1950? 500cc BSA project
- Thread starter harry76
- Start date
wayne z
Active Member
Hey Harry, the bike in this pic has the same carby as yours.
Thought I better toss this bit of information in the pot before someone brings it up.
WW2 ended in 1945 not 1950 so how can it be war surplus. Friend of my Dads was in the Canadian Army all through the war and Korea. He served in the Quarter Master Corp and used to tell us that a lot of the war surplus that we bought as kids was in fact made after the war was long over.
No one knew just when the end would come so things that were needed were ordered long before they were produced and in large quantities. If the government ordered 20,000 motors from BSA and they had only produced 12,000 and the war ended they had a contract with BSA for 8,000 more engines. As they were the Government they couldn't just say forget it we'll just pay you, don't bother with the engines.
Nope 8,000 engines it is and rather than keep producing the war engine they would take the new engine BSA was producing for the post war era since it would fit into the war time bikes and making the old engine would hold up the production line producing much needed goods for the public and they may well not have been painted since if it was needed it would be done by the army. They would sit in storage for a while and then be sold as surplus to a public that were in need of small motors for their farms.
Steve.
WW2 ended in 1945 not 1950 so how can it be war surplus. Friend of my Dads was in the Canadian Army all through the war and Korea. He served in the Quarter Master Corp and used to tell us that a lot of the war surplus that we bought as kids was in fact made after the war was long over.
No one knew just when the end would come so things that were needed were ordered long before they were produced and in large quantities. If the government ordered 20,000 motors from BSA and they had only produced 12,000 and the war ended they had a contract with BSA for 8,000 more engines. As they were the Government they couldn't just say forget it we'll just pay you, don't bother with the engines.
Nope 8,000 engines it is and rather than keep producing the war engine they would take the new engine BSA was producing for the post war era since it would fit into the war time bikes and making the old engine would hold up the production line producing much needed goods for the public and they may well not have been painted since if it was needed it would be done by the army. They would sit in storage for a while and then be sold as surplus to a public that were in need of small motors for their farms.
Steve.
harry76
Well-Known Member
Makes sense Fasteddy, so what you're saying is it is a surplus war engine by definition, and still made for stationary engine purposes, but it would have been produced after the war, so it is indeed a 1950 model.
It's weird that I've been playing with motorized bikes with stationary engines and when I finally decide to step up to a motorcycle engine I still end up with a stationary engine. It does have an interesting story to go along with the engine.
It's weird that I've been playing with motorized bikes with stationary engines and when I finally decide to step up to a motorcycle engine I still end up with a stationary engine. It does have an interesting story to go along with the engine.
It was war surplus that may well have been bought by a company to use as a stationary motor. They were motorcycle engines turned into stationary engines that you are about to turn into a motorcycle engine.
Companies were given first choice at the surplus so they could get going again after they had changed over to war production and then back to civilian goods.
During the war my Dad was injured and sent home. He then went back into the family lumber business. They sold wood to Ford Motors to make pallets and crates to ship war material. When the war ended trusted vendors were sold the first new cars made. The car Dad got had one window crank and one inside door handle so you had to pass it around if anyone wanted it. Chrome was in that short of a supply that that was all they could supply for each new car. They got the rest about eight months latter.
I heard many stories about the post war years like that. The very first toys I remember as a child were wooden since there wasn't enough metal to spare.
I was born in 1943. I always kidded about being a leave baby. Dad was on leave and left me behind.
Steve.
Companies were given first choice at the surplus so they could get going again after they had changed over to war production and then back to civilian goods.
During the war my Dad was injured and sent home. He then went back into the family lumber business. They sold wood to Ford Motors to make pallets and crates to ship war material. When the war ended trusted vendors were sold the first new cars made. The car Dad got had one window crank and one inside door handle so you had to pass it around if anyone wanted it. Chrome was in that short of a supply that that was all they could supply for each new car. They got the rest about eight months latter.
I heard many stories about the post war years like that. The very first toys I remember as a child were wooden since there wasn't enough metal to spare.
I was born in 1943. I always kidded about being a leave baby. Dad was on leave and left me behind.
Steve.
harry76
Well-Known Member
Cool thanks for the info, im really glad i bought this engine now, it was cheap, i think it looks a lot older then it is, and it now has a cool background story to it.
Its a shame that the carb wasnt usable for my application because it would keep people guessing.
Another unusual feature that was pointed out to me over at Jockey Journal is that this motor has a magneto but no dyno (not that i would have known), but seeing as im using it on a boardtracker there would be no need for it as i wont be running any accessories off it.
Its a shame that the carb wasnt usable for my application because it would keep people guessing.
Another unusual feature that was pointed out to me over at Jockey Journal is that this motor has a magneto but no dyno (not that i would have known), but seeing as im using it on a boardtracker there would be no need for it as i wont be running any accessories off it.
harry76
Well-Known Member
I don't actually know Fasteddy until I get my workshop manual, for all I know my engine could contain a goose tha lays golden eggs
LOLI'm not all that knowledgable with engines, only one way to learn though right?
harry76
Well-Known Member
Ill have my people contact your people and go from there.
At this stage i was only trying to concentrate on the engine but i cant help but go through this build in my head, i have a good idea where im going but i cant decide if i want pedals or not. Obviously it would be too heavy to pedal anywhere and if i use the Albion gearbox i have on the way it has a kickstarter so i wont need pedals to start it...... Any thoughts on pedals or not?
I know that feeling. I'm putting a build together myself outside of the tri-car and I've built it every night when I should be sleeping. I must say it's a dazzler and if it comes out in reality half as nice as it does when I'm trying to sleep it's going to look almost as nice as you BSA board tracker.
If it was me building yours it would be a pure tracker. Not road legal no matter what you do and if they catch you at it, like here in Canada, they are going to make sure that you don't forget you broke the law.
It will be a long term build and a lot of parts gathering but what fun.
My guess is when the wee one arrives you will value the few moments that you get just to look at the motor let alone touch it. My previous experience anyway.
Steve.
If it was me building yours it would be a pure tracker. Not road legal no matter what you do and if they catch you at it, like here in Canada, they are going to make sure that you don't forget you broke the law.
It will be a long term build and a lot of parts gathering but what fun.
My guess is when the wee one arrives you will value the few moments that you get just to look at the motor let alone touch it. My previous experience anyway.
Steve.
harry76
Well-Known Member
Yeah this ones straight boardtrack, not planning on registering it. It shouldnt owe me much so why not? Itll look good in my manroom, would be a blast to take to shows, and i may be able to get use out of it at a local racetrack, or i wondered if there were vintage speedway events that i could enter, i would only wanna cruise around at a reasonable speed and hang out with guys on old speedway bikes (which i quite like)
So now knowing i wouldnt register it, would you include pedals?.... It may be a bit "busy" with pedals and a gearbox
So now knowing i wouldnt register it, would you include pedals?.... It may be a bit "busy" with pedals and a gearbox
harry76
Well-Known Member
I saw this engine on EBay, because of my addiction i considered buying it but i have way too many projects, but it sure is a nice looking engine and would look great in a droploop frame. I have no idea what it is or how much is missing but it has 1923 stamped on the block so im guessing thats the year of production. I thought id post if anyone else is interested
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/350529944654?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/350529944654?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649
Takes a brave man to step away from a motor like that. The chap that Silverbear and I bought our motors from had another nice little motor for sale at a reasonable price.
My hand quivered while it was hovering over the "buy it" button but I had to back away as much as it was like sticking a knife in my own heart. Some where the madness needs to stop and no reason it shouldn't be here and now.
I'll go and look it up and post it shortly in case someone else can use it.
I'd leave the pedals off and go with the board tracker. It will impress everyone that sees it and as you say it's just for fun. You may well find someone or a group who has a quiet place were they race out of the public eye. If there is you will hear about it as soon as you attend the motorcycle and car meets.
Steve.
My hand quivered while it was hovering over the "buy it" button but I had to back away as much as it was like sticking a knife in my own heart. Some where the madness needs to stop and no reason it shouldn't be here and now.
I'll go and look it up and post it shortly in case someone else can use it.
I'd leave the pedals off and go with the board tracker. It will impress everyone that sees it and as you say it's just for fun. You may well find someone or a group who has a quiet place were they race out of the public eye. If there is you will hear about it as soon as you attend the motorcycle and car meets.
Steve.
harry76
Well-Known Member
Thanks, i sort of figured that. That doesnt bother me in the least bit. My Villiers build was slightly slower then a chinagirl but i couldnt stop riding it. Same as my daily drive, i have a 1964 Valiant AP5 Safari wagon thats quite slow also. I dont mind, i just love the old stuff. If i wanted to go fast id buy a Hayabusa, but they dont interest me in the least. I bought this engine for one reason: its appearance, the fact it has a seperate gearbox therefore has a slimmer profile and its rounded bottom end that will suit a drop loop. 2 things that will help to make this authentic looking.... at least i hope so
And i mentioned vintage speedway events as place to ride and enjoy it, not crash it and kill myself. But i have had many years riding motocross so id like to have a go.
harry76
Well-Known Member
Id like to get this finished for "Greazefest 2012" which is a hotrod/ratrod sort of show and is quite popular, its in August i think..... this is doable seeing as i do rotational shiftwork and have a lot of time off between now and then including a 5 week holiday. Greazefest is the event i was going to take the Villiers last year but changed my mind last minute, this year the Villiers will DEFINITELY be attending along with any other of my rides i have done..... but i am a slacker and a known to stare at my projects for hours without dooing anything means we will have to see.
Greazefest is a static show but ive seen an invite only event in magazines that has something to do with Greazefest where they get out and use their hotrods and motorcycles on someones private property. Looks like they give them a hiding LOL