Hi folks, I've found a lot of postings on this forum about valves & guides, but can't find anything on clearances, so - what would be a safe valve guide clearance if using cast iron guides ?
Thansk,
Bevan

Hi folks,
Both of the rear mounting lugs on my 500cc S29 rocker box are fractured - see link to video clip. Does anyone know where I might be able to find a replacement, or is it likely to be possible to braize these back on ?
https://youtu.be/rlL7D6uydas?si=I5xcb5Tmfx3MLQ_M

Cheers,
 Bevan

Hi folks,
Does anyone with knowledge of veteran BSAs have any view on whether the bike in the attached photo looks to be a genuine 1912 machine ?
Cheets, Bevan

Hi folks,
Does anyone on this forum have any info or suggestions regarding this issue:

I am a New Zealand citizen who is intending to come over this summer and was hoping to be able to ride a borrowed bike to a nearby rally (I am a member of the BSA, Ariel, & Panther owners clubs and have several U.K. contacts who would be prepared to lend me a bike).
The problen is: it seems impossible for a non-U.K. resident to get insurance to ride a motorbike owned by someone else. As my late father was born in High Wycombe I have had, and presumably still could get, a British passport but this is not sufficient - you seem to need to be a resident. I have friends in the U.K. so could in theory claim to be resident with them, but I'm not wanting to lie, especially  for insurance purposes.
Is there anyone who can offer some advice on this ?
Cheers,
Bevan

Hi folks,
Because I've had a beer or two, I thought I'd share my first experience of taking my Sloper to get a WOF in a small village in N.Z.

Me to the Tester: "the bike has an indicator and brake light exemption, so you can't test that; also, due to its age, the Czech tyres do not need to have the DOT standard marknigs required by the regulations".
Tester: "oh, o.k., Really ? I guess "ll take your word for that"
Tester: "Lets check the lights; can you put it on high beam please ?"
Me: "It is so old it is not required to have high and low beam"
Tester: "Jesus"; what the f**** am I supposed to test ?
Me: "Well, here's the headlight - its a 6 Volt system."
Tester: "You're not planning on riding anywhere at night are you ?"
Me: "no way; not with that crap light"
Tester: "Thank God for that".
Tester: "can I check the wheel bearings ?"
Me: "sure...it only has a rear stand, so I'll try to lift the front wheel up so you can spin it.
Tester: "I'll jack it up"
Me: "No you wont, the crankcase is lower than the frame rails'.
Tester: "what about the rear wheel, can i check that ?"
Me: "go for your life"
Tester: "o.k. seems fine"
Me: "So I'll need to show you how the gears work"
Tester: "Why ?"
Me: "well, I assume you will want to take it for a ride to test the brakes".
Tester: "shit no; I've never ridden a hand gear change bike and i'm not starting now". You rode here o.k., so I'm assuming the brakes work ?
Me: yeah, all good.
Tester: " Right oh; come on in and we'll do the paperwork"


Bevan
.

Hi folks,
Could anyone suggest a likely date for a 500cc ohv Sloper engine with number XW1652  (looks like a 6, but might possibly be 1852). It has been suggested that it could be 1930, but I'd appreciate some guidance on that.

My bike is definitely 1929, which raises another question: were there any significant differences between the 1929 and 1930 engines (I know that the frame was updated, but not sure about the  engine) ?

Cheers, Bevan

Hi folks, can anyone suggest what would be an appropriate amount of side to side play (endfloat I guess) for the selector shaft in an S29 3 speed gearbox ?

I've just done a brief test ride after reassembling the box with a replacement selector shaft (the original fractured at one of the fork collars) and find its a bit uncertain when shifting into 2nd gear. 1st and 3rd seem OK.

When 2nd is engaged with the engine stopped, bike on the stand and the inspection cover removed, I can lever the selector shaft towards the ks end so that I can  get a 30 thou feeler gauge between the shoulder on the shaft and the bushing at the clutch end.

Seems like quite a lot of play, so was wondering if that could be the cause of the dodgy 2nd gear engagement.

Cheers, Bevan

Hi folks, could anyone please tell me the correct length for the clutch pushrod for my S29 3 speed Sloper ?

Also, is it a good idea to have it in two parts with a ball bearing inbetween or not ? My Panther & Ariel have one piece pushrods, but the badly worn one in my Sloper is two piece.

Thanks, Bevan

Hi folks,
I have 2 questions about my S29 3 speed gearbox:
- what quantity of semi fluid grease should I put in following its rebuild ?
- what is the thread of the cover screws/studs p/no. 27-4406 ?  Looks like 26 tpi BSF, rather than BCY, but I'm not sure. UPDATE: It's Bcy, but still interested in grease quantity.
Cheers,
Bevan

Hi folks,
In the course of dismantling my damaged 3 speed gearbox, I noticed that the clutch has quite a bit of play, so I need to dismantle the bearing.  unfortunately, I have found that someone has abused the clutch centre bearing and it has stubbornly refused attempts to unscrew it (left hand thread). As a last resort, i get an engineer to carefully tack weld a tube onot it so he could apply some decent torque, but without success. So I am unsure what to do next. If anyone has any suggestions, or knows of anyone with a clutch and/or bearing they might be willing to part with, I love to hear.  The 1929 parts book lists the damaged part(s) as M125 gearbox clutch sleeve and M126 Gearbox clutch ballrace cup (I think).
Photo of the damage and the affected part (supplied by someone else) are attached.
Any help would be most appreciated,
Many thanks, Bevan

My bike two weeks ago.  Video taken 2 minutes before it jammed in 1st gear due to broken selector shaft collar
https://youtu.be/JwJD09SHPW0

Currently under repair !
Cheers, Bevan

Hi folks,
Had an enjoyable ride out on a lovely spring day here. Unfortunately, when I came to head back home, the bike jammed in 1st gear.  The clutch disengages correctly and I can shift the lever between 1st and neutral positions, but it remains in 1st. Can't move the lever up beyond the neutral position.
Had an ignominious ride most of the way home on a bike trailer 

Obviously I need to strip the box, but has anyone got any suggestions as to what might be the cause ?  I presume a jammed selector fork is a possibility.

Cheers,
Bevan

First day of spring in N.Z., and perfect day for a ride.  Might have opened the oil control valve a bit too much - smoking more than a 2 stroke ! Cheers, Bevan

Hi folks,
From the attached photo, you'll see that the two, thin, engine shock absorber nuts fitted to my 1929 Sloper have had an interesting life.  Unlike some previous owners, i did manage to use a C spanner, rather than a hammer and chisel, to remove them when swapping the engine sprocket for a larger one. Someone appeared to have slightly peened the outer one so that it jammed with the inner one, but it was reasonably easy to undo nevertheless.

My basic question is: I have tightened one against the other, but do I need to Loctite those nuts on ?  Is there a significant risk that they could come loose and cause mayhem ?

Cheers,
Bevan

Hi folks,
Modern chain size equivalents cause me confusion.  Could someone please clarify for me the sizes of the Sloper primary, and drive chains, and what their modern equivalents are ?
Many thanks,
Bevan

Hi folks,
Does any one know if M20/21 friction plates will fit a 6 spring Sloper clutch ?

If yes, are Indian made ones any good ?

Cheers,
Bevan

Hi folks,
Had to nurse the bike back from a rideout today with a badly slipping clutch - bits of clutch spring fell out when I took the cover off.
Could any one please suggest where I could buy some springs ?

Cheers,
Bevan
(in New Zealand)

Hi folks,

The carb on my 1929 500cc ohv Sloper has "6/024" stamped on the underside of its flange which I think is consistent with the type 6 specified for the bike.  However, every picture & diagram of a type 6 I have seen has a throttle stop, yet mine does not - see attached photo.  it only has a mixture screw.

Anyone come across this type before ?  is it  actually an AMAL carb ?

Cheers,
Bevan

Hi folks,
During a recent visit to a wonderful motorcycle museum, I spotted this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=83y11i5bezg

Thought it may be of interest.
Cheers,
Bevan

Apologies if this has been explained previously - As a non-UK resident, I am puzzled by some bike adverts that end with "why".
Could someone please explain the significance of this ?
Cheers,
Bevan