembled the primary side only issue there was the clutch pushrod, there is a Triumph four spring clutch fitted and the existing pushrod was badly worn and by searching the forum I found the length it should be was 12", as the existing worn one was 11 3/4 I made a new one but that when fitted was too long so I will reduce the length to suit in the week.
Need to press on with the front forks this coming weekend and get the rest of the black bits done, but things are progressing well under the circumstances.
The bike show on Sunday was very enjoyable, hope to go again next year.
Kind regards to all Colin
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You really aren't hanging about on this one Colin! Congrats - looks luvverley!
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Sadly Leon was absent again on Friday so he is now a final written warning, so instead of twiddling my thumbs the rims and spokes arrived so I was able to spend Friday assembling those, I have a fixture which holds the rim while I true it up, the front wheel fitted without issues but the rear wheel spindle was too large so I set it up on the bike and trued it in situ, so both wheels trued up and ready for tyres, please see photos.
Saturday arrived and so did Leon, first job was to load the van with some bikes as we had entered three bikes in the Mid Wales Classic Bike Show at Pant-y-Dwr on the Sunday (yesterday) bit of a squeeze to get them in but all securely in place.
Rest of the day was spent assembling the timing side which went well, mag and dynamo fitted and everything timed, tappets done and we also assembled the primary side only issue there was the clutch pushrod, there is a Triumph four spring clutch fitted and the existing pushrod was badly worn and by searching the forum I found the length it should be was 12", as the existing worn one was 11 3/4 I made a new one but that when fitted was too long so I will reduce the length to suit in the week.
Need to press on with the front forks this coming weekend and get the rest of the black bits done, but things are progressing well under the circumstances.
The bike show on Sunday was very enjoyable, hope to go again next year.
Kind regards to all Colin
Its a common “upgrade” to fit a ball bearing in the middle of a cut in half clutch push rod, which would bring your 11 3/4” rod up to length 😆
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A worthwhile improvement for your transmission is to replace the drive sprocket locknut with one that has an oil seal. They are available from SRM. Your being a tool maker could make your own. It keeps the oil in the transmission and off the shed floor. It looks like you are making great progress. These A10's are very nice bikes. I have a 1953 plunger frame A10 and love it! Regards, Lloyd L ( Note: they also have a primary sliding plate with an oil seal, same result.)
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G'day Lloyd.
The sprocket nut with seal won't fit on a plunger/rigid A7/10. No worries on a sa.
Cheers
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Thanks for the comments and advice, I shall modify the push rod as you suggested KIWI and regarding the sprocket/seal I shall see how bad the leak is, thank you both. I have added a photo of the two bikes that won a rosette at the weekend, B26 best pre war section and the Bantam highly commended in the road bike class.
Kind regards Colin
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Had two full shifts in this weekend and we did make a lot of progress, all the frame parts have been fettled, primed and finished in black gloss, this only leaves mudguards, tanks plus the tool box to finish, so next weekend the forks can be built up and fitted plus the wheels and mudguards dry fitted, new front mudguard stays have to made. I like a dry fit to make sure it all goes together and we have the right size bolts.......................and nothing worse than scratching new paint.
Also changed the clutch pushrod to a two piece with a ball in the middle as per photo.
Kind regards Colin
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Leon had a busy week.........he painted the petrol tank which now only needs the lacquer, we built up the forks over the weekend and fitted both wheels, dry fitted the mudguards and made front stays for the front one and prepped them all ready for spraying next weekend.
A very busy but enjoyable weekend, apologies for the disproportionate photos not sure where I went wrong, regards to all.
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I was alone on Friday (again) but got quite a bit done, handlebars, headlamp, fitted along with instruments and started to make the harness. On Saturday Leon sprayed the inside of the mudguards, toolbox, oil tank, rear number plate and all the stays.
Transfers and lacquer next weekend plus mudguards and maybe following weekend bolt it all together and give the engine a run.
Kind regards Colin
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The parts needing to be gold have now all had a few coats of base coat the parts were then divided into two sessions for the lacquer, in yesterday's lot were oil tank mudguards and stays, next weekend will be petrol tank toolbox and rear number plate.
Wiring harness almost done and the chain guard was fitted plus the number plates have now got letters, as previously stated hoping to run the engine next weekend.
Regards to all.
PS.
Can anyone spot the fly?
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Its a common “upgrade” to fit a ball bearing in the middle of a cut in half clutch push rod, which would bring your 11 3/4” rod up to length 😆
Better still, fit a clutch roller in place of the bearing ball as it has flat and larger surface areas for the pushrod to act on.
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Hello all,
First job on Friday was to fit the rear mudguard which proved to be a right pain but in the end we got it looking central and correct, next was the oil tank which was straight forward, we fitted an oil switch as the bike was prone to wet sumping.
Next was the front mudguard which caused no problems even the stays fitted well, we made the front one and the rear stay which was a bought item but sadly over an inch too wide so that had to cut and shut.
Leon sprayed the petrol tank, tool box and rear number plate with clear coat................I have had my knuckles rapped by Leon for calling it lacquer..........how am I supposed to know about paint I am but a humble metal basher, I rest my case.
After lunch yesterday we put some oil in the tank, petrol in the carb and after few kicks the engine fired up and ran, we ran it long enough to check oil was circulating, dynamo was charging, engine was a little rough but no nasty noises or smoke and no oil leaks yet.
So next weekend the assembly should be complete and then we can spanner it and check it through but it won't be on the road until March/April as I live on a farm lane which gets really mucky in the winter months between tractors and cattle it's a right mess.
Kind regards to all.
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Just a few more photos,
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wow !
What a great (no, fantastic) job (and great topic).
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Hi All,
This must be one of the fastest rebuilds I have seen on the forum or otherwise *????*
Fair dues Colin and Leon *clap* *clap* *clap*
John
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Thank you both for the very kind comments, much appreciated.
Kind regards Colin,
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Hello to all,
I am a bit late with this update, there are reasons for this and I will explain later, so this should be the last update in the rebuild of this bike, rear number plate plus rear lamp, the toolbox which allowed me to fit the cheap horn inside and wire it up.
Also put the fuse in the tool box for ease of access, checked electrics and all working. next was petrol tank, badges, rubbers and taps including pipes fitted and tank to frame followed by the seat and lifting handle all good, put oil in the forks and wheeled it out of the shed and as sun was shining took a few photos, it won't be used now until the Spring when it will be insured, taxed and ridden, I will report back on how it performs on the road.
Yesterday which was Sunday we went to Aylesbury to look at a 1930 Douglas T6 600 flat twin, hence the late update, it was all there but in boxes and minus the headlamp, we bought it and brought it home, I hope this keeps us going through the winter months.
Take care all and I wish you health and happiness for next year.
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Looks lovely Colin, and in record-breaking time. Hope she goes as well as she looks - I'm sure she will.
Maybe a little bit of attention before Spring to the brake arm angles? (Not that I'm a quibbler or knit-picker - au contraire! - but the rear one particularly looks a bit odd from here.)
Meantime, best of luck with the Duggie- you really do have catholic tastes to exercise those skills!
Cheers,
Bill
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Hi Bill,
Thanks for the kind comments and I couldn't agree more with you about the angle of the brake arms, the strange thing is the shoes were re-lined by Villiers and are a good fit in the drums so why the lever is at that angle is strange.
Does the angle of the square hole in the lever have any affect on the position of the lever because the angle of the hole in my original levers bear no resemblance to the photos of Drags brake levers, I would be interested in anyone's thoughts on this.
On face value the position of the lever tells you the shoes are worn out and they were worn out when I stripped the bike down hence the new shoes and Villiers did what seemed to me a good job which I am now doubting
PS
All the above doesn't matter..................I had the lever on back to front, turned it around and it seems to be okay to me but I would welcome any comments.
PPS
Thanks Bill for the help on the dynamo too, all working fine and I love it when you talk French!!!
Kind regards Colin
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Great job, regarding the brake lever, that's looks a lot better, you may have the incorrect cable, I think there is several lengths available. It's not a brilliant brake, very spongy, but once set up correctly is adequate for sedate rides.
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Thanks for the comment Billy, I did buy the wrong cable at first so had to buy what I think is the correct cable, I am looking forward to putting the bike on the road next spring and seeing how it goes.
Kind regards Colin
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Great work, great bike, thanks for photos.
ps, no tech topics here, please make a topic in ...the tech boards ;)
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Hi All,
Modifying the cable to make the outer as short as possible and getting the brake arms working through 90 degrees will give a very good rear brake.. afaik the rear linings should be thicker than those commonly available?
To improve shoes with the thinner linings make some steel pads that wrap around the cam faces on the shoes
(At your own risk)
John
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Have you tried turning the brake lever over, I've sometimes found that it improves the angle.
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Well, Collin, it certainly looks great. I am appropriately and deservedly shamed by the speed of completion of this project and the tediously slow-to-non-progress on mine. By my calculation, you've had the Douglas home for more than 24 hours now, so, I assume it's done.
Richard L.
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Hi everyone, hope you all survived the cold wet winter we just had, over the last few weeks we have had a couple of warmer days so I had the chance to take the A10 out for a few short runs now that it is taxed and insured and I am very impressed with it. It has lots of torque and goes through the gears nicely I am hoping to use it a lot over the summer.
In January we started working on the Douglas I won't bore you with details but it's finished now so here are few photos and time now to look for another project.
Kind regards Colin
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Another amazing job Colin. (What took you so long by the way?!)
Chapeau!
What next I wonder??
I'm sure a few of us could ship you a few boxes supposedly with a whole bike in them to put together if you like . . . Just in case you get bored one wet Tuesday afternoon