A7 or A10 you got me thinking

[59viper]

Following on from my introduction [Big hello from Norniron] some comments and a little research by me over the last 24 hours indicates the A7 plunger would be a bugger to get parts for. My question then is this, is the A10 any better? I must have a plunger but i don't want to spend more time searching for bits than actually fettling if you get my drift, i am asking now as when i get back from the island the search will start in earnest. See i told you i would ask daft questions 

[Greybeard]

I reckon there are more A10 Plungers about.

[muskrat]

G'day viper.
I luv my 51 plunger A7. Had her for 37 years, never off the road for more than a month or two. The A10's have a bit more poke but the 500's rev harder. The beauty of the short stroke A7's is that most motor parts are the same as the A10. Barrels, head, crank & rods and pushrods are about the only difference. Mine is modified with a 57 SS top end. My 57 A7SS is now an A10 with the parts above on/in the old cases.
Cheers 

[RogerSB]

Post 1960 A10 Golden Flash rules 

[KiwiGF]

Following on from my introduction [Big hello from Norniron] some comments and a little research by me over the last 24 hours indicates the A7 plunger would be a bugger to get parts for. My question then is this, is the A10 any better? I must have a plunger but i don't want to spend more time searching for bits than actually fettling if you get my drift, i am asking now as when i get back from the island the search will start in earnest. See i told you i would ask daft questions 

Just to be clear, there is a long stroke (very early) a7, and standard (later) a7. Std a7 parts are not generally harder to find than an a10, as the a10 is really just a 650cc version of the a7, whether they be plunger or swing arm. Of course some parts like barrels and heads are unique to a7, but most parts especially cycle parts are common to both.

Longstroke a7 parts will be much harder to find than std a7 or a10, there are a lot of parts unique to the long stroke bikes, starting with the frames (but I’m no expert on the long stroke).

[59viper]

Thanks chaps, can anyone tell me when the short stroke A7 started and how to identify it? I plan a couple of trips over to the mainland in the winter to attend autojumbles so i am trying to gather information now. I will of course take a parts book along too 

[duTch]

 Hiya Vipes- il Plungos are a great ride, whether it be A10 or unknown to me A7...as above^^ Longstrokes may be a bit challenging...Mine is a '53 donk in a '56 Frame, and great fun

 You posted as I was writing, I think the shortstrokes started  in '49, concurrent with A10...I think there was some crossover models

[59viper]

  I am obliged to you.

[muskrat]

Short stroke A7's started 51 with engine # AA7 101 mine is 154. The A7 plungers finished in 54, the A10 went on till 57.
Plungers also have the better clutch than the swing arms.
Cheers

[Rex]

I have a 1951 A7 coming towards the end of a ground-up rebuild and haven't found any show-stopping non-availability (yet!).
It's a nicely-made and well-designed old girl, that's for sure.