BSA Owners' Club Workshop Discussions

The BSA Workshop => Twins => Topic started by: Ralphy2 on 13 Jul, 2026, 10:03

Title: A65 cam follower circlips
Post by: Ralphy2 on 13 Jul, 2026, 10:03
Are the circlips that are used on the A65 cam followers available? and are they worth using, as it seems to me that they are not really necessary thanks for any opinions/advice
cheers, Ralphy
Title: Re: A65 cam follower circlips
Post by: DAVE BRADY on 13 Jul, 2026, 10:36
Hi,

I do not bother with them. The only purpose they serve is to stop the cam follower from dropping out until the barrels are in place.  They are fiddly to fit unless you have a special tool.
Clean any oil off the followers and in tunnels and use some grease to hold them for fitting.  The grease will hold them long enough for fitting but any oil may make it all a bit slippery and they may fall out.

Dave.
Title: Re: A65 cam follower circlips
Post by: JJC on 20 Jul, 2026, 13:23
Mine was one of the last OIF versions.  I was low mileage when I bought it 1982 and it had not been used for many years following an accident.  There was nothing to indicate the engine had ever been apart.  I believe the engine internals were as it left the factory.  I did take it apart and never found any cam follower circlips.  I concluded that the factory weren't using them at that point in time.
Title: Re: A65 cam follower circlips
Post by: Ralphy2 on 21 Jul, 2026, 20:14
Thanks for the info people, I have now fitted the barrels to the crankcase, I didn't use the circlips (I was missing one anyway) I fitted the followers in the block using assembly lube and held them in place with rubber wedges from above, once barrels fitted removed wedges, job done. Cheers, Ralphy