Where did he go? (updates!)

It has been quite a while since I have posted! 

Needless to say, there have been some changes.  I started a new job in September, which took me away from things for a while.   I sold off all the Matchless gear along with the '66 Triumph TR6 project.   As of this writing, I have Katie, the 1970 Norton Commando (which I have lugged from home to home for the better part of 17 years) and the BSA.  Oh and an MG.  Did I mention the MG?

Before I jump to that,  I had (as most of us did) a considerable amount of time to think and reflect on the world and myself in 2020.  That time in seclusion was tantamount to a meditative state at times;  I had vacation that I couldn't use for anything of value, short of playing about in the garage.  I had some small victories, for instance getting the free Mini Bike running.  Each day, I meandered about, inventing jobs to achieve each day.  

One of the ventures I had considered was launching a YouTube channel.  I did film some content and realized very quickly how much work was involved.  I will release content later this year once edited, but it will not become a part time job.  Much like this blog, I will contribute when the spirit guides me to do so.  

You may remember a while back when a friend and I bought a pair of Matchless singles;  Said friend and I made a game of going on Facebook marketplace or Kijiji and sending each other ads for projects.  Anything from cars to boats to motorcycles.  One such ad bore fruit for him in the form of a rather solid Porsche 924.  Hopefully he will be able to dig into it later this year.  

One afternoon, I spotted a fresh ad for an 'MG TD/TF and parts'.  Intrigued, I contacted the seller and my friend and I went out to look.  As it turns out, it was a TF with some TD parts. In a million parts.  I wanted to run, however my confident friend felt it was a deal and a straightforward project.  The price was right and we agreed to split costs down the middle and decide the car's fate after 90 days.  

When I sold the Beetle, I said I would never get into another car restoration;  I still stand by that.  If my friend wasn't involved, I wouldn't be either.  It is a great joy in life to have friends that compliment one's abilities and make up for the gaps where one may fall short.  

This deep dive into the unknown (T Series MG's) required me to downsize my projects.  You may be asking why the BSA was spared.  I can best sum it up like this;  It takes up the least amount of real estate in the garage and also has the lowest value.  I also like the little single, a great deal.  It may actually be the most charming bike (aside from Katie) that I have ever owned.  I love the utter simplicity and parts are still plentiful and inexpensive, even NOS items.  That being said, I am still waiting on an exhaust pipe (7 months and counting) but I did acquire a new Indian-made gas tank since my last writing.  I plan to have the B31 running by Christmas.  The Norton will remain on the backburner for a while, with new parts being occasionally added to the pile.   

Back to the MG.  I have previously spoken of my history with the marque, yet the T Series cars were never on my radar.  Whenever I saw them for sale (which was not often) they were prohibitively expensive to buy.  I always suspected that parts would be dear as well.  What I hadn't considered, was that much like the B31, these cars are extremely simple, being of pre-war design.  I greatly admire the TF and TD, both aesthetically and mechanically.  Unlike a monocoque car, these beasts don't have horrors hiding under every steel panel.  To boot, there is something wonderful about a car with wooden floors and suicide doors!  

Stay tuned for more photos and details.

Until next time! 

Wrong gas tank! Waterslide Decal tutorial....

 

A word to the wise when buying a used (or new) tank for a BSA B31 rigid;  Make sure you get the measurements under the tank as well as on top.  

I learned the hard way, purchasing a tank advertised as being for a B31, however it turned out to be for a C11.   This is a common mistake apparently, as both are nearly identical from the top and side.  Both tanks feature a speedo mount within with the same badges and knee pads.  Underneath however is a totally different story.  

The tunnel for the the C11 is under 2" (I believe 1 3/4") the B31 should be closer to 3 3/4".  This is to accommodate the taller and larger motor.  

A new tank from India has been ordered, one in bare steel as chrome work from there seems to be a mixed bag.  My intention is to paint anyway and starting with a fresh tank will provide some peace of mind.  With the way the post is moving these days, it will likely arrive by Halloween.  I just hope that the specs on the sheet match what is actually delivered.

I decided to have some fun with the 'wrong' tank by painting it and making my own waterslide decals.  

Inkjet waterslide decal sheets are available on Ebay and other online sources for very little money.  I go online to find images I like and put them in MS paint for editing (This is as sophisticated as it gets for me!).

I usually print off a test sheet in black and white first in order to not waste ink.   The last time I attempted this it was a mess, as I didn't realize I was missing a crucial step.  

These are my sample sheets, along with a clear acrylic sealer.  Without this step, your decals will disintegrate! 

Here are the steps I followed.

1. Select and edit images

2.  Run B&W test sheet on plain paper

3. If satisfied, print sheet in full colour on glossy side of decal paper.

4. Carefully put the sheet aside to dry for 20 minutes- This is crucial as the ink can run and will smear 

if touched.  I always make sure to handle from the corner of the sheet. 

5. Once dry spray a light (or two very light coatings) of sealer.  I used Mod Podge which is widely available from most craft shops.

6. Let  the sheets dry for half an hour.

7. Cut out your decal and soak in water for thirty seconds or so, it will now slide off onto your chosen object.

One thing I will mention, is to bear in mind that these are transparent decals. If you want them to look the same as they do on the sheet, you will need to ensure the paint underneath matches. 

I cut a couple circles out and sprayed them white before sliding the decal on.  

I apologize for the final photo which is lacking in clarity, however it should give you an idea of results.  When the real tank arrives I can do a cleaner job and spend a bit more time and care on paint.  

Until Next time...

Rolling!

What better way to start a weekend than with some good news?  

The BSA is now rolling! 

I will let the pictures speak for themselves, though I will add a couple of notes. 

The headlight bracket was made from scrap laying in the garage.  I then gave it a quick coat of paint and mounted it.  The pillion pad is something I bought off of Ebay in 2007 and never used.  Another shelf piece that was collecting dust!  The bars are a $5.00 swap meet item.  The rigid B31 did not have fork gaiters (boots) originally.  It would have been equipped with long shrouds equipped with fork ears.  I did not have the budget or inclination to source them.  Instead, I found a set of fork brackets with no ears for $4.00 on Ebay.  Some filler, some paint and a trim to square off the bottom and it fitted perfectly.  A pair of cut down Matchless fork covers sit between the bottom yoke and the springs.  These allow the boots something to sit on. Headlight is another Ebay item, purchased for $7.00.  I bought this to get the 5 3/4 Lucas lens, however I ended up using the whole thing.  It is made by Griffin and was originally used on the mustang mini bikes of the 50's and 60's.  

 Finally,  the seat springs for the seat are from fortnine and are intended for a Harley Davidson. They look good and were only $17.00.  

Things are moving! 

Until next time.....

Lockdown build Progress...

A quick update!  

With the front end sorted out, I was able get a few other things started.  

I swapped out the old Dunlop trials for the Pirelli which looks miles better.

In this shot, the DIY seat pan is also on display.  This was made from an old metal shelf donated by my friend Chris.

I still need to mount lugs, cut foam and make a cover.  I am happy to say that the shape is right and the mock up looks very good! 

Until Next time! 

Fork tragedy to Fork triumph!

Sometimes the jobs that appear to be most straightforward are the ones with the most complications. 

The Ebay fork sliders were as described and I was very pleased to get them.  An added bonus was that the seller threw in some internal spares which may be of use someday.  I cleaned them up, gave them a quick coat of paint and started to put them together.

The drive side fork went together fairly well, although it had a slight notch when reaching and rebounding from full dampening.

(It should be noted that I am using some mismatched parts here;  Unknown stanchions and bearings, etc.  Any heartache involved would be entirely self prescribed!)

The timing side was an entirely different situation;  The stanchion only slid about 2" from the top.
I tried the other stanchion, which did a little better at 3.5" 

I did not take too many photos as I was deeply embroiled in solving the issue at hand.  I will do my best to describe my work in case it can help someone else with the same problem.

I started by stripping the stanchion and placing it in the slider all the way.  I then took some painters tape and wrapped it around the stanchion at the top of the slider.  I now had a measurement to work from.

I was a little stumped as to how I would fix the inner part of the slider.

Sand it?  Wire wheel attachment on a drill?  Grinding paste?

I was then hit with some inspiration.   I began searching online for a brake cylinder hone small enough to fit to fit the bore.

Luckily, Princess Auto had just the thing in stock for $11.99.

I started honing, with occasional addition of mineral oil to act as a cutting fluid.  I would then insert the rebuilt stanchion and check my progress against the taped line.  It was clear that I wasn't getting deep enough into the bore to do the job properly.

I fished around in my drill bit spares to find something to use as an extension;  This was then fitted with some Permatex Steel Weld putty and left to cure.

This worked beautifully as I was able to get the full slider honed out to the right dimension.  I put the piece in the vice horizontally and continued until I finally achieved my goal.  With the 220 grit stones, this was a long process, one that I did over a couple days in intervals.  I would not recommend using a more coarse grit as it may remove too much material.  In that event the unit would be scrap.

The wonderful feeling of working forks turned to despair, when I realized I had (at some point) banged the top of the stanchion, taking it slightly out of round.  The nut would no longer fit!

I started to make phone calls, to see if anyone of my contacts had a spare leg for me.  No such luck.

I posted on the CVMG Facebook group and was contacted by a local machinist name Larry who offered to have a look at it.  I did not need to be asked twice!

The next day I went over and he worked his magic on the lathe, re-cutting the thread and testing with the nut.  We chatted about bikes and I admired his Commando built from parts with many handmade stainless steel pieces.  He refused to take any money for the work and invited me to return should I need any more help.  A true gentleman and a tremendous talent!

With the forks sorted, the project is now back on track.

Until next time....

Covid 19 project update and learning from my mistakes...

I am happy to report that things are moving along quite well with the BSA;

I had a couple of minor hiccups that have now been cured, mostly in the fork department.  I don't have photos, however the originals were in horrendous condition.  I could not get the cups off by any method available and had to do minor angle grinder surgery!  Getting the fork tubes out was managed on one of the lowers, however I gave up on the second one.  Luckily I found an appropriate set of lowers advertised as 'BSA Chopper forks' and won them for $30.00 USD on Ebay.

They arrived on Friday and I was able to clean them up and paint them by Sunday.  I used some JB Weld epoxy to fill in some gouges and rough sections on the chrome.

I  also decided to clean up the C11 mudguards with a wire wheel and cut off the bad/bent metal.  By definition, this makes the bike a 'bob job' or 'bobber'.   Being a seriously low budget build, I have to use what I have and buy as little as possible.   Fortunately for me these C11 parts can be very nicely adapted to do the job!

The cut down front mudguard.  I kept the remaining piece (just in case)

a P/O made some indentations for the forks (they were awful)

Front and Rear (rear is a 2-piece part)

The big parts pile did come with a rear hub with an extremely worn down sprocket.  These are not the bolt on variety and are riveted to the hub.  The only way to rectify this problem is to have the hub machined and a new sprocket welded on.  This tip was courtesy of the aforementioned Elder Statesman during my last visit.  Down the road for sure, but big dollars I simply don't have right now.   Cruising the CVMG classifieds, I saw a number of  Triumph Trophy 250 parts for sale/free from a member in Toronto.  I asked if he had a rear wheel , he did (sans brake plate and shoes) and was kind enough to send measurements.  I brought my rear frame and it was a lovely fit.  As it turns out, the wheel is actually from a BSA C15 or B40.  It has a giant 4.0 x 19 Dunlop trials tire (Made in England) that has probably been on it for 50 years.  He let me have it for the princely sum of $20.00 so I was extremely happy.  We chatted and he showed me his lovely Trophy that was having some teething problems, sadly I had little to offer in the way of help.  Thank you again Bruce for the lovely visit and the wheel!

I began looking for a brake plate and bought an incorrectly advertised one on Ebay.  Fortunately it was only $19.00 and arrived in a few days.  I was able to use a couple parts from it, so I decided to keep  it.  Another Britbike forum member came through with a nice plate for $15.00 plus shipping.

Needless to say this has been merciful to my budget thus far.  Not having access to my US mailbox, I had forgotten how brutal shipping costs to Canada are.  Hopefully things will return to normal soon.

Back to the wheel.

I mentioned the rather huge tire on the back.  A while ago I was given a NOS Pirelli MT53 tire that can be used on front or rear.  This tire is 3.5 x 19 and should work out a lot better.  That being said, that rear wheel does look rather good and  it was made for serious business!  It is just too big for this bike.

This BSA has been an excellent exercise so far and has allowed me to hone my new approach to building.  I am now organized and fit everything on before I start spending serious money.  I clean up and paint some parts such as the frame, but that would have had to be done anyway.  The Cub wheel incident was the last straw and a turning point in how I do things.  I keep the garage as clean as possible now and put tools back when they are no longer in use.  Sweeping at the end of the work day is now routine behavior.

If I can make what I have 'in stock' work, the time to find out is now, rather than assume it will work later.  That has caused me expense and heartache in the past and often left me buying parts I will likely never use.   When I bought the Matchless, I should have taken what I had and fitted it together from the start.  Instead, I started sending things out for blasting and powder coating before really knowing what the plan was.  As I look back on seven years worth of blog posts, I can see my pattern of failure.  Buy a project, get completely entrenched in it, spend money, get overwhelmed, lose interest and sell for a slight loss or break even sum.  While I have certainly made money here and there, that was never my goal. 

Seeing is truly believing and hindsight is what it is.  I can't change the past, but I can certainly change the future.

Until next Time.....

Ode to the BSA's I have owned (but never did anything with)...

With the BSA Covid project in full swing,  I thought I would take a trip down memory lane and revisit my rather checkered relationship with the marque.

First a little history.

My interest in vintage motorcycles began in the late 1980's but I didn't get the fever until a few years later.

The early 1990's gifted me with two memorable dalliances at the same time. One with the lovely Mary Jane and the other with the equally enchanting Miranda, the 1967 MG Midget.

Both were all too brief but left a lasting impression on me.  Being able to own and maintain a classic British car at the time wasn't feasible to say the least.  While I did have an MGB a decade later,  this may have been the path that truly led to bikes.


 I started with the 'The World of Motorcycles' progressing to several magazines on the subject such as Classic Bike and The Old Bike Journal.  I still have the very first issue of Classic Bike that I ever bought from the long gone Book Villa on King street in Hamilton.  It was August of 1994 with a buyer's guide included.

Once the magazines were in my hand, there was no turning back.  I had to have an old motorcycle and it had to be British.


Before the internet, bikes were a lot harder to find.  The only real resource was a thick, three part monthly classified newspaper called the 'Tri-Ad'.   The paper covered a fairly wide area and having no car at the time presented a multitude of challenges.

It was always exciting to flip through the vehicle section and see the listings.  Excitement however more often led to disappointment as the bike would be gone by the time you called or received a return call.

I will gloss over the many bikes I missed out on and get to the first that I remember looking at.

It was a 1968 or '69 BSA 250 Starfire like the one pictured.  The price was $600 dollars and it looked very clean and original.  There was some sort of issue with the piston and I was assured it was an easy fix.  I had the money (barely) and expressed interest.  I don't recall telling the buyer that it was a done deal or leaving a deposit of any kind.  Around this exact time one of the flatmates left, leaving my other flatmate and I short on utilities and rent.  I respectfully called the seller back to say that unfortunately I would be unable to buy the bike.  He did not take it well and proceeded to hurl a barrage of expletives at me.  I responded in kind and hung up on him.  This was the fall of 1995.

Fast forward to spring and I was on the hunt again.  This time I had more money saved, problem was there were no bikes.   I don't remember the how or the who involved but I was given a lead, a bike shop in Toronto called the Rocker Box.  The owner Doug gave me the number of another friend who had several projects for sale.  After admiring all his bikes, some of which I had only seen pictures of before I took the number and left.  The young lady I was seeing at the time had a van and was more than happy to make the hour plus drive with me.  I parted with $350.00 and came home with a 1964 BSA basket case B40.

Definitely not what I brought home!

I buggered about with it for a few months but really had no clue what I was doing.  The bike was certainly not complete which also caused some issues.  At this point I had an unquenchable thirst for a Triumph Twin from the 60's.  This time I was the guy in the Tri-Ad posting something for sale.  I sold the bike for what I paid for it and moved it on.  The fellow who bought it was a little strange and I was happy to see the tail end of him as he left the driveway.  One of those types that just had an awkward aura.  I remember rigorously washing my hands after the deal was done.   Several months later he called me to complain that the bike was not complete, inferring that I had somehow cheated him!  I reminded him that he inspected everything before purchasing and he paid what I paid.  I told him that should I find any B40 parts in my travels he would be the first to know.  That call has yet to be made.

I did get my Triumph twin, from the same fellow that sold me the B40.  It was retrieved with the same girl and the same van. I can remember that it took us a couple of hours to gather the parts from various sheds and a gigantic Quonset hut.  He must have had at least 300 motorcycles on the property.    The young lady had fallen asleep in the van passenger seat having made the drive after working the night before.  She received the shock of her life when his horse-sized great Dane jumped at the window and woke her up! 

  I have posted a picture of the Triumph before and will certainly gather my memories on that in a future post.  

Fast forward thirteen years or so to 2009.  The Tri-Ad was long gone and replaced with Kijiji and Craigslist.  I spotted a 60's BSA Lightning basket case for $600.00 and snapped it up.  I did very little with it other than order a gasket set and a couple of other parts.  The reason being that I was given a CB360 and I became the proud owner of a 2008 Triumph Scrambler named Katie.   I sat on the BSA for about six months before moving it on.  I had other things on the go and was thoroughly enjoying my shiny new bike at every opportunity.  

Not the exact bike, but pretty close.

Summer of 2018.  I had just sold the Beetle and my garage was looking empty.  Bills were paid and I had some money left over.  Enter Kijiji once again.  I spotted a C15 bundle for $800.00 (with ownership) and decide to jump on it.  The bikes were in rural Quebec and in retrospect I think it was more of an excuse to take a road trip.  I must have known that these wouldn't be kept as I chose not to write about it here.  I did get one rolling however and picked up a few bits and pieces.  They are sweet little bikes and have lots of potential.  I have seen many used as trials bikes, baby cafe bikes and in the case of one Craig Jones, bobbed.  This one was sold the following January to a retired enthusiast who I recently 'bumped' into on Facebook.  He is still working on it and making everything right.  

I should note that it wasn't until 2014 that I had access to a proper garage.  Prior to this I worked in alleyways, backyards, kitchens, apartments and basements.  I have also bought and sold at least a couple dozen 'other' bikes over the years as well. 

I do have a few pictures of this one.

Rather unbelievably, someone cut the front end off to use on a trike!

Last summer I paid a couple hundred dollars for a wrecked 1970 Starfire. When I got it, I realized very quickly it had been in a fire.  I had a picture, though I have no idea what happened to it.  This poor beast was shuffled on a scant month or so later for the amount that I paid for it.  "That is the end of BSA's and the end of impulse buys for me!"  I foolishly stated.

Never say Never.

Until next time!

Starting Point....

Here are some pictures of what I am starting with for the Covid build;

The poor little C11 suffered a major engine malfunction at some point; I was shocked to see the broken connecting rod!  That being said, it is loaded with useful spares.  Headlight shell, fork components, mudguards, nuts and bolts, etc.  All of these are to be used on the build.  The frame and gearbox along with what is left will be sold off later in the year (Once swap meet season resumes).  

That is today's brief update, much more to come! 

Until next time.....

Unveiling the Covid 19 lock down build!

The time has come to reveal the top secret build!


Let's review the clues:

Wonderful, but what does it all mean?

First we have the infamous Indiana Jones hat and whip.  Next some Camouflage paint and some spare parts.  A map of Birmingham and a clock set to 3:50.  

This leaves us with a Birmingham built 350, built up with spare parts we have lying around, painted olive green, inspired by the Indiana Jones movies.

Here is the story.  

At the beginning of the 'pandemic' things in my part of the world were starting to shut down.  I was migrated from my office to a remote location and then sequestered to work from home.  I had Matchless and Triumph parts on order and I knew they would be a while to arrive.  Was this situation going to last months? Years?  Who knew.  I went onto Kijiji (always dangerous) and spotted a pile of BSA parts, essentially half a C11 and half of a B31.  Both were rigid frames, something I was always curious to own without having a chopper.  

I may have mentioned before that my Father's first bike was an early 50's C11.  I was always interested in having one around for sentimental reasons.  Sadly, he will never ride again but he is often eager to hear about my many, many projects.  'Don't call.' I told myself.  Did I need another project?  Not at all.  Between what I have and my friend's '49 AJS my hands were quite full.  

Then I thought about being isolated.  Having months of time and few parts and getting very, very bored.  Needless to say, I made the call.

The owner gave me a very good price for the lot and I picked it up the next day.  There will be several left over pieces to sell in order to recoup some of the initial outlay.  

I started to pull pieces off the shelf.  Some BSA forks picked up from Andy (Way back in 2013),

Griffin headlight from an old Mustang bike with a Lucas lens, pre-war oil tank, etc.  It was time to make use of what was collecting dust and perhaps do some fabricating.

I have a rocky history with BSA's.  I have owned several in project form and never kept any of them.  This one will at least get built up before it rolls anywhere else.  

I started to think about the direction;  Vintage bobber?  Trials style bike?  All lovely ideas, but not quite right.  

I decided to put primer on the unknown oil tank.  It came out a lovely flat green and a light bulb 

went off.   I would build a WW2 era adventure bike, something that would fit into an Indiana Jones movie.......

Until next time.......

The Last time I saw Paris..........

Sunny skies, the smell of exhaust fumes in the air, rust all over my shorts!

Yes, I just returned from the annual CVMG rally in Paris Ontario.  My father and I always go on the first afternoon and leave the Saturday and Sunday to the masses.  It's easier to talk to the owners of the bikes and also the best time to snap up the first round of goods before they hit the ground.  In my case, I scored a box of  Bridgestone parts for the princely sum of $20.00!

This contained much of what I was missing, including the headlight, proper handlebars and much more.  I haven't gone through it all yet.  I also picked up another tank for $20.00 for the Sport 90.

Not much in the way of Triumph and Norton parts that we needed, though Dad got a good deal on some fresh pipes and bars for his '66 Trophy.

  I should mention that while I have been focusing on forgotten two strokes lately, Triumph is my brand.  It is emblazoned on my soul and to me defines the heart of motorcycling.  As time wears on, this is something that will become abundantly clear!  The truth is I love British motorcycles, BSA, Norton, Royal Enfield, Matchless etc.  They have always spoken to me and fascinated me from a young age.  Long before the internet and chain operated book stores, I would walk downtown to Book Villa (long since gone) and pay ridiculous money for an issue of Classic Bike.  They were pretty much the same price then as now, nearly $10.00 an issue.  I poured over the road tests, ads, articles and I kept every issue to this day.  It's a pleasure for me to see so many of these machines in person, every year there is something new and exciting!

 I will warn you,  this post is picture heavy for those of you who couldn't make it there today.

Every truck in the parking lot had a Honda for sale in the back.  This one  looked very fresh indeed!

A Lovely Royal Enfield with an Indian badged  engine.

PARTS!!

This BSA was very complete and will make an amazing project for someone, $800.00 with a blown motor is still a great buy.  I just hope it is kept original and not cut up.

My little Bridgestone haul

Racing. anyone?

Close up of  the Norton Race bike. It looked TT ready!

Captain America has found a new hobby.....

A nicely preserved Bonneville.

Psychedelia! 

A pair of TRW's 

My Friend Clayton was there with his stunning Ducati Cafe Racer.  At $4,000.00 I think it will find a new home rather quickly!

A mint Nimbus with sidecar.

The Rolls Royce of motorcycles:  Brough Superior.

A nicely turned out James Captain.

This Atlas truly turned heads..

This Indian was actually built in Toronto.  The company briefly had a plant on Mercer street which was just  torn down.

Moto Guzzi enjoying a bit of shade.

My Dad was very pleased to see this humble BSA Bantam.

This little Excelsior was tucked in the corner, very neat! 

This little 250 Trophy was resplendent in 60's paint. A winning buy for someone at  $1600 .00

A lovely and unmolested original Ducati Monza Junior.

The Fonz goes Racing!

This little Scrambler would benefit from a mild restore, frankly I would ride it as is!