Help wanted....
I have rebuilt a 1954 BSA 10 which was in someones garage since 1972, but having huge problems getting it to re-start. Are there any members in the West of Ireland (County Galway or Mayo) who may be able to come over and double check the various settings to help me get her running. My hip isn't so good, so my ability to continually try kick starting it is a bit limited.
I fitted new big ends, rings, wiring, electronic ignition, tyres etc etc but she refuses to fire into life, so any physical help would be greatly appreciated, even for an hour. A push start may help.....
Thank you
Neil Fraser Carnacrow Headford, Co Galway H91 PK20
Hello Neil,
Welcome to the Forum and BSA ownership. Too far away to pop over for an hour but a few simple questions as a check list for any situation when a bike will not start.
Is it firing at all? Is fuel getting to carb and can you get it to flood using the tickler? Is there a spark and in the right place? Is the carb. completely clean especially the small air/fuel ways?
With electronic ignition the battery must be good and fully charged as some go fully advanced on a less than fully charged battery making it harder to start.
Dave.
If it has been standing since 1979 there is a good chance that the magneto windings have got damp so loss or weak spark. Also clean the points as they scale up through lack of use. Check for spark it needs to be blue and jump about 1/4 inch if good not yellow and feeble.
Hi Dave,
Thanks for taking the time to get back. No, she refuses to fire or even backfire....
The carb is spotless and some new parts, fuel getting in fine with tickler, just re-set the timing so should be OK, spark is reasonable in daylight. Maybe I will try moving the timing on the electronic ignition and see what happens...
Hi Idie,
I fitted a brand new electronic ignition unit, plugs, coils, leads battery etc and spent quite a bit of time setting it up, but have some suspicions, hence why I asked for a possible visit for someone local to double check the settings...
Hi,
What type of ignition do you have? Assuming it is in a dummy mag. or is a mag. replacement then I think that looking at the points end it rotates clockwise. If so then I think the righthand hole is the one to use to line up the pick ups. Might be worth checking.
Dave.
Hi Dave,
I bought the complete Wassall Electronic Ignition System that replaces the magneto, according to their instructions, all BSA Unit Twins have Anti clockwise rotation and set for 34 degree BTDC which is how I set it up.
But, from your comments and looking at the unit from what was the old points area, the electronic rotor unit actually rotates clockwise - maybe it depends on which way you look at the Magneto / Electronic Ignition unit...
I hope to be passing your way sometime this year when I do the end to end run. Can't say when though but if you are still having problems I'd be happy to pop in and take a look (and get dry!)
Hi Dean,
Many thanks for the offer of help. There are some amazing places to see and it's only wet 95% of the time, see attached some suggestions. Ashford Castle is only 20 mins away and amazing.
Hi Neil,
The unit twins refers to A65/A50 so it could be that you are setting the timing after TDC rather than before TDC. The 34º is close enough for the bike to run quite well.
Dave.
Ahhh, That's a bit different all right. I'll get the spanners out tonight and change that over... Thanks Neil
If you have a unit for an A65 the triggering setup could be wrong for an A10, the advance curve would be in the wrong place. Check that you actually have a spark if you have it might run after a fashion.
Quote from: DAVE BRADY on 14 Apr, 2021, 13:48
Hi Neil,
The unit twins refers to A65/A50 so it could be that you are setting the timing after TDC rather than before TDC. The 34º is close enough for the bike to run quite well.
Dave.
My most memorable time out west was getting stranded on Clare Island cos the sea got too lively for the ferry and spending the night in the lighthouse.
I spend a considerable amount of time re-setting the electronic ignition timing, to ensure it was exactly correct, re-charged the battery and double checked the carb settings, but to no avail, she just doesn't want to start or even fire. If any BSA members live in the West of Ireland, their visit to Headford Co Galway would be warmly welcomed to try push-start the bike or just re-check the setup.
Thanks in advance Neil Fraser
I will be in Galway / tuam from the 6th Aug if thats any help
Going back to your earlier post. The mag on the A10 spins anti-clockwise when viewed from the timing side - so clockwise when viewed from the points end. It might sound daft but when I was setting mine up I set it up as though the points end runs anti-clockwise with predictable results, so it quite easily done - maybe check that your picking the right timing point. Don't know anything about electronic systems but it sounds as though the timing is just not correct. Are the plug leads on the correct cylinders? On the mag system the right hand plug leads goes to the back pickup.
Hi,
In the meantime, can you post photo of the ignition set at fully advanced position? It might help with a few suggestions.
Dave.
Hi and thanks for this. Can we touch base closer to the time, as I hope to get her running in a few weeks, but your offer is much appreciated. Thank you !
Hi, There is no magneto, as I fitted Wassall Electronic ignition. When right piston is set 11/32 BTDC, the ignition is set at C on the ignition for Clockwise orientation, see attached. I used the instructions and have re-checked this twice after taking tappet covers off to ensure compression stroke.
This is pure guesswork as I have never seen the instructions for the electronic ignition but have you tried setting the left piston at 11/32 BTDC on compression and set the pointer to C and see what happens.
An easier check would be to swap the plug leads as they fire 180 degrees apart
Hi,
Is the pointer on the rotor meant to line up with the one marked C? Where it is in the photo looks quite bit retarded but in theory that should not stop the engine trying to run.
Dave.
It's perhaps a poor photo, as not easy to get the phone in place to take the pic. I will try swapping over plus leads and see what happens. Thanks to all for your comments and help, always appreciated.
Hi,
I swapped over the plug leads and absolutely no difference. As I mentioned before, it has electronic ignition, no magneto, so I am at a loss to find the problem. The bike has been totally renovated by me over the winter as it was a wreck when I bought it, everything taken apart, cleaner checked and where necessary replaced. If there was any members in the West of Ireland, a drop in visit at social distancing would be much appreciated, as I am baffled by why she won't start . Battery fully charged, clean fuel and carb etc etc....
Hi, i have set up this system on my brothers A10 and we had similar problems, are you getting a spark? any spark should give you something even a small chuff!
it might sound obvious but is valve timing all ok, leads wont matter what side there on as its lost spark and both fire at same time.
What coil/coils are you using, coil for electronic ignition is different rating.
cheers derek
Hello Derek,
Thanks for the message and info on the firing. The coils and leads are part of the complete Electronic Ignition Kit that was supplied by Wassalls which I bought brand new. There is a reasonable spark from both plugs and I spent quite a lot of time getting the timing and tappets set accurately. I had new valves, rings and big ends fitted when I overhauled the engine, so am at a loss why she won't even give a puff of smoke !! A 2nd opinion is what's needed....but it looks like there are no local BSA owners in the West of Ireland :(
Hi Neil,
There must be someone out there to help but they just do not know it yet. Would you consider a message on local radio?
In the meantime and/or waiting for Paul or Dean all you can do is re check the settings. I am sure that you have it correctly set at BTDC but just give that one more check. I say this because many years ago I had a similar problem with an A10. I had done the timing on several occasions but this time it would not go. Eventually a friend came to help and as they watched me they instantly spotted the problem. As I had the timing cover off I was using a spanner to turn the engine. Guess what? For some strange reason I was turning the engine backwards putting the timing ATDC!! So problem solved.
Are you using the back wheel/kickstart to turn the engine?
Dave.
Hi Dave,
It's funny you mention this, as my first BSA A10 rebuild was when I was 16 years old (a very long time ago) and exactly the same story, I wasn't paying attention to the direction of rotation.
I will recheck it again with "fresh eyes" over the weekend , as it's sort of getting me down......
Thanks again for your support.
Hi,
I like the bike. We were not afraid to personalise our bikes back when they were just old bikes rather than 'classics'.
Dave.
Quote from: nfraser103 on 20 Apr, 2021, 08:28
Hello Derek,
Thanks for the message and info on the firing. The coils and leads are part of the complete Electronic Ignition Kit that was supplied by Wassalls which I bought brand new. There is a reasonable spark from both plugs and I spent quite a lot of time getting the timing and tappets set accurately. I had new valves, rings and big ends fitted when I overhauled the engine, so am at a loss why she won't even give a puff of smoke !! A 2nd opinion is what's needed....but it looks like there are no local BSA owners in the West of Ireland :(
i would try on here as here as well.
https://www.a7a10.net/forum/
i would also try moving the timing 10 deg either way to see if it makes any difference, it wouldnt be the first time timing marks were wrong!
good luck
derek
Thanks Derek,
I will take your suggestion on moving the timing and next week, get a friend to help push start it, as maybe my kicking isn't fast enough. I will try the site you suggested if this doesn't work. Many thanks Neil