1950? 500cc BSA project
- Thread starter harry76
- Start date
Sorry Harry. I knew what I was talking about. I do that a lot.
The reason that I mentioned the stock frame was that you have a lot of the work done for you and then you can change the look to suite what you want. I was thinking a 50's frame before they started putting those gastley sofa sized seats on them.
I'm thinking Francis Barnett or James as well as BSA. You would have to go more for the 1920's look as someone mentioned if you do. An oil tank and fake panels would hide it and if you using the stock gear box you could have it inside a fake tool box or the like.
Just my years of making repairs to antique furniture as well as fake antiques. You learn very quickly that the eye can be fooled into believing what it sees. Like the wonderful bike you posted with the Victa engine. Even with a hard look it looked real.
My thoughts are why build a frame if you can take an old one and redo it for a bit of money compared to having to engineer a complete new one. Just my way of doing things and by no means is it right but over the years I've pretty much got getting great results for not a lot of money.
Well except the Monark bike but then I did say I'm only doing this once and I meant it.
Oh, did I tell you about the trike I bought this afternoon with a Briggs and Stratton motor on it? This it the last one. Really.
Trust me. I'm from the government and I'm here to help you.
Steve.
The reason that I mentioned the stock frame was that you have a lot of the work done for you and then you can change the look to suite what you want. I was thinking a 50's frame before they started putting those gastley sofa sized seats on them.
I'm thinking Francis Barnett or James as well as BSA. You would have to go more for the 1920's look as someone mentioned if you do. An oil tank and fake panels would hide it and if you using the stock gear box you could have it inside a fake tool box or the like.
Just my years of making repairs to antique furniture as well as fake antiques. You learn very quickly that the eye can be fooled into believing what it sees. Like the wonderful bike you posted with the Victa engine. Even with a hard look it looked real.
My thoughts are why build a frame if you can take an old one and redo it for a bit of money compared to having to engineer a complete new one. Just my way of doing things and by no means is it right but over the years I've pretty much got getting great results for not a lot of money.
Well except the Monark bike but then I did say I'm only doing this once and I meant it.
Oh, did I tell you about the trike I bought this afternoon with a Briggs and Stratton motor on it? This it the last one. Really.
Trust me. I'm from the government and I'm here to help you.
Steve.
Haha another buy, and i thought i was bad LOL.
Im hearing you about the frame, if i see one suitable i may use it..... but are you forgetting one of the key principles of this site, at least what i take from this site. If i made my own frame from scratch the satisfaction wopuld be that much greater.
For example did you see the beautiful job Whozzawat did recovering his seat, and as someone pointed out to him, he could have just bought one, they are reasonably priced and it would have saved him a lot of work, but thats not the point.
For me building these bikes is just as much about the journey as it is the destination. I know very little but since ive found this site i want to try to do things myself, i may fail many times, but when i succeed its oh so sweet. Im sure you understand that. Im still only fairly young (35) so i want to aquire a lot of the skills i see other builders on here have.
In saying that i will keep an eye out for a frame just in case i aint got the skills yet to build one from scratch. Besides as ive mentioned my brother races cars and builds cages on the side so he has a bender and other things i can use to build a frame.
Off topic a couple of years ago he crashed his 1971 Holden LC Torana (very small car, think small japanese car size) with 400 Chev and a Procharger all under the bonnet putting out around 1000HP. It was a bad crash but luckily the cage saved his life
The car was meant to be featured in Australias premiere car magazine Street Machine but unfortunately he crashed it before the shoot, they did a story anyway.
Im hearing you about the frame, if i see one suitable i may use it..... but are you forgetting one of the key principles of this site, at least what i take from this site. If i made my own frame from scratch the satisfaction wopuld be that much greater.
For example did you see the beautiful job Whozzawat did recovering his seat, and as someone pointed out to him, he could have just bought one, they are reasonably priced and it would have saved him a lot of work, but thats not the point.
For me building these bikes is just as much about the journey as it is the destination. I know very little but since ive found this site i want to try to do things myself, i may fail many times, but when i succeed its oh so sweet. Im sure you understand that. Im still only fairly young (35) so i want to aquire a lot of the skills i see other builders on here have.
In saying that i will keep an eye out for a frame just in case i aint got the skills yet to build one from scratch. Besides as ive mentioned my brother races cars and builds cages on the side so he has a bender and other things i can use to build a frame.
Off topic a couple of years ago he crashed his 1971 Holden LC Torana (very small car, think small japanese car size) with 400 Chev and a Procharger all under the bonnet putting out around 1000HP. It was a bad crash but luckily the cage saved his life
The car was meant to be featured in Australias premiere car magazine Street Machine but unfortunately he crashed it before the shoot, they did a story anyway.
Wow. That must have been a trip through time that didn't end until the car stopped rolling.
Was your brother hurt badly? There's proof to everyone that the man builds a quality roll bar. That's the only thing that's left.
Yes, I forget about being young since I'm near twice your age. Add poor health and since I can't find the darned expiry date anywhere I do think about time now.
I remembered someone had a brother who built roll bars and welded. You are well ahead of the game to start off. It is indeed fun to say I did it all and on the other hand there have been a couple of memorable moments when the comments were, too bad that I did it myself. Dad did mention from time to time that I would have made a wonderful blacksmith. It it doesn't fit it's evident that your using the wrong size of hammer was my personal favorite..
Yes another purchase. Craigs List and 20 minutes away. Picked the phone up a half dozen times and put it down again. Finally I snapped like a dry twig and called the guy. Has a small Briggs & Stratton engine on it with a jack shaft but it was a major home made piece of work and I'll cut everything off it and put an electric hub motor on it on the front and ride it so I can keep my legs working. The e-motor will get me back home.
Lots of parts for another planned build if the motor is strong enough.
Nice trike. Has high and low range but that's just if your pedaling. For $150 I feel I got more than I paid for. I'll put photos in the trike section tomorrow but this is the last one.
There's no more room.
Steve.
Was your brother hurt badly? There's proof to everyone that the man builds a quality roll bar. That's the only thing that's left.
Yes, I forget about being young since I'm near twice your age. Add poor health and since I can't find the darned expiry date anywhere I do think about time now.
I remembered someone had a brother who built roll bars and welded. You are well ahead of the game to start off. It is indeed fun to say I did it all and on the other hand there have been a couple of memorable moments when the comments were, too bad that I did it myself. Dad did mention from time to time that I would have made a wonderful blacksmith. It it doesn't fit it's evident that your using the wrong size of hammer was my personal favorite..
Yes another purchase. Craigs List and 20 minutes away. Picked the phone up a half dozen times and put it down again. Finally I snapped like a dry twig and called the guy. Has a small Briggs & Stratton engine on it with a jack shaft but it was a major home made piece of work and I'll cut everything off it and put an electric hub motor on it on the front and ride it so I can keep my legs working. The e-motor will get me back home.
Lots of parts for another planned build if the motor is strong enough.
Nice trike. Has high and low range but that's just if your pedaling. For $150 I feel I got more than I paid for. I'll put photos in the trike section tomorrow but this is the last one.
There's no more room.
Steve.
Fasteddy
I take it you have no idea how much Francis Barnett parts are worth?
lot more then a jap bike. Old jap bikes are a dime a dozen and in some cases better quailty and MUCH easier to get parts for
I take it you have no idea how much Francis Barnett parts are worth?
lot more then a jap bike. Old jap bikes are a dime a dozen and in some cases better quailty and MUCH easier to get parts for
My brother was told at hospital that his back was broken, but it was soon found it was a birth defect. Still would have been scary for a bit. One of his eyes was red as red can be from the impact. No serious injuries however he did have ansore back for around a year. The crash happened as he crossed the 1/4 mile mark so he was moving.
Unfortunately my brother doesn't TIG weld, he's a panel beater by trade so he tacks them with a mig and someone he knows TIG welds them. He makes good money doing that on the side. He's now moved more into circuit racing and is actually our state champ in his division. He still has the engine which wasn't too bad, he had to spend a few thousand dollars to have the blower fixed and he has it in another car and is maybe 75% finished.
You may be twice my age but you are definitely someone I look up to Fasteddy. Your sidecar is a thing of beauty, along with your work with Silverbear, I just hope I'm doing this at your age.
Unfortunately my brother doesn't TIG weld, he's a panel beater by trade so he tacks them with a mig and someone he knows TIG welds them. He makes good money doing that on the side. He's now moved more into circuit racing and is actually our state champ in his division. He still has the engine which wasn't too bad, he had to spend a few thousand dollars to have the blower fixed and he has it in another car and is maybe 75% finished.
You may be twice my age but you are definitely someone I look up to Fasteddy. Your sidecar is a thing of beauty, along with your work with Silverbear, I just hope I'm doing this at your age.
Ibedayank,
That's too true. Last FB I had was an early 50's in the mid 60's and I only paid the $75 because it ran and I didn't have to mess with it. Anything was better quality than FB"s and James but that is only my opinion of course though my old DOT hill climber was pretty good but someone had put it together with a lot of care and knowledge.
Today the're antiques but in my day they were just old junk that we could afford. Do wish we had kept the 2 1939 Triumph 500 singles we bought for $150 the pair. They were pretty much mint. Of course the 1939 LaSalle hearse with 22 thousand miles on it would look good with them. Took a while and some trading to come up with the $150 for it and the $125, 1953 Porche convertible that was the first one brought into Canada by VW Canada would fill the garage nicely.
Sounds wild doesn't it. Of course if you had lived the moment you'd be over 65. That's the price we paid on top of it. To finish it off, how about a mint 1959 Healey for a grand.
Steve.
That's too true. Last FB I had was an early 50's in the mid 60's and I only paid the $75 because it ran and I didn't have to mess with it. Anything was better quality than FB"s and James but that is only my opinion of course though my old DOT hill climber was pretty good but someone had put it together with a lot of care and knowledge.
Today the're antiques but in my day they were just old junk that we could afford. Do wish we had kept the 2 1939 Triumph 500 singles we bought for $150 the pair. They were pretty much mint. Of course the 1939 LaSalle hearse with 22 thousand miles on it would look good with them. Took a while and some trading to come up with the $150 for it and the $125, 1953 Porche convertible that was the first one brought into Canada by VW Canada would fill the garage nicely.
Sounds wild doesn't it. Of course if you had lived the moment you'd be over 65. That's the price we paid on top of it. To finish it off, how about a mint 1959 Healey for a grand.
Steve.
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I'm glad your brother came through it without worse injuries. When I was hurt the last time they told me I didn't have a fractured skull because when your born your skull is in four parts if I remember right, to aid your birth and what they saw was the shadow where they grew together.
Shook them up when the nurse came in the room and I was playing around moving the front and back parts back and forth as much as I could stand the pain. That was a no,no according to them. I found it interesting myself.
Is your brother getting back into drag racing again? I would think circut racing would be safer since the speeds don't get as high.
Did they find out what caused the crash or is it just one of those things that happened?
Thank you for the kind words. Silverbear and I have some things in the works and the Indian tri-cars are getting closer to a reality. The wood working shop is nearly cleaned up and the garage will be finished at the end of the month. So weather permitting it will be moving forward.
Steve.
Shook them up when the nurse came in the room and I was playing around moving the front and back parts back and forth as much as I could stand the pain. That was a no,no according to them. I found it interesting myself.
Is your brother getting back into drag racing again? I would think circut racing would be safer since the speeds don't get as high.
Did they find out what caused the crash or is it just one of those things that happened?
Thank you for the kind words. Silverbear and I have some things in the works and the Indian tri-cars are getting closer to a reality. The wood working shop is nearly cleaned up and the garage will be finished at the end of the month. So weather permitting it will be moving forward.
Steve.
My brother took a break from building his drag car...... Again, as you can imagine and got back into circuit racing, he did it many years ago. He's always hassling me to get my race license and come out and have a drive. I'd rather him finish his street/drag car as that interests me more. So to answer your question, yes he is getting back into drag racing, but for now it's on the backburner. The car is almost done, tubs etc are all done, just. Reds body work and paint.
It's hard to work out what happened but they seem to think his exhaust broke and punctured one of his tyres and turned him into the wall..... And as I said these cars are tiny
It's hard to work out what happened but they seem to think his exhaust broke and punctured one of his tyres and turned him into the wall..... And as I said these cars are tiny
man that 3 speed gearbox looks like a toy next to that bsa engine. Since you are in to the teens bikes I would do a belt drive, if I were you. Or maybe a Chain primary drive that went to a jackshaft with a pulley for a belt secondary drive.
I would not give either of those two engines up. That smaller engine would be wicked cool with that 3speed.... but not as cool as the bsa.
I would not give either of those two engines up. That smaller engine would be wicked cool with that 3speed.... but not as cool as the bsa.
Not even close Cobrafreak, over here in OZ youre either a Ford or a Holden guy.
The madmax car was an Ford XB GT coupe, in original condition would be worth a mint. Not worth as much as a XY GTHO though, before the GFC they were getting close to $1,000,000.
Holdens dont have a car worth that much but they are getting up there. Australian muscle cars in the last decade have exploded.
I have a Holden Torana GTR (same shape as my brothers but rarer)which unfortunately i totally modified 15 years ago, i still have it, if i hadnt modified it, it would be worth maybe $30,000+++
Holden made a concept car some years ago that had huge success in the U.S and was named one of the worlds most beautiful car, shame they only built it out of fibreglass. http://www.google.com.au/imgres?q=h...h=88&tbnw=155&start=0&ndsp=21&ved=0CEUQrQMwAA
I considered doing a direct belt drive, but how would i start it? Ive been advised theres no way id be able to pedal start it..... if someone can tell me a way to start it ill go ahead with that idea.
Yeah the 160cc Victa will be teamed up to that box. Just need to decide which bike will get it. Since i cant legally ride ICE bikes here my chinagirl bikes seem a waste of time, so i may put it in my Kroon build, or maybe the Indian build i started. Dunno for sure yet...... and ill probably replace the chinagirl in my Whippet build with a Villiers...... lots of work to do..... did i mention the elctric build i wanna do so i actually have a bike to ride... LOL i should have these done before im too old to ride them
With a compression release it would be doable, but probably not easy.
You’ve probably noticed in videos of modern antique racing most of the competitors using a electric or small engine powered “roller” held against the rear wheel.
But back in the day they either started by pedaling or easier with someone giving a running push off.
But you’re a strapping young lad aren’t you?
I imagine this engine does have a C R?
Perhaps you could build a quickie test rig to see just how hard it would be?
-Kirk
You’ve probably noticed in videos of modern antique racing most of the competitors using a electric or small engine powered “roller” held against the rear wheel.
But back in the day they either started by pedaling or easier with someone giving a running push off.
But you’re a strapping young lad aren’t you?
I imagine this engine does have a C R?
Perhaps you could build a quickie test rig to see just how hard it would be?
-Kirk
Kick start not somthing due to complexity or cost?
Now I am sort of joking here, but I just thought of electric start as a way if you don't get a DMV stamp of approval, you just put in 2nd gear and crank in gear with clutch let out and then when the authority passes you click ingnition on.
My brother and I were in up state New York and it was starting near winter. We borrowed a friends car as my brother's VW Bug we had the heads being redone. Out in the sticks about 5 miles away from his place and the motor had carb problems. It was a small sedan with a two stroke 4 cylinder engine and had rollfast too. So cold out and at the time cell phones were not a happening thing yet. After seeing we would walk and freeze on the way or just use the car battery and crank the starter, coast in neutral and then again in second hit the starter again. We made it back. Still froze a bit as no heat inside the car.
I thought of using an antenna rotor motor I had trashed picked as a starter. If without all the gearing down attached to my 3hp briggs bike and still have the recoil as back up that could be neat. The motor was looking OK on the rotor, but the tubes to mount to mast and guy wires had mashed up 1/4 thick steel as I suspect a wind gust took down some big antenna.
Anyway anthing you come up with for a starter I know it will be outstanding!
MT
Now I am sort of joking here, but I just thought of electric start as a way if you don't get a DMV stamp of approval, you just put in 2nd gear and crank in gear with clutch let out and then when the authority passes you click ingnition on.
My brother and I were in up state New York and it was starting near winter. We borrowed a friends car as my brother's VW Bug we had the heads being redone. Out in the sticks about 5 miles away from his place and the motor had carb problems. It was a small sedan with a two stroke 4 cylinder engine and had rollfast too. So cold out and at the time cell phones were not a happening thing yet. After seeing we would walk and freeze on the way or just use the car battery and crank the starter, coast in neutral and then again in second hit the starter again. We made it back. Still froze a bit as no heat inside the car.
I thought of using an antenna rotor motor I had trashed picked as a starter. If without all the gearing down attached to my 3hp briggs bike and still have the recoil as back up that could be neat. The motor was looking OK on the rotor, but the tubes to mount to mast and guy wires had mashed up 1/4 thick steel as I suspect a wind gust took down some big antenna.
Anyway anthing you come up with for a starter I know it will be outstanding!
MT
Harry these were on Mr.B's post don't know if you seen them,but some awesome ideas what they did back then................Curt
http://imgur.com/a/yAQtI#0
http://imgur.com/a/ugrOl#0
http://imgur.com/a/NpGqL#0
http://imgur.com/a/yAQtI#0
http://imgur.com/a/ugrOl#0
http://imgur.com/a/NpGqL#0