What have you done with your bike/s today?

[fffcycles]

Spent the day in my shop with two fellows who came to look at some projects. Father and son who like old Brits. The son took two Ariel’s a ‘31 Sloper needing a lot more collecting and a very complete ‘37 Red Hunter VH500.
Dad took two C11 projects and some girder forks.  I believe they are very happy!

[Joolstacho]

Goodonya passing some old iron on to new keepers. A lovely Red Hunter too.

[fffcycles]

The son is in his early thirties and completely smitten with old British bikes. These two are my kind of people. They are currently restoring a Flying 8 they imported from Nottingham six years ago as well. The bikes have gone to a good home.
They want all my manuals, instructions and ephemera as well so we will see what goes on there.
Meanwhile I felt so energized after their visit I started organising the bits I have on hand for my ‘40 VA500. My son will be up for a visit then he will help me convert my Velorex sidecar into a BSA carrier

[CheeserBeezer]

Finished building the spare engine for the new acquisition

[tomkilde]

Swapped out the "sport" front fender for a valanced one, to match the rear.  It came with gold pinstriping, which I like because it matches the tank.  Except now I feel I have to get the rear fender pinstriped.  The bracket that goes around the back of the fender needs a minor repair before I can fit it back.

I also had to swap out the fork sliders for new ones, as a PO had modified the old ones to fit a homemade fender bracket.  Struggled for an hour to fit the first wire circlip; the second one took just a minute or two.

[CheeserBeezer]

I took the recently acquired A10 out for its first proper test, just did about 10 miles. Early indications are good. It pulls well, there was a bit of clutch slip, brakes seem OK, horn not working. So, a couple of jobs to sort it out in the workshop today and then a longer test. This is going to be my other daily rider, alongside my red, single-seater. The engine (SRM) from this bike is going to be donated to my 2026 project and I've already built a new engine, iron head type, for this one.

[CheeserBeezer]

Follow-up to the above. Horn fixed, was poor connection at the ammeter. Clutch fixed. The bike has obviously been standing for a very long time. Rust had transferred from the plain plates to the friction plates so everything needed a good flatting on a surface plate covered in abrasive paper. I know that sounds a bit 'cheapskate' but I'm just trying to get it running properly before I remove the engine to go in the 2026 project. When I fit a new engine to this one, I'll do a proper job! I also made a slightly shorter pushrod as the adjustment was all over the place. All Ok now! I found the P.O. had taken a couple of shortcuts. 1) no lockwasher on the clutch centre, he'd used silicone instead!, and 2) no chaincase gasket, again just used silicone! If the surfaces are OK I prefer to use a gasket and no goo.

[Greybeard]

I imagine seeing that clutch nut was a 'What the phuck?' moment. 😳

[Klaus]

Not my A10 engines, but BSA M24 Race engine now fished after hard work.
Engine is ( was) a DBD 34 Pearson 600 (Crank and barrel) head and Rockers areand  ABSAF.
with prewar rockerbox
Stroke 96mm bore 90 mm (610 ccm) looks like M24.
right engine barrel, head and Rockerbox are original.
Cases are XB34 GS crank is 600 ABSAF with special conrod
Stroke 92,5 Bore 82

[Catz]

Not a lot from me, just fired up the A10 after not touching it for about 3 months, didn't charge the battery, same old stale E5 fuel, choke on, give it a tickle and fired up second kick. Result.

[CheeserBeezer]

Just fired up the A10's. Two of which had ben started recently so I didn't expect them to be a problem. The RGS, cafe racer, and Road Rocket had all wet sumped pretty badly. However, there has been a dramatic change in the weather fore the better so I hope to keep the sumps dry by using them! I've also fitted Optimate charger points to all of them so I can keep the batteries topped up, all of which seem to have survived the winter. It's our first, official, run of the year on Sunday. Looking forward to seeing the usual faces and maybe some new ones at the Cock o' Budworth from 11.30 a.m.

[Worty]

Hello again everyone, been a bit quiet lately due to the winter and trying to sort out my son's new house.  First task was to evict the dead mice in the loft, get rid of all the old insulation (with mouse droppings), scrape up some gooey mess which was an ex-mouse, clean the loft and apply nice new Knauff wool insulation - all done.  Next was filling and sanding walls, I looked like a ghost after a marathon sanding effort today.  After that, mist coating the new plaster to all ceilings and some walls, followed by painting. 

I hope to get it all done by the end of April, at which time I need to sort out the GF's erratic running, dodgy l/h fork seal, solder on clutch nipple, fit new main petrol tap, and probably some other stuff.

No worries for the road though, the Kwaka needs air in the tyres and some fuel in the tank and off I go.

Spring is upon us (almost).

[Worty]

Just fired up the A10's. Two of which had ben started recently so I didn't expect them to be a problem. The RGS, cafe racer, and Road Rocket had all wet sumped pretty badly. However, there has been a dramatic change in the weather fore the better so I hope to keep the sumps dry by using them! I've also fitted Optimate charger points to all of them so I can keep the batteries topped up, all of which seem to have survived the winter. It's our first, official, run of the year on Sunday. Looking forward to seeing the usual faces and maybe some new ones at the Cock o' Budworth from 11.30 a.m.

I've had a look at the Cock o' Budworth, looks like a tidy pub.  Wife's in Chester this Sunday.

[CheeserBeezer]

Just fired up the A10's. Two of which had ben started recently so I didn't expect them to be a problem. The RGS, cafe racer, and Road Rocket had all wet sumped pretty badly. However, there has been a dramatic change in the weather fore the better so I hope to keep the sumps dry by using them! I've also fitted Optimate charger points to all of them so I can keep the batteries topped up, all of which seem to have survived the winter. It's our first, official, run of the year on Sunday. Looking forward to seeing the usual faces and maybe some new ones at the Cock o' Budworth from 11.30 a.m.

I've had a look at the Cock o' Budworth, looks like a tidy pub.  Wife's in Chester this Sunday.

Hi Worty, It would be great to see you. The run is 'Allcomers Welcome' on or in any vehicle.  https://sites.google.com/site/cheshirebsa/calendar

[Colsbeeza]

Fired up the Flash today. Not ridden or started since November 9th, nearly 4 months. Unlike you blokes in UK, weather has been the opposite over here down under (Bl--dy hot) so not great riding weather. Also distracted by other tasks lately.
Nevertheless, she fired up instantly on the button (lecky start), no wet sumping and intermittent oil return within seconds. A bit of spitting back which stopped after warming up. All is good.
Col