Soon to be, new to me BSA

N0rt0nelectr@

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A friend in NM came across a 52/53 C11 at a very reasonable cost, free. It is reasonably complete and it supposedly runs with most of the sheet metal with the exception of the front fender, battery carrier, rear fender support bracket and license plate holder. Can't get over there to pick it up for at least a few weeks. Pictures to follow.
Any idea where I might find parts for the old girl?
 
A friend in NM came across a 52/53 C11 at a very reasonable cost, free. It is reasonably complete and it supposedly runs with most of the sheet metal with the exception of the front fender, battery carrier, rear fender support bracket and license plate holder. Can't get over there to pick it up for at least a few weeks. Pictures to follow.
Any idea where I might find parts for the old girl?
These folks should be able to help you..


Cheers,

cliffa.
 
These folks should be able to help you..


Cheers,

cliffa.
Been looking at their website. I will first look the bike over and make a starting list of what I will need and go from there.
Going to meet my friend in Lubbock on Tuesday on a 600 mile turn around trip. Good thing most roads in Texas are posted at 75 MPH.
Cheers
John in Texas
 
Well I did a 600 mile turn around trip to Lubbock and picked up the 53 C11 and also got a 53 A10. Both plunger frame models.
The A10 is in a sort of bobber trim and I think I will keep it as it is and not "restore" it. My pockets aren't that deep!
The C11, looks complete but somewhere in it's past it came across a demented person with questionable welding skills. I'm busy removing welded on crap and trying to figure out what is needed. Will it ever be 100% correct, no. Will it be up and running and a fun bike to ride, I hope so.
It's an adventure.
John in Texas Soon to be, new to me BSASoon to be, new to me BSASoon to be, new to me BSASoon to be, new to me BSA
 
Got the A10 running but it needs tires before I take it out for a quick run around the block. The old ones are old enough to vote.
I am tearing the C11 engine down so I can take it over and get the mounts welded up. What a mess, but progress is being made.
Cheers
John in Texas
 

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Those look like the most expensive free bikes ever.
That is the reason I'm not going to "restore" the A10, my pockets aren't that deep. Did get the new tires mounted and bearings packed. Built a battery carrier and have a Podtronics 6V DC regulator on order.
The C11's engine is out of the frame and I will split the cases this weekend. Take it to a welder come Monday. Already have a gasket set and I'm waiting on a rocker box cover I have on order. Going to place an order with Draganfly next week and tear into the generators see what kind of horror there is there.
 

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Well the cases have been welded up. Need to tidy up the welds a bit but I am happy and it only cost me $30.
The dynamo is off and I'm going to strip it today. New bearings and brushes are on order. Got most of the nasty welded on plate that was welded to the left frame rail off and ground down. Got parts on order from Draganfly so progress is being made.
 
First order in from Draganfly, many of the items I ordered are on back order but with the coved-19 mess I'm not surprised. New set of rings on order, should have them next week. The welds have been cleaned up on the cases.
Need to find a match for the original paint. Found a good sample on the inside of the primary. The armature had been hitting the field due to a bearing collapse (see picture). Then I couldn't get the special nut holding the armature to the drive end cover off. Not sure why it wouldn't budge, corrosion or Loctite. Tried heat and a cold chisel, it laughed at me! The shame of it all. Going to order a repair kit from the UK with armature, field, brushes and bearings and a friend has the end plate so progress is being made.Soon to be, new to me BSA
Soon to be, new to me BSA
 
I thought about that so I checked with my friend Greg who rebuilds them and he told me it is a RH thread. So, I worked from there.
 
The same friend in NM who found the bikes had an extra E3L generator that motored. Took it apart and replaced the bearings and brushes. Got my first order in from Draganfly. They were out of many of the items I would like to have, but they are suffering from the same top down dictates that we here in the US have from the coved-19 mess. So, I wait.
The cases are welded up and the engine is back together. The rings were a bit expensive. Got fenders on order from enfieldcountry.au, price is reasonable and the guys at the basc10,c11,c12 forum say they work well but that on my model the rear fender is hinged and not a 2 piece affair used on the earlier models which the ones I have ordered are for. I will have a hinge welded on to make it correct. So I wait. Do need to find a reasonably priced source for CEI nuts and bolts, have lots of 3/8-26 bolts just not enough 1/4 and 5/16 ones.
Progress is being made.
 
Don't know how reasonable these are but looks like they will have what you are looking for.
I have looked at there site. There prices are comparable to other sites and at least they are on this side of the pond. Haven't pulled the trigger just yet. Thanks for thinking of them for me.
 
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Well I got the fenders in from enfieldcountry.au, all I can say is don't! The front I could have made work but the rear, not a chance. Got the correct front from Baxter cycles which looks to be the same as those sold by Burton Bikes Bits. Lesson learned, the hard way. I was able to return them to an address in the US and get a full refund.
Progress being made.
John in Texas
 
Well I got the fenders in from enfieldcountry.au, all I can say is don't! The front I could have made work but the rear, not a chance. Got the correct front from Baxter cycles which looks to be the same as those sold by Burton Bikes Bits. Lesson learned, the hard way. I was able to return them to an address in the US and get a full refund.
Progress being made.
John in Texas
I had the "correct" front fender painted and went to fit it and it was snug to the frork shrouds. Should have tried it before having it painted. The area where the fender is bent in to clear the forks weren't deep enough. I also noticed that side to side the indents weren't the same. Took the fender to a body shop that has done work for me in the past and they said for them to fix the issues with the fender would be very expensive.
Also need to find the corks for the clutch basket. I can get the clutch plate, yes there is only 1 but the ones in the basket are very worn too.
It's an adventure.
 

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Well I found a set of Ferdo clutch inserts for my C11. They are 24 in the clutch basket. Went to install them and they are a bit large!
So my question is, does anybody had experience with these? Want to do it correctly and not make a mess of it. Got a new clutch plate and a new steel plate, yes there are only 1 of each.
Thanks in advance.
John in Texas
 
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