New A10 owner Glasgow

[harvey mushman]

New A10 owner, picture as purchased 2 weeks ago have since bought alloy head (thought it should have had one though!)

Frame number is GA7 prefix and engine no CA10R which i hope will be confirmed as 1959 or 60 Road Rocket or Super Rocket?  maybe somebody can tell me! also own a 1962 A65. Just getting into roadbikes again after a long lay off playing at motocross.

[Greybeard]

Welcome! I can't see the image.

[morris]

Hi and 
Always been a motocross fan myself. Went to a vintage motocross a couple of weeks ago, which was won by a bloke on a B50. There's something nagging in my head since...

[Topdad]

Hi and welcome , I've had alook online and CA10r ran from 54 com 101,55 com601,56 com 2001 57- continued 58 -6001 and 59 -8193. Frame GA7 I think maybe 1960.

[harvey mushman]

Thanks for replies i am having trouble with pictures but will get it sorted.

The engine number is CA10R 106.. and frame is GA7 104.. i thought 1960 frame but what year engine? 1954? is that why it has cast head!

I know its been off the road for 30 odd years and no registration documents either, oh well all part of the fun i suppose. Plan is to get it running and tidied up a bit see what it needs and try and use it for a bit.

[RichardL]

Harvey,

Welcome to the forum. You've got the making of a great project there. If it had been the case that the wear and tear that's showing there was the result of hard riding for the last several years, I'd say, yes, get it running and have some fun riding around while planning the restoration or fix-up. Having set for 30 years is a whole other issue. Right now, things inside the engine may be in fine or decent rebuildable shape, however, if it turns out that there is crud blocking oilways (particularly to the rod journals), you open yourself up to a much more difficult and expensive rebuild. Cutting to the point, based on sitting for 30 years, my advice would be to strip down the engine before you start it.  Having said this, I'm well down the ranks from the best mechanics on the forum, so I'd also love to hear what others have to say. 

Richard L.

[RichardL]

OK, you got me with the Steve McQueen Harvey Mushman gag. If you have another first name (I assume you do  ) that would be more comfortable for conversation. Otherwise, I'm going with "HM" in the future.

Richard L.

[harvey mushman]

 Hi Richard its Derek 

[Klaus]

Hello Harvey,

a warm welcome from the German side

Engine is from 1959

cheers Klaus

[harvey mushman]

Hello Harvey,

a warm welcome from the German side

Engine is from 1959

cheers Klaus

Thanks for that Klaus,

i am in Hamburg next week for training course with my job, i always like going to Germany not least because of the beer!

cheers

[RichardL]

Klaus (and several others I can think of) would be a good one to comment about the wisdom of trying to start an engine that has sat for 30 years.

Richard L

[Klaus]

Klaus (and several others I can think of) would be a good one to comment about the wisdom of trying to start an engine that has sat for 30 years.

Richard L

Puh Richard, thats hard to say. It's a long time and you don't know what s with the engine befor.
It takes only 3 hour to get the engine off and to open. So I try to say it better to have a look at it. I would'nt start the enginge.
If you run the engine only for a short time the damage of the big ends can be sure. Inspektion and cleaning is recommended.
This is only my opinion .

cheers Klaus

[muskrat]

I too agree. A day or three and a few $ can save a lot of heartache and many $$$ later.
Cheers

[KiwiGF]

At the very least (in my opinion) the head should be taken off (to inspect the bores, and valve gear), timing cover removed (mainly to inspect the main bearing bush clearance, and end float), and sump plate removed (to clean and inspect for debris).

The chances are this will reveal some horrors  and lead to a full strip and rebuild 

The oil tank will need to be removed and given a thorough clean out as well.

Having said that, I agree with the others and would take the bottom end apart as well 

[harvey mushman]

Klaus (and several others I can think of) would be a good one to comment about the wisdom of trying to start an engine that has sat for 30 years.

Richard L

Thanks Richard, i have quite a bit of experience with rebuilding engines and know when and more importantly when not to proceed.

When i say the bike had been lying for 30 years i know the person that owned it for that period of time.

But hey thanks for your concern and i will keep you updated with how the build proceeds. 

I have managed to source an alloy A7 head that will be getting fitted when bottom end has been checked.

thanks

derek