vin stamping

[tenko]

Hi folks,
         I've just gone through inspection at wimbledon dvla,who finally have issued me with a new frame number 16 digits,does anyone know of anyone who would stamp this new number on my frame? I am in staines nr heathrow.  The bike is alll up and running and i don't want to break it all down as one firm i've asked requested. Everyone i've asked looks at me as if i've just asked the million dollar question is this such a rarity?

[warmshed]

Buy a set of stamps and do it yourself.  Decide the size you require then buy from  engineering supplier or ebay such as these :-

 http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/36pc-5mm-LETTER-NUMBER-PUNCH-Alphabet-Steel-Stamping-Set-New-Boxed-/390396310782?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item5ae56ef4fe&_uhb=1

You will then need a hammer and a bit of practice on some spare metal.  Not hard at all.  you can borrow mine, I live near the Dartford crossing, if you go to lakeside Ill meet you there.

Try Gabfesters site  http://www.gabfesters.org.uk/      Friendly lot based near you meet each thursday evening at  "The Crown" Harmondworth Village,(just off the A4 next to Heathrow)8pm  http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?x=505754&y=177729&z=0&sv=ub7+0aj&st=2&pc=ub7+0aj&mapp=map.srf&searchp=ids.srf  go along and have a chat, I am sure they will help you.  Dave

[Goldy]

I don't know how BSA did it because they got the numbers quite deep and you will not get the same depth. The normal position is on the frame headstock tube and you will not be able to stamp onto the radius of the tube. You will have to grind a small flat on the out side of the tube to stand a chance of getting a full digit. You will need to hit the stamp very hard and may have to do it a number of times, just make sure that you locate the stamp correctly into the digit on subsequent strikes. Another option would be to stamp the number onto a strip of steel plate and tack weld it onto the tube.
All the best with it.
Goldy

[muskrat]

A fellow in Switzerland sells VIN plates on ebay. Does ones for all makes. I put one on my A65, just engraved the #'s on with my dremel. Two tiny holes for the supplied rivets. http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/BSA-A50-A65-A75-Spitfire-Victor-Rocket-3-Firebird-Lighting-Gold-Star-Data-plate-/130841846787?pt=Motorcycles_Parts_Accessories&hash=item1e76c82403
Cheers

[Butch (cb)]

As Goldy says - it's a real b of a job. Separate plate sounds the way to go.

[bsa-bill]

not much help to you with a bike built up, but anyone got a frame stripped then probably heat to cherry red then stamp (leather gloves required).
Would think BSA would use a press although spare frames were left to the dealer to stamp it seems

[warmshed]

If your going the plate way, just cut one yourself and stamp/etch it, no need to pay £20 for one.  Or try these people http://www.vin-plate.co.uk/motorcycle_plates.html

[Goldy]

I am sure if you go to your local engineering steel stockholder, engineering or fabricating company they will give you a bit of mild steel strip 3/8 x 1/8 inch 3 or 4 inches long and they may even stamp it for you. Don't be afraid to go to these companies I have found many of them to be very helpful.

[tenko]

Hey Folks,
            Thanks for all of your replies/suggestions, i have gone the "make a plate" way , i tried several well known motorcycle dealers, who basically couldn't give a stuff. Obviously not enough profit for them to bother. A local engineering firm couldn't have been more helpful they are going to engrave a mild steel plate that i will get tigged to the headstock.

Cheeeers.

[BSARoadRocket]

Stamping numbers is not hard at all.  Just make sure you have nice sharp and hard high quality stamps and if you want the number deep just do a nice hard hit with a big hammer.  No need at all to heat the metal up.  Practice practice practice on some mild steel scraps so you know you can get a satisfactory result before stamping anything that matters as it takes practice.  Stamping and attaching a separate plate sounds like the hard way of doing it.  Presently I'm working for an automotive engine re-builder and every engine that is rebuilt gets the invoice number stamped into the block, crank, first main cap, and heads so the engine can be identified should a warranty issue come up.

 At least in my part of the world a separate custom plate with the VIN on it would raise a big red flag in the eyes of a law enforcement official if by some rare chance you had to get your bike inspected and encountered an official that knew anything about what the VIN numbers originally looked like on a 50+ year old motorcycle.

[duTch]

 The factory VIN plate that came with my Gutzzi was unattached for some reason (imported s/h from USof), so I stuck it on with silicone- after a couple of years, pulled it off to redo the frame and stuck it back on same way, still there 18 years later.
 It's basically just a piece of thin ally, so surely you could do the same, with a similar layout to contemporary design, or whatever takes your fancy.

 Wouldn't worry 'bout the Trappers- with their resources, they should be able to work it out...?

[muskrat]

This is what I put on mine.
http://www.khneisser.ch/products/34/detail/bsa
It's easier than trying to read the frame number with 10 coats of paint over it  .
Cheers

[Butch (cb)]

I stamped mine and it was 'kin 'ard. As in requiring multiple blows even with a 5lb club. And it's all very tense trying to line up oh so perfectly each time.