Snowbeard's :Update: '57 Spitfire Scrambler!: project

[snowbeard]

-  may as well introduce myself before I start asking questions about EVERYTHING! -

Hello, my name is snowbeard and I have just purchased two BSA's in various states of disrepair.  Hello snowbeard, welcome to group.   

 One is a 1972 A65 Lightning in really poor condition with few of it's parts...


Shot at 2007-08-22

and the one I plan to really get going is a 1959 BSA A-10 Super Rocket! It's nearly complete, but needs some real work to get back on track. There seems to have been sometime when the engine got really hot because any rubber or plastic near it is melted terribly.  I was afraid that the cylinder had gotten that hot, but someone just mentioned it might have been a carb fire, leaky float, etc etc...?  any ideas or common occurances would be great to hear!?


Shot at 2007-08-22


Shot at 2007-08-22

I'd be happy to hear just about anything, good bad and ugly. I know very little about these older bikes, but that's why I bought it!!  I'll start by being happy with running, and then continue on to the details of a restore if i can stand it!

My other bikes to date are Suzuki GS's, one an '81 GS650G with lots of changes, the other an '80 GS850L with even more changes.  They're lots of fun to work on, but mostly in running condition at this point, so I thought I'd take on a challenge... 

[a10 gf]

I know very little about these older bikes, but that's why I bought it!!

 

Welcome, and thanks a lot for your great intro post (I hate do not like those who join the forum and do nothing at all, or make one post without giving a clue as to who, where or what they are and what they really want).

Some good down-to-earth guys here, ask about anything & I hope you get help and real world tips as needed.

Erling
adm

[1KCBC]

Welcome to the forum,I like your super rocket and I agree with you to take on a challenge with the old bike.Have a nice day.

Jaran.

[fido]

Welcome, snowbeard. You don't say in what country you are located. I was riding a Suzuki GS650 at the time I restored my first A7. I found it didn't like starting in damp conditions so I often ended up  taking the BSA instead. This got to the point that I was not using the GS so I sold it. The night after it went my beloved A7SS was stolen 

[G/F DAVE]

Hi, Snowbeard  look,s like you have the makings of a nice bike there, This model has the best wheels & brakes (my opinion) of all the A10 models. If it was mine I would drain oil from engine /oil tank/ gearbox & primary & clean out filters & oil tank & re-fill, check for sparks/fuel etc & try to fire it up (unless you are going for a total strip down) If motor sounds good leave well alone & concentrate on cycle parts to get it rideable. As for fire at rear of cylinder head ! you need to fit a drip tray to carb manifold to keep any fuel from magneto below, Ive had my A10 catch alight there !!  with the petrol tank above you need to extinguish the fire quickly .Hope you enjoy your A10,  All the best Dave

[unclemeat]

Welcome Snowbeard. Good-luck with the project. Once you get stuck-in and find you need any help - just ask ! There are some very clued-up guys here. When I put my Golden Flash together I had a lot of help and suggestions from the forum which is very much appreciated.
Regards
Unclemeat

[snowbeard]

thanks for all the encouragement, I need it.  nothing like throwing yourself to the wolves to learn a new trick.

I'm in the US, but please don't hold that against me, eh?   

fido, that's awful!! likely the guy who bought it or another looker, no?  shame.  My pop lost his late 70's triump 120 to some jerk who test rode it off into the sunset, never to be seen again!! 

thanks for the startup advice, I do hope to just see how it runs before I even contemplate a full strip and build up. 

Currently the case seems to have leaked a lot of it's oil out already, I hear these are drippy ones what with the vertically split cases, should I think about starting with a new gasket? do they make a really good reuseable one yet, like the realgaskets?  or just get a clean pan and keep pouring it back in? (I'm kidding  )

is the carb undertray a standard item, or was it an afterthought?  just wondering if I should make it or find it...

Thanks again, I'm really looking forward to my wife starting her california stint at teaching this fall, I get three months home with only my job to distract me!! 

another question I have is about the cables, is there a kit out there to make your own yet?  I have bright ideas already...

[fido]

There is usually a good selection of A10 spares on Ebay. Otherwise, get a few classic bike magazines and you will find the contact details for parts specialists. The drip tray is worth having as you don't want fuel going in the magneto  :
Check out Ebay Item 290153798252

[jfligg]

Hi Snowbeard
  I also have a 59 Super rocket.  There are very simular.  The best thing you can get is a Shop manuel and a Parts book.  There are alot of good suppliers for A10 parts.  Some are:
Walridge Motors
Baxter Cycle
Domiracer
Dragonfly
C and Ds Autos
All of these suppliers can be accessed on the internet.  Another good website is Dan Boss' Super Rocket.  The tank badges you want is the 3.5 inch Piled Arm badges.  Did you check your frame numbers?  The front forks, brakes, rear brake and wheel and swingarm set up are from a 54 - 55 Super Rocket.  Here is a pic of my gem.  I hope to start it this winter.  Jeff

[snowbeard]

hey jeff, thanks for the parts names, looks like you've got some fun ahead yourself!

when you say "The front forks, brakes, rear brake and wheel and swingarm set up are from a 54 - 55 Super Rocket." do you mean mine?  that might make some sense, in fact someone told me the wheels might even be from an ariel? 

so I've determined that it was definitely a carb fire, the burns on everything around there are too clear to ignore.  I pulled the carb apart a bit and the slide may even be warped, but I'm not sure...  looking forward to lots of fun, eh!!

[fido]

All later A10s had full width hubs so the half width ones on Snowbeards bike are from the early swinging arm A10  which was introduced in 1954. I don't think there was such a bike as a 1954 Super Rocket but there was a Super Flash.

[G/F DAVE]

Hi,  Snowbeard as I said earlier you have the best brake & wheel combination far superior to later full width hub brakes even the Ariel type hubs which are a bit better.I have same brake on my plunger A10 & can make front tyre squeel at 60 MPH (fitted with ferodo green linings) I once pulled the valve core from the inner tube when testing the newly fitted linings. I also would check frame numbers just to confirm which year of bike you have , might be a (GA10 RGS FRAME) please let us know.. all the best Dave

[snowbeard]

aha! that's nice to hear!  so I could even be off on my year then, or just that someone upgraded to older parts? 

I'll print off the instructions for finding all the numbers and look for them tonite. I guess I have no real reason to call it a 59, that's just what the guy who sold it to me said...


so in reference to draining the oil in everything, would there be a good flush to do as well?  I'd really rather not have to split the cases, but I bet it's nasty in there...  course I'd hate to dislodge anything into the running parts either... 

any suggestions for oil? Is it anything special?  on my suzi with the wet clutch I have to avoid the newer synthetics or risk the plates.  anything like that on these?   

and how about filtering it? what would I need for a filter? 

and so the barrage begins... maybe I should start my thread in the technical forum now...

[snowbeard]

D'oh! I did start my thread in the tech part, I'll ask these questions again there, thanks again!!

[bsa-bill]

Hi Snowbeard - vertical split cases don't have to leak, they are matched pairs ( with the engine out you can see numbers stamped on each case -  numbers should be identical ), no gasket between them, there is a tapered flange - a VERY light smear of hylomer is all that's needed.

All the best - Bill