Hello

[rowanbsa]

Hi all,
I'm Richard, 26 years old from North Yorkshire. Just bought this 1953 A10 from a nice chap in Wales. Good compression, although I need a new set of gaskets (air escaping from cylinder head).
Firing on one cylinder at the moment with the occasional sweet spot on the throttle bringing the second in to play. Sparking well on one side only when kicked. Going to change brushes and points on the magneto, replace high tension leads, new plugs and clean the carb (not original carb, has been replaced with an Amal concentric). Just want to get it running sweet for the spring/summer before any proper restoration with my dad (He has a 50s T110 and royal enfield 350 bullet).
Does anybody have any information on reliable BSA parts dealers that are reasonably  priced and good quality in U.K.? Similar sort of place to Hitchcocks for royal enfield perhaps?
I'll post in the near future about progress and plead for any advice on tweaking the carb (once I know which type it is).
Many thanks
Richard

[KiwiGF]

Welcome, a nice bike and it looks very complete as well, www.draganfly.co.uk have a good stock of parts and a very good online ordering web site, but they are not universally popular due to erratic/poor service and attitude to customers 

Where you will good and friendly service is http://www.canddautos.co.uk but not a good web site last time I looked.

There are quite a few bsa parts suppliers in the UK, some specialising in one area. If in doubt ask away!

It sounds like you may need a mag overhaul, one of the forum members can help you there.

To get the bike going before ripping into restoration sounds like a great idea, it's a real time and $$$$ commitment to restore a bike you may even find you decide to keep it on the road and NOT restore it 

[muskrat]

G'day Richard.
She looks ride-able right now as far as cycle ware goes. Did the PO say when the motor was last looked at. That is always my first concern. Drop the sump plate off, that's often a good indicator. As KiwiGF said a good going over of the mag would be wise.
Cheers

[bikerjohndavies]

Hi Richard, another good sources of parts for your A10 and he also refurbishes magnetos is a fellow forum member, Andrew Guttmann (bezzermacc), who runs Priory Magnetos https://sites.google.com/site/priorymagnetos/home based in Macclesfield. I have always had good service from him.

[Greybeard]

Give Priory Magneto's a call, Andrew is a top man!
Your BSA is very much like my '55 model. Mine has the larger barrel fins. I decided to have a saddle rather than the dual seat.

[BrianS]

Hi Richard

Welcome to the forum and to A10 ownership!

I am a fairly new forum member but have had lots of help already as, despite being the UK's Yamaha TTR250 "guru", I have found getting to grips with the A10 mechanics and electrics a tad challenging! I wish I had a dad around with some classic bike skills so am a bit envious on that point.

A decent workshop manual with clear photos and diagrams (a la TTR250) would be a great help. The Haynes manual photos are just grey fuzz and I tend to have to work from an online manual (see http://bsawiki.co.uk/chaps ) and an old BSA paper manual and pool the information gleaned from the three and add a tad of help from the forum here and there 

I hope you will keep us up to date with progess and your learning curve. Even things that may seem trivial are helpful to an owner like me who is keen to learn.

If it helps, my work programme so far has been:
a) before my first ride out I changed the oil and took the oil tank off to give it a thorough clean and make sure all the sludge was out of it
b) replaced the 6-spring original clutch with a complete SRM unit after failing to find a usable centre plate for the original - took weeks to sort this out!
b) replaced petrol taps and tank adapters after failing to cure petrol leaks on the originals
c) had mag completely refurbished by Andrew at Priory Magnetos after a misfire developed and I couldn't balance the points etc. Still not been able to time it up but, having got some more advice from forum members, am ready to have another crack at it!
d) Andrew also refurbished and upgraded the dynamo to 12v at the same time after my mate took the mick out of me when I followed him to the pub one night - he said it was like being chased by Wee Willie Winkie!
e) Currently changing bulbs and battery to 12v plus fitting a DVR2 regulator but struggling with the old-fashioned bullet connectors!


In truth, the A10 has spent more time in the garage than I would have liked but I have enjoyed the rides that I did manage and am delighted that my missus is willing to ride pillion on it 

I am hoping that the clutch, mag and dynamo work will stand me in good stead for longer runs when the weather improves. Cosmetics are not high on my agenda compared to getting the bike running properly and reliably 

Good luck with your A10 and enjoy the fettling to come!

Brian

[Topdad]

 *welcome*Richard  to the wonderful world of BSA A7'S and A10'S ,you won't be disappointed. I agree with the comments about Priory Mags . Your dad is bound to  envy you a bike that handles , the plunger is a lovely machine, be prepared for a permanent  grin to set in soon , most of all enjoy , also great that we are getting some younger guys on the forum, cheers Bob.

[bikerjohndavies]

Hi Richard,
There is also an online manual that you can view at http://www.bsawiki.co.uk/index.php?title=Main_Page . The online pages are down the right hand side in the part headed Sections. The service sheets can be found at http://www.classicrider.dk/english/technic/ServiceSheets.php . Hope this all helps.
Cheers, John

[rowanbsa]

Thanks for all the timely replies and welcome. Heading down to an auto jumble this weekend to pick up various bits for magneto, high tension leads and new plugs.
Looked at the rear sprocket and the teeth are well rounded, one of them broken so that will need replacing along with gearbox sprocket and a new chain can't hurt.
If I have no luck with getting the magneto sorted with my dad then I'll get in touch with the bloke mentioned earlier at priory magnetos.
Anybody know someone within decent driving distance to North Yorkshire or Tyne/Wear area who is good with magnetos?

Regards
Richard

[a10 gf]

& welcome, thanks for the intro post.

[muskrat]

G'day Richard. The motor/gearbox needs to come out to change the gearbox sprocket, so while it's out 
Cheers