The BSA A7-A10 Forum
Bikes, Pictures, Stories & more => Introductions, Stories, Meetings & Pictures => Topic started by: Else on 27.11. 2025 22:44
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Hello all. I bought a lovely 1959 A10 a few weeks ago. I looked online for quite a while until i found this one and when I found out it was registered 2 days before I was born I had to have it. This is my second British bike, the first was a BSA Bantam D1 which I bought in pieces when I was 13 and ragged it around the fields near where I lived.
I just wish I could start the A10 though but thats another story *smile*
Thanks Andy
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welcome from Canada , nice bike .
lots of great people in here to answer any questions .
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Goodonya Andy. Nice looking 'bike, so now we've got to figure out why it won't start?
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Lovely bike. If you describe the starting problem I'm sure we can help. Did the previous owner start it up for you before you bought it?
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Hi Andy and welcome. As said post the starting problem and I am sure the forum will help. Where about in Essex are you, as I am in south Suffolk and I know we have members in Essex.
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*welcome*
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That's a nice machine indeed. Welcome to the forum.
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G'day Andy *welcome*
Beautiful bike mate.
Cheers
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*welcome*
That is, indeed, a very beautiful bike, Congratulations. Amazing riding ahead.
Before you get it started, please let us know if the PO started it for you before you bought it (really, by the looks of it, there is little doubt it will run) and, also, how much he'd ridden it recently, or since the engine rebuild. That info will help folks here advise on any cautions before running.
Richard L.
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Lovely bike. If you describe the starting problem I'm sure we can help. Did the previous owner start it up for you before you bought it?
Yes mate. He went through the controls first then tickled the carb, opened the choke a bit, opened the throttle a little bit, kicked it over slowly a couple of times then gave it a big one and it started.
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Hi Andy and welcome. As said post the starting problem and I am sure the forum will help. Where about in Essex are you, as I am in south Suffolk and I know we have members in Essex.
Hello Angus. Great Yeldham near Halstead, where are you?
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I tried all sorts of permutations, lots of choke, no choke, a little choke, same with throttle, new plugs. Bought a small ultrasonic cleaner and stripped and reassembled the carb with a new gasket set. Still no improvement *sad2.
Checked the spark which didn’t appear to be consistent so I got the mag refurbished at Priory Magnetos. It took me a while to time it up again but got there in the end and it started *smile*, once *sad2*. Couldn’t get it to start again that day so gave up.
I left it all this week until yesterday afternoon. Got home from work early so decided to try again. Turned the petrol on, tickled the carb until finger wet, no choke, no throttle and it started on tickover *woo*. Let it warm up, stopped it then straightaway no throttle, no choke, started on tickover again. Thought I’d cracked it so left it 10 mins tried it again but wouldn’t start no matter what I tried. So I walked away and went down the pub.
That’s where I am at the moment folks. Going to try again this weekend, any advice would be very welcome.
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Hi Andy I am in Felixstowe, so not far away. We used to ride though great Yeldam on our way to Andrew fields, but not recently as they have tightened up on who they will serve.
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Welcome from White Cliffs Country as well
Try taking the cut-out lead off the magneto cap in case you have a dodgy spring/terminal in the wipac cut-out switch,that releases after time, worth eliminating.
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Welcome from White Cliffs Country as well
Try taking the cut-out lead off the magneto cap in case you have a dodgy spring/terminal in the wipac cut-out switch,that releases after time, worth eliminating.
Thanks. I’ll take the whole cap off. Don’t have a lead, just a button.
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Else that's the spirit a man like me , go to the pub *beer* ..... *welcome*
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So tried it again this morning, same procedure as yesterday, nothing, didn't even fire. *pull hair out*
Too early for the pub, going to try plugs gaps this afternoon. At the moment they are 25 thou.
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try 18 or 20
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My bike always wanted a carb tickle* unless it was still hot. I never needed to use the choke.
*the shameless hussy
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This afternoon, untouched since this morning, fuel on, tickled the carb, 2 slow kicks, then fired next fast kick then started wtf??
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compression test and new fuel needed?
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compression test and new fuel needed?
Hello Berger, thanks for the reply. First thing I did was drain the old fuel and fill up with 99 octane E5 but haven't tried a compression test as such although it definitely feels as though it has good compression when I kick it over.
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Hi Else,
I have often found that issue with modern fuel,
( that's what I'm blaming anyway)
When the engine is only lukewarm i think the combination of fuel and modern plugs is not getting hot enough to burn clean the plugs ?
Starting and stopping in the garage or at home without getting on the bike and riding it to get up to full heat is going to cause problems *eek*
Last year I fitted some "Brisk" spark plugs which has improved starting no end *smile*
Apparently they are the only brand that still glaze the insulators on the inside of the plugs,
Other brands absorb fuel into the insulators which causes problems
John
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That’s interesting, what are “brisk plugs”?
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I tried all sorts of permutations, lots of choke, no choke, a little choke, same with throttle, new plugs. Bought a small ultrasonic cleaner and stripped and reassembled the carb with a new gasket set. Still no improvement *sad2.
Checked the spark which didn’t appear to be consistent so I got the mag refurbished at Priory Magnetos. It took me a while to time it up again but got there in the end and it started *smile*, once *sad2*. Couldn’t get it to start again that day so gave up.
I left it all this week until yesterday afternoon. Got home from work early so decided to try again. Turned the petrol on, tickled the carb until finger wet, no choke, no throttle and it started on tickover *woo*. Let it warm up, stopped it then straightaway no throttle, no choke, started on tickover again. Thought I’d cracked it so left it 10 mins tried it again but wouldn’t start no matter what I tried. So I walked away and went down the pub.
That’s where I am at the moment folks. Going to try again this weekend, any advice would be very welcome.
is your Magneto manual or auto advance .....?
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Tech discussions > new topics in the tech boards.
Thanks.
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It's an auto advance
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Tech discussions > new topics in the tech boards.
Thanks.
I understand, will do
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Hi Else,
Since the question was asked here, it thought it better to reply on this thread
Brisk spark plugs are made in the Czech Republic, they are available online or from F2 motorcycles in UK
A forum search will find a discussion on them
John
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Thanks John.
I have ordered a couple of iridium NGKs to try but if they don’t work I’ll try a couple of Brisk plugs.
Which ones did you go for? I’ve got iron heads so the shorter plugs.
Thanks Andy
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Update: After much faffing about I found I was flooding it. I have reduced the float chamber level slightly and fitted Brisk plugs and now just tap the tickler a couple of times when cold only. No choke and no throttle, turn it over with 2 slow kicks then a good one and she fires up. I then add a little choke while it warms up then take it off.
It’s difficult to road test this time of the year due to the weather but gradually going further from home each time. I also need to get accustomed to the gear change and rear brake being on opposite sides.
Front brake is pretty poor, back is excellent so my next project is to improve the front brake. Doing lots of research at the moment.
Happy new year
Else
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That full width cast iron hub front brake is much maligned, but as a start, make sure the operating lever on the back plate never passes over the magic 90 degrees with the cable. If it does with the brake full on, you're not applying the maximum force.
Have look at OZ ADV's bike. I reckon that front brake is worn out or incorrectly set up. Lever has passed over the 90, it needs to point more downwards and make an acute angle with the cable when at rest.
Swarfy.
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Hi Else and welcome, I thought I'd chip in as an ex Essex man myself...We used to live in Nounsley near Hatfield Peverel before we upped sticks and came out here about 20 years ago now.
After catching up on what you have been trying, you've made progress, well done. I will only add that having been through similar trials myself and also being a relative newcomer to these venerable old machines I have found my A10 runs and starts better on standard low octane unleaded, rubbish 91 ron here, but it seems to like it so give that a go certainly no more than 95 ron unless you are running high compression?
We are lucky here in Aus in that we can still get fuel without ethanol in it but whatever you use keep this down to a minimum as it won't do you any favours.
I always give her a tickle first thing in the morning then I get the bike out of the shed...etc.etc. but all joking apart my bike here in Aus doesn't even have a choke fitted but it does like being flooded to start, by which I mean depress the tickler until fuel just appears to wet your finger. (you can overdo it). Then I slowly ease it over a couple of revs until at least one cylinder is just over compression (actually good practice at this point to pull the clutch in and kick through to clear the plates then give it a hefty swing while cracking the throttle about a 1/4 open and it generally fires immediately, it'll then settle to a rather slow tickover but I generally keep it running at a fast idle on the twist grip while it warms up a little.
I've not tried the Brisk plugs but have had no problems with NGK BP7ES just make sure they are genuine ones! (mine has an alloy head)
Good luck with the brakes, I've tried everything and there's plenty of info on here. (use the search) Progress has been made but they still only just slow me down rather than stop me if you know what I mean! Be careful about following any modern motors or motorcycles for that matter there is no stopping if they anchor on hard...
Wishing you all the best with the new bike it looks lovely.
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Hi Else,
I only just saw your post,
My SR has long reach plugs so I do. not know
The short reach number,
There is a brand equivalent table on the net, maybe linked to F2' s website?
John
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Just found the brake shoes have been fitted the wrong way round, the friction material was leading rather than trailing on the show so I have swapped them over to the correct orientation. Unfortunately it is too damp on the roads today to try it out, hoping tomorrow will be dry. Fingers crossed