The BSA A7-A10 Forum

Technical (Descriptive Topic Titles - Stay on Topic) => Frame => Topic started by: flashblack on 09.05. 2009 17:54

Title: Is my brake lever bent?
Post by: flashblack on 09.05. 2009 17:54
I`ve often wondered, but it does seem to follow the contour of the chaincase, i`ve only recently noticed  *doh*
Title: Re: Is my brake lever bent?
Post by: RichardL on 09.05. 2009 18:32
It looks bent to me. I think the lines of the pedal plate should be parallel/square with the footrest peg. Nevertheless wait a few minutes for other opinion before breaking out the torch.  I straightened my footpeg by getting it red with my MAPP/oxygen torch and the affect on the chrome was barely noticeable, though, not an issue in your case.

Ricahrd L.
Title: Re: Is my brake lever bent?
Post by: LJ. on 09.05. 2009 20:20
The square part looks bent, but I could live with that. Here's a few pics of mine...

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v631/mr-lj35/A10%20Forum/th_DSC01443.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v631/mr-lj35/A10%20Forum/?action=view&current=DSC01443.jpg) (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v631/mr-lj35/A10%20Forum/th_DSC01445.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v631/mr-lj35/A10%20Forum/?action=view&current=DSC01445.jpg) (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v631/mr-lj35/A10%20Forum/th_DSC01441.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v631/mr-lj35/A10%20Forum/?action=view&current=DSC01441.jpg) (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v631/mr-lj35/A10%20Forum/th_DSC01446.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v631/mr-lj35/A10%20Forum/?action=view&current=DSC01446.jpg)

Or If you want... A Really bent brake lever!!  *lol* *lol* (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v631/mr-lj35/A10%20Forum/th_DSC01442.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v631/mr-lj35/A10%20Forum/?action=view&current=DSC01442.jpg)

Title: Re: Is my brake lever bent?
Post by: flashblack on 09.05. 2009 20:52
Thanks Richard and LJ, i now realise that my lever is bent, but i still think it looks alright so i`m not in a hurry to straighten it.
 On a change of subject, i have owned my A10 for over 20 years and always assumed a previous owner had stamped his (or her) initials on the crankcases until , that is, i see your blue A10 with the same letters (WF) in the same place! So, that`s confused me, do you know what WF stands for? *dunno*

   
                             Richie

  P.S. you can just about see the markings on my picture of bent lever.       
Title: Re: Is my brake lever bent?
Post by: LJ. on 09.05. 2009 21:36
I've absolutely no idea what 'WF' stands for at all. Got me wondering now, Just had a look through the dictionary for some clues and found what could be 'Way Farer'? somehow doubt it though.

But one thing for sure... The A10 was 'Wonder Fully' made! *smile*
Title: Re: Is my brake lever bent?
Post by: flashblack on 10.05. 2009 09:15
Now that`s really got my curiosity going,coz i was expecting to be told i was missing something obvious and that "WF" stands for .......     but instead it`s still a mystery ????

LJ, your red A10 also appears to have it ? could it be something to do with later engines, 1960 onwards perhaps?
I`m sure the answer will be in this forum somewhere  *conf*
Title: Re: Is my brake lever bent?
Post by: BSA_54A10 on 10.05. 2009 09:39
The factory put all sorts of marks on cases so that after they had been tunnel bored the same 2 side were joined together .They also did several measurements which would result in different stampings so that when assembled all parts were within tolerance levels.
It is easy to forget that when A 10's were being made 99% of the machining was done with tool steel ground down to size and shape and as each part was machined the tool changed size. Then there were variations due to weather and even operators so it was cheaper to match what was made than to make every thing absolutely identical.
If you pull a motor apart and clean it very carefully you will com across all sorts of weird notations, centerpunch marks, odd letters here & there.
This is one of the things that Allister Cave was great for as he seemed to know what all this stuff meant even for machines that were made before his time   
Title: Re: Is my brake lever bent?
Post by: flashblack on 10.05. 2009 12:35
That sounds like a good explanation for the markings Trevor, also i know what you mean about the machining back then, as when i was an apprentice engineer in the early eighties 99% of the  machines at work were either pre war or built to war design (CNC was only just emerging) and, like you say, hand ground tool steel, and manual operators, it meant quality control had their work cut out back then!
   
                     Richie
Title: Re: Is my brake lever bent?
Post by: A10Boy on 10.05. 2009 20:21
Mines just got the F,  wonder what its all about?