Old A10, new project

[antonys]

Hello all

I'm a new member from South West UK. Some time on my hands means that the next project is to get the 1959 A10 back on the road... Bought it in around 1979, rode it for around 5 years, then for reasons I can't remember left it in the garage for the next 30. The good news is that (as far as I can see) it is all there, and even better news is that (with new points and pickups) there's a spark! Have been flushing all the rust out of the tank, easing the carb slide, buying oil and petrol additive - now to see if she'll fire up...

It's registered as a Road Rocket, though the engine number suggests a Super Rocket - the engine number doesn't match the reg document, so looks like someone switched it around as some stage. The goal is to get it running and roadworthy rather than restore, though I'll do a bit of tidying up along the way. This forum looks very useful, so I'll continue to search for tips and post if I'm stuck - and will report on progress!

[tombeau]

Hello there.
Welcome. 30 years, its funny the distractions that can get in the way isn't it?
Mine had a 4 year lay up. I'm sure it was fine except for the mag when I left it there...but the number of other things I needed to sort!
Looking forward to hearing how you get on.
Cheers,
Iain

[LJ.]

Hi Ant... Great of you to join us, fine looking bike there too! Keeping our fingers crossed for that first initial start up although I dont think you'll have much trouble.

Keep a keen eye on that magneto though, as it has been standing for sometime and will likely need attention if its still on original windings. You'll possibly find your a distance from home, hot engine, and just wont restart. Give it a while to cool (Always stop near a pub!) and you'll find it'll restart again. That'll probably be your only worry with these things.

cheers and let us know how you get on.

[antonys]

Thanks for the encouragement guys, it's spurring me on  .

Got some kind of ignition, but very sporadic and lots of smoke - even turned over for a few revs.... My wife is convinced the whole thing is going to go and is standing by with a fire extinguisher.

Haven't been able to get a continuous start yet though, just fiddling with advance/retard and choke to see what works, in between rests. I am optimistic!

Ant

[LJ.]

I doubt very much if you'll ever need to use the choke here in the not-so-cold-old-UK. But have a look to see what spark plugs your using I have found my A10s to be quite fussy over what they have. I am using NGK BP6HS.

Very wise of the Missus to stand by with Fire Extinguisher, she has obviously been reading the Fire Hazard thread. http://www.a7a10.net/forum/index.php?topic=615.0

Keep Kicking! 

[antonys]

Actually I read that post earlier and made sure she didn't see it  .

Realise now that the advance/retard sleave is stuck - so next job is to get that moving. Managed to get a start though, clouds of smoke and a good rumble, but nothing since - just a strong kickback on the first couple of kicks, then nothing till I keel over with exhaustion.

Thanks for the tip on the plugs - am using N-4s, will see if I can get the ones you suggest. Away for the weekend now though, back on the project next week.

Ant

[antonys]

OK, managed to get started again, even got into first gear and went for a little run up the (private) road - not bad after 30 years! However I'm sure this is just the start of the story... there's a lot of oil about (seems to be spraying from around the exhaust on one of the cylinders) - should I be thinking about new piston rings? I seem to remember putting some on before, and can't have done much mileage since. It's pretty drippy down below too, I realise this comes with the territory but it's more than normal. The oil is circulating back into the tank OK. I was hoping to get away without stripping down and rebuilding, but perhaps that's unrealistic.

The cam ring on the manual advance/retard is also stuck - I've taken the cable off, but I can't see how I can free this without taking the magneto off and getting it on the bench, unless anyone has any tips?

Anyway getting running again has given me enough of a buzz for now, and the neighbours were impressed too.

Ant

[LJ.]

I shouldn't worry too much about the piston rings just yet. If there is oil comming out of the exhaust then this could mean oil is leaking internally around the head gasket, give the head bolts a bit of a tighten, it could also mean a valve guide may have come loose. I'd remove the exhaust on the offending side and have a look around inside the exhaust outlet on the head. Run engine and look up... 

I'm not too familier with the K2F manual mag although it should not be too different from my mag/dyno on my M21. Surely you can take off the outer cover without removing the entire magneto if your careful.

But great news to learn its running well done!