1950? 500cc BSA project

[wayne z]

I would re-do the indian. Look at how much is already there! Will that lil tranny fit between the seat tube and tire? I would re-work the BB aera or whatever it takes to get that lil motor and tranny lookin right with that frame.
This can be just as unique and awesome of a build as the future Beezer build.

You guys in Oz seem to have a lot of cool old motors still around.
A lot of the old U.S. stuff was scrapped for the war effort for WW2. The Govt asked everyone to be a patriot and donate anything possible for the cause. I remember an old timer telling me about his job in a scrap yard. He worjed in a crew of 4 man whose jobs were to smash up old cast iron stationary engines ect into small pieces with sledges.

 

[harry76]

Yeah i think so too, it has that room behind the seatstay for the gearbox. I just need to buy a bender to redo the downtube as i used a mates bender and would like time with my own bender to do it properly..... stay tuned.

 

[harry76]

I would re-do the indian. Look at how much is already there! Will that lil tranny fit between the seat tube and tire? I would re-work the BB aera or whatever it takes to get that lil motor and tranny lookin right with that frame.
This can be just as unique and awesome of a build as the future Beezer build.

You guys in Oz seem to have a lot of cool old motors still around.
A lot of the old U.S. stuff was scrapped for the war effort for WW2. The Govt asked everyone to be a patriot and donate anything possible for the cause. I remember an old timer telling me about his job in a scrap yard. He worjed in a crew of 4 man whose jobs were to smash up old cast iron stationary engines ect into small pieces with sledges.

Yeah the box fits behind the seatstay, and yeah, i need to tighten up the downtube to hug the motor, will most likely do a faux round crankcase.

 

[harry76]

Ive actually got a 5.5HP genuine Honda that i was going to use for this build, but everyones got them now, and i like to try and do things a little different. So the Victa and gearbox should be a perfect fit and is actually vintage, unlike the Honda

 

[wayne z]

You might also consider the tecnique someone here used recently, to get a tighter radius on his downtube loop. He made a slightly pie shaped sawkerf about 1/2 way thru the tube, about every inch, then bent the tube until the kerfs closed up and welded them up. After some grinding and filling, the kerfs wern't noticable in the pics.

 

[harry76]

You might also consider the tecnique someone here used recently, to get a tighter radius on his downtube loop. He made a slightly pie shaped sawkerf about 1/2 way thru the tube, about every inch, then bent the tube until the kerfs closed up and welded them up. After some grinding and filling, the kerfs wern't noticable in the pics.

I did see that, i also saw the same technique used in a much older post.

Ill retry with the bender first as i tried it on a friends, i had never used one and he only gave me a small amount of time to use it (he was going to work) and he understandably doesnt like lending tools out.... but has since said to me i can come and borrow it. So i may retry, and failing that ill use the technique you mentioned for sure

My brother also has one but didnt have a small enough dye. It may be worthwhile me just buying one though as i plan to do lots of builds in the future. This hobbies totally addictive and i cant get enough

 

[GearNut]

I remember an old timer telling me about his job in a scrap yard. He worjed in a crew of 4 man whose jobs were to smash up old cast iron stationary engines ect into small pieces with sledges.

You just brought a tear to my eye.....
I love the sound of those engines and watching them run.

 

[harry76]

You just brought a tear to my eye.....
I love the sound of those engines and watching them run.

Yeah breaking up stationary engines would be hard work, but even harder to actually break up a piece of history.

 

[harry76]

Just an update, i finally paid for my gearbox (the seller was away and i had to wait for him to return to get postage costs) so hopefully should have that soon

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/250996463228?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1497.l2649

I will take this box with me to the vintage motorcycle swapmeet i am attending in a couple weeks, and hopefully get it ID'd as well as seeing if anyone has or knows of clutches for it.

I will be taking my Villiers bike to display, hopefully my rear bandbrake shows up before then so i can replace the rear disc (thanks WayneZ for the idea). Hopefully it will be well received and get me talking to some of those guys.

I will be on the lookout for large diameter rims or complete wheels, failing that i will see if i can find vintage hubs, i want a front hub with no brakes for that "look" and then i think i will buy the Honda 23" rims i have seen, not cheap but will be worth it i think.

Ive also decided to buy a pipe bender instead of trying to find time to borrow my mates. The shop had to order in more stock so i may go get it tommorrow.

Ive also seen 2 other engines identical to mine on Ebay so looks like i didnt get as much of a bargain as i first thought. Oh well still a very cool engine in my books. They have the same carbs and everything and obviously were stationary engines as you guys guessed.... funny thing is i usually look for these types of things and never ever seen them and now ive seen 2 apart from mine.... weird.

Im watching to see how much this one goes for,

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/BSA-M20-...orcycle_Parts_Accessories&hash=item2ebbf31722

This one however looks in a lot worse shape

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/BSA-M20-...orcycle_Parts_Accessories&hash=item46017f425d

 

[harry76]

My gearbox turned up today, ill take it with me to the swap meet next weekend to see if anyone has a clutch for it or knows where id find one.

I did notice the sprocket on the engine is around 7.15mm wide and about a 14mm pitch, while the secondary sprocket on the gearbox is around 6.2mm with about a 17mm pitch, im sure that doesnt matter as im guessing i may need to replace the engine sprocket because it was used as a stationary engine and may have had a sprocket to suit that apllication.

 

[harry76]

I havent had a chance to do too much of late as ive been repairing my backyard vegie patch and laying down more deco on my pumptrack, as weve had floods here of late. I did however go buy myself a pipe bender so im just getting a lot of the stuff i need together. Not really much progress but thats how it goes i guess...... lookinh forward to my 5 week break in June.

 

[Ibedayank]

exploded clutch assembly

and I stated the size of the case was not that important on the trans... but try and put those bsa shafts in a case the size of the 1st trans you bought and see how far you get.

 

[Lurker]

Harry, I found this bike on filckr the other day and I thought of you. I'm not sure if it is a custom made frame or not but it sure has that teens/twenties look to it. I would do a lot of things different if it were mine but I'm sure you can draw some inspiration from it.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/39563408@N07/6477085065/in/photostream/

 

[harry76]

Yes i realise which is the shifter and which is the kickstart but thanks anyway.

I take it i can get clutches from Burtonbikebits if i cant find a local source so thank you for the headsup.

We all decided long ago that i wouldnt use the original box, thats been paired up to my Victa 160cc..... and for the record no-one said we would try and put THAT clutch on the OTHER smaller gearbox that was on EBay. We were questioning whether i could get away with a smaller clutch on a smaller box. But i now have this box so thats no longer an issue thank you.

 

[harry76]

Harry, I found this bike on filckr the other day and I thought of you. I'm not sure if it is a custom made frame or not but it sure has that teens/twenties look to it. I would do a lot of things different if it were mine but I'm sure you can draw some inspiration from it.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/39563408@N07/6477085065/in/photostream/

Thanks Lurker, thats pretty damn cool. Id agree about changing a few things but definitely may help me out, thanks heaps.

Hows your bike going? Ive been wondering if you had nearly completed your bike. I cant wait to see it.

 

[Ibedayank]

you should know what part numbers to order.
never mind the fact that there are a few preunit 4 speeds and the parts do not interchange. Good luck on getting the parts

 

[harry76]

you should know what part numbers to order.
never mind the fact that there are a few preunit 4 speeds and the parts do not interchange. Good luck on getting the parts

As i said i will take it to the vintage swap meet im going to, hopefully someone will be able to shed light on it for me, thanks for the wishes

 

[Lurker]

"Hows your bike going? Ive been wondering if you had nearly completed your bike. I cant wait to see it."

UGH!!! I have been burning the midnight oil every day for the past two weeks on that thing.

I have made a tool box for behind the engine, but have not mounted it yet.
And as of last friday I decide that my fork was not going to cut it asthetically so.... I have made my own based on a 1913 Jefferson (My all time favorite bike)

here is a sneak peek. Mine is very similar. I will post some photos of the tool box and fork when I get the mounted.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/carphotosbyrichard/4853131040/

I have also bought a front brake from a honda cl100 but I still have to build the wheel.

 

[harry76]

That Jefferson is beautiful, but wont you need a little front suspension considering yours will see street duty?

Im sure youve already thought of that, cant wait to see it. You must be itching to ride that thing.

 

[bird]

Harry, I found this bike on filckr the other day and I thought of you. I'm not sure if it is a custom made frame or not but it sure has that teens/twenties look to it. I would do a lot of things different if it were mine but I'm sure you can draw some inspiration from it.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/39563408@N07/6477085065/in/photostream/

Hey! that's my engine