Std timing side bush or SRM conversion?

[Tukig]

Hello one and all,

Following on from my "cautionary tale" I am looking at my repair options. What are the A7/A10 worlds thoughts on std timing side bush or SRM conversion. Obviously the SRM way is more expensive but is it better value in the long run? What sort of mileage could I expect from the standard set up using 20/50 oil and a cartridge filter (purely for ease of availability, not to open an oil debate!). I ask because there is more chance of getting the bike back on the road this year if it costs less to repair but I will wait if the SRM conversion is considered to be well worthwhile.

Thanking you all

Gary

[Goldy]

There is nothing wrong with a timing side bush. Buy an underside bush from c and d autos and after fitting take to you local enngineering machine shop and get it in line bored to give one and half thou clearancel

[beezermacc]

I agree with Goldy. I have four A7's, A10's all running with original cranks and bushes. I get the crank journal ground 'round' regardless of size then have a bush made to suit. I fit the bush and ream it myself; never had a problem. I've done a few for friends too all with no problems. Keep your oil clean and fresh, should be no probs.

[Sav]

I went the SRM route on my A10 as my A7 already had the conversion.

This followed rebuildng the A10 with what we thought were good shells and they turned out to be rubbish and fell apart before it was even run in.

SRM are VERY expensive but they gave me back a bike with a years unlimited mileage guarantee.

You get what you pay for! If you go the standard route make sure of the quality of the parts

Sav.

[chilblayth]

i think its a combination causes failure bush main ,   shell bearings are fine if theres a good CONSTANT supply of CLEAN quality oil (look at cars ) but no proper filter , old/worn oil pump ,blocked sludge trap , poor quality pattern parts !!!!!!    whats the cost of uprating the oiling system against an srm conversion ? once pressure drops at the main the d/s bigend usually goes first !!    i did read in an old issue of classic bike may 1/2 years ago another a10 specialist was working on a cheaper conversion but havent heard anything since ?    dont know if anyone else knows anything ?   i personally would prefer a  conversion as all the bikes i had suffered from the  `bush main syndrome` 

[bsa-bill]

I think I'll go along with Goldie, the conversion is good if you do mega miles per year or like to get max performance out of the motor, but for the majority of us who do far less miles per year than the bikes did when they were the riders only transport and running on less sophisticated oil than we use now, then the bush is just fine if fitted well.
as for shells but them from a trusted dealer - you know who they are

[Topdad]

Thought i'd chuck in my two pennyworth ,when i rebuilt my engine I went down the SRM route simply because a) at that time money wasn't really problem ( doesn't a few years make a difference !!!) b) having been " out " of the bike scene and BSA's for over 25 yrs i didn't think that there would be many local engineering shops around with the interest in working on old brit iron ( how wrong was that but at the time I'd not looked around very much ) .
Having said that 9 yrs ago SRM'S prices were lower AND all the work done was absolutely spot on! I put all the bits together and they were always onhand to give advice and everything fitted well; 9 yrs on and a fair number of miles on the clock it's still in excellent condition .
All my other A'S have been standard and I've only suffered 1 failure in 5 bikes ,that was my first plunger and I'd flogged the living daylights out of her has only a 16yr could and when she through a rod I was going flatout down a hill just outside oxford heading again for london ,if i'd had a little sense I'm sure that that bike would still be running now .
So there you are, basically you pays your money and you makes your choice but either way keep the oil clean ,whatever you use, and only use a company that someone on this forum recommends and you'll be all right, bets of luck BobH.

[Butch (cb)]

Talking to Roger at Cake Street a year ago he was experimenting on the timing side. I think I've seen him advertising some sort of conversion more recently so I guess he's got something working. He's a swept up guy so I'd certainly presume it to be a good solution if he's now offering it. No idea on pricing though.

[andy2565]

just got back on the forum after an absence of building my extension,conversion is well worth it,as discussed before on the forum,i and other members have used rob wardle,lovely bloke and half the price of srm.

[Tukig]

Thank you all for all your comments. I have been in touch with Rob Wardle (some good forum recommendations) and have decided to go with him as he is relatively local at just over 300 miles away (Talking to him, some come from a lot farther than that). Due to finances I will not be ready to see the results until mid May but will let you all know how it all goes.

I was toying with the idea of selling it as project requiring an engine rebuild but when I wheeled it to take the piccies for ebay or real classic etc it looked so pretty that I couldn't!

[Topdad]

I couldn't agree more ,they really are good looking bikes ,good descision best of luck bobh.

[chilblayth]

hi    how do i contact rob wardle ?    phone no /web site ?

cheers 

[bikerbob]

Hi there. I believe the number you are looking for is 0191-4696428 Rob Wardle based in Felling, Gateshead Tyne & Wear.  If you type Rob Wardle into the search box on this site you will see that he comes highly recommended have not had a need to use him yet myself but keep his phone number handy.