BSA A7 back on the road, thanks to the forum

[Hughsie]

Hi All
Just a few words of thanks for all the advice over the last couple of years..I've finally been able to get out and enjoy a decent ride out on my A7 after many years of getting this bike back roadworthy.
Just keeping it lighthearted it's been a long road but today I was able to get in a good hour or so riding around my local area without any issues.
My next step is to find a 2 into 1 exhaust system but other than that it's all been worth it. I'd have been lost without the wide spread knowledge of this forum. Many thanks to all who have helped and to T&L Engineering for the engine rebuild.

[groily]

Maybe things are made better these days.

Don't think so! Maybe with regular polish and wotnot, siamese pipes won't rot at the splice . . . but round here they always have - on my A and on others.
However, the need for only one silencer, and the better access to the primary side, are the things that do it for me. Even though it can be a pain to get them on and off, and to keep them up tight on some bikes. I like 'em, have to say.

[Tomcat]

I bought my two into one engine pipes from FEKED, the chrome is good and they fitted with some minor adjustments.

[orabanda]

Looks lovely; well done!
How are the brakes?
Richard

[Hughsie]

Hi, thanks for the comments, i was thinking, the 2 into 1 was due to having a very short dog leg on my centre stand, it's currently not clearing the left exhaust and hanging down, so I figured maybe this bike came with a 2 into 1, (or maybe I change the centre stand)
And yeah, the brakes are crap 😂

[muskrat]

G'day Hughsie.
Well done mate and thanks for posting a pic.
Brakes only slow you down , just throw it back two gears and go in sideways
Cheers

[Hughsie]

@ Hughsie,

You have a fine pair of down pipes already, gonna be a whole lot cheaper/quicker to weld a piece of bar on your stand, makes it easier to use as well.
Rocket Gold Stars aside, all standard A series bikes look more balanced with 2 down pipes, in my humble opinion obviously.

It's not a sidecar or cafe racer bike, why bother?  As for the brakes well, just think faster. 
No, change the shoes/reline and get some good cables with the money you saved by keeping your existing exhaust system.

Edit, re-reading - why is your stand 'hanging down.'  Do we get a picture?  Do you have the right stand?  Is your spring knacked?
Brakes and stand first, then worry about looking flash.

Edit 2, 
Your stand looks to be correct 1954-57, there is a tube and a bolt or stud inside which needs to be set up, the stand turns on the tube which is bolted up to the frame. 
The stand should be fractionally narrower than the tube and it should be free turning.  What happens is the tube seizes in the stand and the whole lot turns on the bolt which can prevent it from returning fully, then the assembly wears out faster.  Good idea to replace your spring at the same time.   On mine I also had to weld the frame mount holes because they had worn oval.

Edit 3.
Don't weld anything on your stand, it's your megas that are causing the problem, get the right silencers or put a nice big hammer blow into the LH one and your stand will be fine as long as it's set up and greased.

Edit 4.
I thought the down-pipes changed from the earlier upswept 1954/55 type with the introduction of the crossover brake pedal when the Ariel hubs 1956/57 were introduced. 
However, the part book seems to say that they were upswept until the 1958 revisions.
Your down (header) pipes look like the later 'straight' 1958 on. type.  That's the problem, the later exhaust system had a different stand. 

See on Scabbytank, how the centre stand actuating arm hugs the silencer but at no point touches it, there is an indent underneath for the foot of the stand.

Hi mate, I've went over this a couple of times and I think you've hit the nail with the down pipes, I had the chance to look at a similar bike and his down pipes ran much closer to the frame of his bike, he had the same stand and his fitted nice, his standard end cans were a similar diameter to my cones, but they were more under the bike.
Anyway, I got frustrated and I just chopped the foot mount off the stand, I noticed the gold star stand had no foot stand and although its slightly harder to pull up, I've improved my technique and its usable. (I know it's not ideal, I have kept the foot lever safe) but the stand returns and I can use the bike now. I'm feeling the pinch with money as this bike is huge over budget, but its a keeper and these things I will put right in the future.
I attended my first bike meet this weekend on the bike and I'm enjoying it. Next job is to have braked relined.    Thanks for taking the effort to help diagnose the issues for me. Much appreciated