!!!WATCH OUT!!! FAKE ROCKET ALLOY HEAD ON EBAY!!! DON'T BID!!!

[MG]

I just stumbled upon this and almost couldn't believe my eyes:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/bsa-a10-super-rocket-alloy-head-/190552238231?pt=UK_Motorcycle_Parts&hash=item2c5dcc6897

I had bought this very head off ebay UK late 2010, advertised as "Super Rocket Head".
In fact it is a 67-1122 Shooting Star head, with the larger Rocket ex valves (67-967) botched in (ex valves are larger than the inlet valves now!!!), on at least three thread inserts for the rocker box the alloy has cracked badly, and there's some bad fin damage.
First the seller (located in Thurso/Caithness, Scotland, ebay name was "baraliz" followed by some numbers I think, but can't remember those) delayed shipping, then ended his ebay membership while the item was on it's way to me. He never replied to any of my emails. I had to apply for paypal buyer's protection and pay for an expert's report for paypal as an evidence to proove that the head is unusable and the item description was wrong, before paypal allowed me to return it and finally I got my money back in March 2011.
Obviously he is now using another account and trying again, now he MUST know that the head is dodgy after all the hassle!!!

I have attached some pics I took when I had the head. He has given it a bead blast in the mean time, but it clearly is the same head. Even the left spark plug with the bent tip is still in there!

This head is not suitable for an A10 without extensive modification, and imho isn't good for a 500cc as well with the ex valves botch.
SO BE WARNED!!!!

P.S. I have reported the item to ebay and informed paypal, but I doubt they will do anything before it ends tomorrow, if at all. So once again, please watch out guys!

[chaterlea25]

Hi Markus,
What about the ""SR"" frame he is selling????
Appears to be 4 lug???

How badly do you want a SR alloy head?
I removed an 1126 head the other day, I was meaning to start a topic on it as it has ""goldie"" valve springs and caps fitted ???? ???? ????

Regards
John O R

[MG]

Hi John!

Thanks for the kind offer, but I found a good head in the mean time. I had posted an old article about A10 engine tuning some time ago, and there the use of Goldie valve spring hardware was mentioned as well.

IIRC all the late A10 frames had 4 engine lugs and the sidecar lug in the lhs rear frame loop? So could well be it was a SR frame? But just because something looks like a Super Rocket, this doesn't mean it started life as one, as that alloy head shows.

I've also informed paypal so that they have a cross reference between the ongoing ebay auction and my old case and the legally sworn expert's report I had to bring in (and pay for).  
I hope they will do something about this, before another fellow enthusiast pays top money for what imho in fact is scrap.

[bsa-bill]

I asked him a question re diameter of combustion chamber

no reply as yet

[fido]

That is roughly the same area where Tritonthrasher lives, if I recall correctly, I wonder if he knows the seller?

[MG]

well, a little update:

I dropped him a message via ebay yesterday, letting him know that Big Brother is watching. Here's his reply from today:

think you need help mate had it checked out and it is indeed an a10 head grow up idiot

or man up


- lin12340

What a nice and competent person, one more thing to report to ebay. Not that I feel underrated in my manliness (at least I for one AM man enought to bow to my mistakes and admit when I'm wrong), but I don't like being called an i***t when I know that I'm right and even got the report of an impartial expert to prove it.

Paypal has responded, they are investigating it already, so hopefully he'll soon be banned. Somehow this starts to get amusing (well, kind of), since I don't take such people seriously anyway...  

I asked him a question re diameter of combustion chamber

no reply as yet

Last year before I bought it I asked him about the number on the manifold, never got a reply as well. Now he states you couldn't read it, well, have a look at my photo, mate!

[Triton Thrasher]

That is roughly the same area where Tritonthrasher lives, if I recall correctly, I wonder if he knows the seller?

Yes, a few miles away.  I can't access any Ebay stuff here at work, but will look later.

There is a thoroughly dodgy family/group of people dealing in various vehicles in Thurso, including some old bikes. A green Norton Jubilee springs to mind.

But maybe it's not the same people here.

[Triton Thrasher]

Why didn't he claim it was a Rocket Gold Star head?

[MG]

Why didn't he claim it was a Rocket Gold Star head?

 
Minor symptoms of qualms maybe.
Or he doesn't know about the existence of such a thing as a RGS (more likely).

In the interest of all fellow enthusiasts I sincerely hope he felt enough pressure to ask one of his buddies to "buy" it.