HI, I shall try to make the storry short, though it starts, for me, in mid 1970?s.
I 1974, there was held in Stockholm, Sweden, the first world Environmental conference. People and dignitaries from all over the globe to try to solv the problems with environmental pollution..
One bloke in UK decided he wanted to join, and at the same time make a statement. He took his old BSA A10 from 1954, fitted with a Watsonian sidecar, but took off the "boat" and replaced it with a wooden plank floor. On this "transporter" side car he now put some propane flasks, and converted the engine to work on propane, and off he went ( Honestly I cant tell if this really is what happened, I only know he got here on a propane converted BSA..)
He got to Stockholm without any troubble, presumably, and stayed over the conference. I dont think he made that big an impact as he may have anticipated, since I have found nothing about his venture in the press. Anyhow, he stayed on in Sweden for a while, eventually sold the bike here and went home.
The bike was bought by someone who obviously intended to restore it to original set up. The big tare down started and resulted in a heap of loose parts and pieces.. bags of bolts and nuts, jars of springs.. No two items together.
In that state a friend of mine bought the "project", and I bought it from him in 1978, I believe..
I spent three years putting it together, not once but twice. First I painted it black with red stripes, but the paint peeled of very easily, so when I dropped a nut down the push rod shaft, one late autumn day, I realised it was too late to have it readdy for riding that years, so I could just strip it down again and have it properly, professionally, repainted. This time in Silver gray with red stripes.. I had found traces of silver gray on the speedometer house..
In 1981 it was complete and registered, I had found a replacement Watsonian sidecar "boat", of the same age and a fitting model ( I had no idea what it was originally) And used the bike like my regular transport for some 12+ years..
In early 90?s I reluctantly had to sell it due to the , then, growing family neded a better car.. Bye Bye old pal...
I sold it back to my friend I had bought it from, who after a month resold it for much more monney..
In 2009 I noticed an add on a Swedish variation of eBay, my BSA was for sale! It had a price tag I could never reach.. Oh, agony..
2014 , on another internet auction site, I found a home made 2015 almanac, made from pictures of the guy?s own collection of motorbikes. He listed those bikes not on display in the add, and among them was a BSA 1954 with sidecar. I contacted the seller and asked if it had my old registration number, and BINGO, it was ! I told him about the "provenance" and we agreed to try to meet, one day... He lives, and so does the bike, in the very north of Sweden in Kalix, wheras I live just outside Stockholm..
Last summer I was close, just some 300 km away from Kalix, but did not have the time..
Last weekend I get a phone call, it is the BSA guy. He and his brother have entered on a Grand tour of Sweden, Kalix to Smygehuk (equivalent to Lands End to John O?Groats), with the BSA and an old Husqvarna 120cc..
The journey ended just outside Stockholm, the BSA had started to cough black oil from the crankhouse ventilation and there was a nasty knock. Could I come to have a look? Join in the pondering.. After all I had put it together, 40 years ago.. I ought to know it by heart..
They had planned to visit me, a surprise visit, and sure I was surprised..
So, we found the oil pump to probably be the main culprit, then the knock , or rather tick-tick every turn, emanates from the Camshaft/ Pushrod, Valves area..only taking a look inside will tell exactly what is dammaged.
I now have my Old Comerade in my garage, 40 years later, who would ever have thought that.. I will help to restore it, and they will come by next summer to continue their trip.
On another place in this forum, I will place some questions, I have forgotten quite a bit and workshops that can deal with theese bikes are more scarce now than when I was more actively working on them.
I do a lot of motor workshop tinkering, but focus has turned to two stroke, JAWA and CZ bikes, mostly ISDT and competition bikes. Though I still have my set of Whitworth spanners, and there is a Royal Enfield Interceptor lurking in the inner corners of the shed.. all in atoms..
Best regards From Sweden
Anders
