The Famous James…

Now this may not be the most expensive bike uncovered by anybody, and I guess it was not really a “Barn” find, but more of a shed find, not by me I must add, but by one of my friends.
So I wonder what you will make of this sweet little James, totally original and only missing the original throttle, and fuel tap. That in itself is pretty amazing for a bike made in 1948, but look at the tinware, no rust damage, sure it has surface corrosion as would be expected, but this bike really wants just a rub over with an oily rag, it is not even seized, and does have a spark.

1948 James

Villiers 98cc

The Famous James

A little patina

Not bad for 68 years old.

One Last Step…

One Last Step…

So I am nearly at the end of my journey, and have one last step to go, in the small matter of getting the Norton registered (getting a title for the US contingent). I started this whole crazy dream back in November 2011, with just a frame I found on Ebay….

Norton project

And now here I am five years later, with a dating certificate telling me the Norton was built at the Norton works factory in Birmingham back on 26th June 1952, and was despatched to  Bennet’s of Southampton. Who knows what the bike got up to in the intervening years, but it is once again a fully working Norton, and ready to be out on the open road next summer. Just one final piece of paperwork, that is all I need.

The Lightning Project… part eleven.

Now where was I?

With the head all bolted down, and the rockers installed, it was time for those new SRM tappet adjusters to be fitted…

SRM tappet adjusters

SRM upgrade

Tappet angle

Next on the list was cleaning and refitting the exhaust system…

BSA A65L motor

Original exhaust re-fitted

So I am getting there slowly, I need to order a few small parts, rocker cover studs, headstock bearings, and I still need to find some forks, but so far so good.

 

The Lightning Project… part ten.

My head having returned from SRM, was now ready to be fitted, and after a question asked in the competition section of BritBike forum, I equipped myself with some copper sealant, and a pair of small o-rings, so I was ready to go.

Barrel and gasket prepared and ready for the head to be fitted..

Ready to go

Returned head

Copper seal and o-rings

Coming together

Waiting in the Wings…

A little while ago a couple of friends in the US uncovered a barn full of BSA’s in Arkansas, one of which, this 63 A10 Super Rocket, was offered to me, just 10,000 miles, fairly rust free, and full of faded glory. At this time it is located down in Georgia (along with my Guzzi), waiting on me getting it shipped over here to the UK. The motor is not seized, Compression is good, the chrome is in fantastic condition apart from the rims, and the inside of the tank is still fresh, such a cool looking bike.

1963 BSA Super Rocket

Extra chrome, round tank badges, and bars, are all West coast standard equipment, and as you can see from the brochure below, no ball end levers. East coast bikes had a tear drop tank badge. one of the last A10 Super Rockets. It really is a cool bike, and even better up close and personal

BSA Sales

Waiting in the Wings

The Lightning Project… part nine.

And another unexpected bike joins the group.

The lightning seems to have taken up residence on the bench right now, the whole front end is out, the head is away at SRM having a full on valve job, I was hoping the head may have been completed this weekend but not so. As can happen sometimes, I managed to break a piston ring fitting the barrel, and the broken piece of course dropped into the crank cases, and could not be seen. But some fishing around with a telescopic magnet found it in the bottom of the cases. So after again fitting a spare ring to the piston, and some help from Paul, I managed to get the refinished barrels in place, bolted down.

A65L new +20 pistons all fitted.

Next it was time to fit my new SRM magnetic sump kit, after removing the old studs I offered up the new gauze filter, only to find that it did not fit! it seems that SRM sent me out a kit for a B50 or other single, as the hole in the gauze was too small (8.5mm instead of 11.5mm) to go over the scavenger pipe. Luckily my old filter gauze was in very good condition, so I decided to use that rather than wait for a replacement from SRM.

Then it was just a case of bolting it all up to the underside of the motor.

SRM magnetic sump

It won’t stay shiny for long.

Vincent Comet…

I had a call from a mate in the US, telling me to go look over a Vincent Comet with a view to buying it, well a long story short, I did, and so I ended up with a Comet. I never thought I would ever own a Vincent, so getting this has come as a real surprise to me.

Vincent Comet

The Vincent

Vincent 500cc single

The Lightning Project… part eight.

Pulling it all apart, putting it all together.

I have now for the moment taken the motor as far apart as I intend to go for the time being. I have drained and flushed through the crank cases, and was pleased to find no metal in the drained oil after letting it stand in the tray for a week, and filtering it off over a strong magnet.

The cylinder head has gone off to SRM in Wales for full refurbishment, which includes lead free seats, new guides, valves, springs etc. This work wasn’t cheap by any means, but it should last me out, and make for a good top end. I am looking forward to getting the head back so I can button up the top end.

Last weekend I cleaned off all the old base gasket material, and fitted the new pistons, I also honed out and painted the barrels ready to be fitted. I would have fitted the barrels but the supplied base gasket in the kit I bought was for the 1/4″ stud version cases and not the 3/8″ as required on the later cases, so again I find myself waiting.

New +20 pistons

Next I turned my attention to the front end and dropped out both fork legs, water had got in through the torn gaiters, and was evident in both legs, water came out of the right hand side, but the left hand stanchion is at the moment seized solid. So I have left it soaking in some penetrating oil for the week, I shall see how it does this weekend.