The BSA A7-A10 Forum
Technical => A7 & A10 Engine => Topic started by: goldstar 39 on 12.04. 2011 19:20
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Hello to all on the forum! I have just joined and I hope some of the members can help me me some information and advice .
I have just bought a 1953 A10 plunger in need of restoration and I want to make it original as possible.
So any information would be most welcome . What colour petrol tank and what kind of levers should be on the bike?
Are there any pictures of original bikes I can look at? Where is the best place to find parts?
kind regards
Richard
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Hi Richard and welcome to the forum.
You should be able to find the answers you require on the forum. I think the bike should be either black or polychromatic silver beige. If you search on paint colour you will find a lengthly discussion. Also on the handle bar levers which I think from memory had ball ends as period optional extras, again if you search on hear you will find the answers. Also there are some good pictures of the plunger gold flash. The 2009 best picture winning picture is a good reference which is what I used. You will also find recommendations of suppliers and people's experiences with them.
All best
Stu
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One more Richard on the forum, Welcome. As Stu55Flash writes, spend some time searching the forum (http://www.a7a10.net/forum/index.php/topic,1352.0.html), most questions dealt with several times. And you are situated in Birmingham, that's great !
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Thanks for your replies Im just trying to understand the way the forum is set out its a bit different to the forum I use for my bsa wm20 .
But every thing looks good and people seem really friendly on here too.
Richard
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Thanks I will post some pictures as soon as possible I have just bought my A10 off ebay and havent even had it delivered yet.
The petrol Tank is missing and the engine is in bits.
Richard
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Hi Richard, I had tha bike in my Ebay watched list. Very nice bike (mine is as you see in my avitar) Have fun sourcing parts, and the rebuild.
Pato
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Welcome :) Looking forward to seeing some pics, Will try help out if I can along the way
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Thanks Newbie Im hoping to take delivery tomorrow so i will try and get some pics done later that day.
I have searched the site but still learning how to get the things up im looking for .
Are there any pics of original unrestored bsa A10 plungers or any period photographs of these bikes when they were first made.
Be nice to see some original brochures .or 1950s adverts are there any out there?
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Good. Another '53 on the board. I got inspired recently to put mine back into action after a near 1-year hiatus. This only helps. Cheers!
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Be nice to see some original brochures .or 1950s adverts are there any out there?
Some on the Advertisements page > http://www.a7a10.net/BSA/BSAGoldenFlash.htm (the 'mother' site of the forum).
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Oh, and the Brooklands books series on Bsa twins is a good 'un with several excellent period article reprints.
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thanks guys thats very kind of you loved the adverts will check out the book
cheers Richard
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Richard,
Here are some pictures of a restored '53 taken in my front yard several years ago.
Trev.
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Thanks Trev the bike looks really nice and the pictures will come in handy .What year was the headlamp Nacelle first used ?
are there any A10 parts lists for the different years I can look at ?.
cheers Richard
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I recommend you get the BSA manuals CD (http://www.britbike.com/com/cd/index.html#bsa), it has everything on it that you can think of needing. It has parts lists and all the applicable service sheets (no factory manuals for those years). Also, if you have any specific questions, as you've seen, there are a number of people who have nice examples of these machines.
Oh, and, according to the parts manuals, the "Alien Head" cowl came out with the '53 model year.
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Thanks Alex cd looks good and thanks for telling me about the headlamp cowl.
I thought my frame number was wrong I thought it should begin with BA10 but looking at the information on the frame numbers it should begin with BA7S which is what my frame number begins with panick over.
cheers Richard
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Richard,
As Alex stated, the cowl was first used in 1953.
If you are going hunting for one, be aware that the one you want doesn't have a cut-out for the steering lock which was introduced in 1955.
Also the headlight bucket is a bit of a rarity and you will need one with the under slung pilot light.
Trev.
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Thanks Trev i did a bit of research and found out that there are two different cowls that look very similar like you say posting the pictures now.
Can you tell mw please was this headlight with the underslung pilot light only used on the 53 model and does anyone have a few pictures of an original one I can look at please.
cheers Richard
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The speedo in the black one isn't mounted correctly (sorry, couldn't resist) *lol*
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Steering lock was an optional dealer fitted accessory so they are both "correct" depending upon weather you have a steering lock or not.
There are 3 types of correct;-
1) Catalogue correct ( as BSA intended to make them )
2) Shipped correct ( as they left the factory )
3) Dealer correct ( as you bought them ).
The production line at BSA never stopped so if they ran out of the correct part, they substituted whatever was on hand & fitted in the hole. Some times these were corrected by the dealers and some times they were not.
Some times what BSA intended to make next year never happened so they used up the tail end of last years parts or a different part altogether as the catalogue was printed up to 18 months prior to production and usually illustrated with a painting not a photograph.
The best place to find parts is "on the road".
Put the bike together with what ever is at hand & ride it every where that you can.
People will tell you that this is the wrong bit & that is the wrong bit but sooner or latter some one will say "I got the right bit at home" and usually it will cost you naught but a beer & a thank you.
Even if you take years to get it completely correct you have had fun riding it in the mean time & it has not become a big black endless money pit. Finally when you have all the "right" parts, pull it down for a complete rebuild & repaint
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Could not have put it better! Well said Beesa Trevor.
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Sorry if I seem a bit over enthusiastic only just got the bike so im trying to find out as much as I can .
I find it very interesting to see all the different variations on these bikes and i would like to thank everyone for helping with any questions I have.
regards Richard
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It is your enthusiasm that keeps the forum alive Richard... It would be rather dull here if no questions were asked. Its good to have you with us! *smile*
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It would be rather dull here if no questions were asked.
Well said indeed, it's the base reason for the forum coming into beeing, and becoming this good a knowledge base. And seems like many have made some good contacts as well. Wished I could have found this kind of forum when I got my A10 some 12 years ago (that long...?! am getting old... but the A10 is still older than me *smile*
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Richard,
The under slung pilot light was first used on the 1952 models but it's headlight was the same as your's with the extra fitting.
The cowl headlights only had the under slung pilot for 1953/54. From then until 1957 the pilot was fitted into the reflector.
I have to disagree with my namesake about the fitting of steering locks.
They were not available until 1955 and were standard fit from then on.
As I said earlier, the bucket will be the difficult bit to find.
Trev.
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There seem to be replicas made, probably also available elsewhere. The price seems fair:
http://en.vintage-motorcycle.com/index.php?language=en&site=4&pid=11&id=312&suchtext=scheinwerfer&limit=0 (http://en.vintage-motorcycle.com/index.php?language=en&site=4&pid=11&id=312&suchtext=scheinwerfer&limit=0)
Since Richard wants his bike as original as possible, I have to support Trev's last statement. No dealer or owner could fit a steering lock in 1953 without the appropriate top yoke, which only came in two years later. Although having one is very handy...
Cheers, Markus
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Well done for finding that Markus!.... Now for a bonus point... Where would you get the special rubber tube that fits inside for speedo cable to channel through? *smile*
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Yeah, haven't been successful in finding that either. Two rubber grommets of appropriate size must do the job instead.
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Thanks for all the info everyone this is exactly the kind of information im trying to find out.
I know most of you on here on the forum fit the parts that work best on your bikes and i agree with that too.
Having said that I am very interested in seeing original bikes also. Does anyone have a picture of the ammeter and switch that would have been fitted when the bikes were new . was it a lucas u39 off L H switch.
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LJ & MG,
The rubber tube for the speedo cable is listed in Draganfly's on-line site. Part No 19-2126.
Not cheap at 12.35 but beggars can't be choosers.
Trev.
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Good find, Trev. The bonus point is yours ;)
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Richard,
The original switch is a U39 OFF-L-H and the ammeter is the usual Lucas 1 5/8" 8amp type but should be marked - 0 + with no "8" numerals.
Trev.
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Well that does surprise me! Well done Trev and yes indeed you get the bonus point! (Shame on you Markus ;) Shame on me too! for not finding it on Draganflys site)
Edit: Here is a picture on Draganflys site showing that speedo tube!
http://www.draganfly.co.uk/images/shop/b3/28/28.gif
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*red*
Oh great Moderator, forgive my imperfectness.
I'm off to the shed, scourging myself with a rusty old primary chain....
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The link shows the headlight but I think these pics are of an original part.
The irony is I did not know I had the wrong headlight for my 56 model until reading this post. At least I have the right cowl though, albeit the actual lock is missing!
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I have Managed to get hold of an original cowl and headlight for a 1955 model although my bike is a 53 I will fit these for now.
Thanks to all the pictures and information i now know what to look out for . Looks like it could be a very long time before i get an original underslung headlight.
Richard
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Richard,
You need to do a swap with Kiwi!
Somehow, I think the distance involved may prevent that.
Trev.
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Kiwi if your interested in a swap let me know .
Richard