Information about this model (NEED HELP)

[DIEGO]

hi:
I am a new member from Spain. This is my new restoration project,and I am looking for information about this model:

Model? year of manufacture? service manual? Any email of BSA part sellers?

...any information about will be welcome...Thanks a lot...






Thanks a lot...any information about will be welcome...

[LJ.]

Hi Diego... Welcome to the forum... The bike is looking like a plunger single cylinder engine. Possibly an M20 or M21. Can you give us the engine and frame numbers this will help us to give you a much more precise identification on your machine. I'm more curious as to what that head light is... Its huge!

[Beezageezauk]

Hi Diego and welcome to the BSA A7/A10 forum.  

It looks to me as you have a single cylinder 1953 B31 or B33 model.  Check the engine and frame numbers and tell us what they are.  You will find the engine number on the left side of the engine just below the cylinder barrel.  It should be something like  BB31.**** or BB33.**** and the frame number should be near the steering head at the front of the fuel tank. This should be something like BB31S.****.  The B31 frame was used for both models so don't worry if the engine is a B33 and the frame a B31.

The cowl over the headlamp came out in 1953 and the front brake looks as though it is 8 inches diameter.  The 8 inch front brake was fitted to the B33 models and the B31's had 7 inch brakes.

Anyway, the bike appears to be almost complete with the "hard to find" tinware.  Dual seats and single saddles are readily available for this model and it has the wrong exhaust fitted but a new exhaust system is easy to get.  The headlight seems to have an extension fitted to the original one.  Interesting...I haven't seen that before.

Get yourself a workshop manual and/or BSA Service Sheets for that particular model and prepare yourself for some hard work.  Also, be careful that it doesn't run away with your money and you will be rewarded with a nice bike at the end of the project.

BSA parts supplier information will follow.

Beezageezauk.

[RichardL]

I think there may be one thing, also, to consider, when the bike seems to be so original, and I ask this of LJ,  Beezageezauk and others who are familiar with this make: Should one keep original faded, patina'd or slightly rusted parts as they are with just basic cleanup, on the possibility that it improves collector value? I know this to be true on really old and rare motorcycles (as I've seen on bikes from the '20s and earlier), but I don't have a sense for the possible value here.

Richard L.  

[RichardL]

P.S. No matter what, it looks a great project, Diego. Welcome to the forum. Glad we got to see this.

[rocket man]

welcome Diego to the forum looks like youve got a great project there
a lot to keep you occupied for a long time which is part of the fun
will make a nice bike try not to over restore her you could try dragonfly
or c and d autos and bantam john  thats just a few i can think of


dave

[LJ.]

Regarding what Richard says about originality I'd fully agree, but we could do with some better photos if that's not too much to ask for, any chance of that Diego?

I'd love to take a closer look at the headlight. Looks like there is a seat on the table, don't look very comfy though.

Of course... looking at the side the exhaust is situated, Beezageeza is right about being a B31 or B33!

[Brian]

Beezageezauk is spot on, its a 1953 model. The giveaway is the tank badges, those particular badges were only used in 53'. Interesting exhaust system, it looks like the left pipe and muffler from a Norton Dom.
It appears to be a very original bike and would restore very nicely. Good luck with it Diego.

[RichardL]

I found this interesting article about paint versus patina. This is my favorite line: "Originality only exists once for a motorcycle, and once it?s disturbed it?s gone forever."

 http://www.metropulse.com/news/2009/feb/19/preserve-patina-or-not-question/

Ricahrd L.

[DIEGO]

Hi Diego and welcome to the BSA A7/A10 forum.  

It looks to me as you have a single cylinder 1953 B31 or B33 model.  Check the engine and frame numbers and tell us what they are.  You will find the engine number on the left side of the engine just below the cylinder barrel.  It should be something like  BB31.**** or BB33.**** and the frame number should be near the steering head at the front of the fuel tank. This should be something like BB31S.****.  The B31 frame was used for both models so don't worry if the engine is a B33 and the frame a B31.

The cowl over the headlamp came out in 1953 and the front brake looks as though it is 8 inches diameter.  The 8 inch front brake was fitted to the B33 models and the B31's had 7 inch brakes.

Anyway, the bike appears to be almost complete with the "hard to find" tinware.  Dual seats and single saddles are readily available for this model and it has the wrong exhaust fitted but a new exhaust system is easy to get.  The headlight seems to have an extension fitted to the original one.  Interesting...I haven't seen that before.

Get yourself a workshop manual and/or BSA Service Sheets for that particular model and prepare yourself for some hard work.  Also, be careful that it doesn't run away with your money and you will be rewarded with a nice bike at the end of the project.

BSA parts supplier information will follow.

Beezageezauk.

Thanks for the information. The headlight is not the original, I have 3 differents...I think that the exhaust system is other too. The rest is original. I will check engine and frame numbers to add here.

Thanks everybody...

[DIEGO]

   
what are the differences between A7 and A10...?

Is my model a BSA golden flash A7 or A10?

A31 have 350 cc and a33 have 500cc?
   
Is there some correspondence between A7/A10 and B31/B33?

I am very lost with the references...

[fido]

The A7 and A10 are 500cc and 650cc twin cylinder machines, the B31 and B33 are 350cc and 500cc single cylinder overhead valve machines. The A series do share quite a few parts with the B series of the same year, things like wheels, forks, gearbox internals, clutch, handlebars, lights, oil tank, toolbox etc.

[DIEGO]

ENGINE NUMBER:  BB33.234
FRAME NUMBER:   BB31 S 1960

[Beezageezauk]

Ok Diego, 

I reckon you have a genuine 1953 B33.  Both the engine and frame numbers are from early 1953 and this suggests that the bike left the BSA factory like this.   The B33 is a much more sought after model than the B31 and the price comparison between the two models shows this.  The B33 is worth a lot more.

I would suggest that you contacted the BSAOC in the UK and get a dating certificate for it.  This will tell you the exact date that the bike left the factory, which dealer it went to and will confirm the engine and frame numbers.  It is a nice item that can be framed and put on your wall.  You obviously don't have any paperwork for this bike so you might need proof of age (date of manufacture) when it is finished and you try to register it with the Spanish Authorities.  Check out the "Machine Dating Officer" at www.bsaownersclub.co.uk

Also try to get a "Spare Parts List" for your bike.  This will show all of the individual parts and give you the relevant part numbers for each item.  It will be easier for you to ask for the correct spares if you have the BSA Part Number.  Try Ebay for this, they are available as paper booklets or CD's.

Spare Parts.

I'm listing some websites that you can check out.  These will show you what parts are available.

www.lightning-spares.co.uk
www.DragAnfly.co.uk
www.burtonbikebits.net

Also C&D Autos is good but they don't list a website.  Their email address is canddautos@gmx.co.uk

All of the above do a mailing service but there are others in France, Belgium and the Netherlands that may supply parts with cheaper postage.  Maybe somebody from the continent reading this could advise??  You might even have a supplier in Spain!!

Good luck with the project and don't forget....just ask if you need more help.  I'm sure you will.

Beezageezauk.