I am new to this forum, so I'm here looking for information. I have several BSA's including a '55 Golden Flash that I am currently restoring. When I restore a bike, I try to make it as technically correct as possible. This is creating big time problems for me on this bike since very few were imported into the U.S. and there don't appear to be any unmolested originals that I can find. Further complications arise in that there don't seem to be any books available like the one's available for Harley's and Indian's (Bacon's Restoration guides are a joke for the most part). I have a number of questions I hope someone in the U.K. (or elsewhere) involved with mid 50's BSA's can answer.
1. The '54-'57 parts book list several wiring harness's, one for the Road Rocket and the other for the Golden Flash (nacelle type headlight). The GF has a horn button and a cutout button mounted to each handlebar lever bracket. The H.L. switch 31340 has an off H and L position. If this is the case, where does the pilot light switch go or does the '55 GF have a pilot light? I have switch # 31220, but the parts book does not show this or BSA's part number - it is listed with the plunger frame harness and Road Rocket headlight assy. To me this indicates that 31220 dip switch isn't correct for the GF. Can someone enlighten me on what is correct here?
2. Which wiring harness should this GF use? My '60 Road Rocket uses Lucas # 839780, but this should be for '58 and later. Which harness did BSA use in 1955 on the Golden Flash?
3. Did BSA use a flat sided oil tank in '55 like the tool box? I have several flat sided tool boxes, but I've never seen a flat sided oil tank. If yes, any idea where I can find one?
4. Do the tool boxes have a cable inside to prevent the lid from falling all the way out and hitting the rear foot peg if up or the brake light switch if the peg is down? Also the Dzus fastener isn't listed in any parts list that I have seen. I can replate what I have, but it seems to reside in some sort of small housing that I'm going to tear up if I force the dzus fastener out. I cheated on my '60 Road Rocket and used a seat travel limit cable from a mid 60's unit Triumph to keep the lid from swinging down and marring the finish. Any ideas or suggestions on this?
5. My last question for now concerns the head pipes. The set I have are just a little too large for an iron head A10. Didn't the iron head use the same pipe as the alloy head? Are there any pipes out there that appear to be of really good quality?
Thanks
Sam
Oh gosh, I'm the last one to ask about factory originality. However, there were no restraints to stop the tool box lid flopping right down. Usually in the UK climate, rusty hinges do that job. Exhaust pipes are common to both iron and alloy cylinder heads.
I am sure others who are into originality can answer your other questions.
I presume your 1955 Golden Flash is a CA7 framed bike with half width hubs rather than a late 1955 (for 1956 season) bike with full width hubs?
If the former there are some differences between the 1954-1957 parts book and the 1954-1955 book which was issued in October 1954.
The photo is from the Lucas equipment catalogue covering 1936-1957 and shows the Lucas part numbers for A series twins.
A bit more from Lucas.
On the headlamp switch H = main bulb and L= pilot or parking bulb. Pilot bulb in reflector for 1955.
This will most likely be a trailer queen, therefore hopefully no rust to keep the tool box lid from hitting the brake light switch or passenger peg. I guess I'll strap it it with a Triumph seat cable. What about the small housing that the Dzus fastener fits into - are any of those available or has someone found something to use as a replacement?
This is an early type '55 A10, therefore no Ariel type full width hubs like '56 and later. I have the 36-57 Lucas master catalog, so I see the parts number. I found a correct 31220 dipper switch, but the BSA parts book 54-57 shows several different harnesses (BSA part numbers only), one with the switches and one without. When I ordered the pre '58 harness, it looks all wrong compared to the one I installed on my '60 Super Rocket (the '60 model parts book actually shows the correct Lucas part # off to the right of the page). Are there any publications available showing the correct part numbers for Lucas harnesses - the 36-57 Lucas master catalog doesn't.
Julian, from your reply; I assume the 31220 switch is correct. Next question then - what should the sub harness from the handlebar mounted switch look like? Black cloth loom, black plastic or gray plastic like later models? This switch came with no signs of it's original wiring.
One other question comes to mind - I've had more than my fair share of "pattern" reproduction parts that don't fit. We don't seem to have that much of a problem here in the U.S. with our early Indians and Harley's, so I need a source of used parts if I restore any more British bikes in the future. Is there anyone in the UK that still has a good inventory of used parts for 50's and 60's British bikes?
I am a licensed motorcycle dealer, therefore I deal with Wassell's on occasion, but I only know of Dragon Fly and Burton's for reproduction and hopefully N.O.S. parts. Are there any others in the U.K. with N.O.S. and repro parts that I don't know about.
Thanks
Sam
I have an early 1954 GA, first reg April, (with CA7 S/A frame). It has a flat oil tank see pics, which I have had to crop because they were large files. Also my handle bar layout has a seperate horn button on the right hand side and the cut-out button in the centre between the handlebar fixing lugs, as shown in the 1954 printed Inst. Manual which was produces for S/A and plunger types. The pilot light is below the headlight and comes on at the first position of the lighting switch. You may be a bit hard on Bacon, there is a lot of useful info can be gleaned from the early pictures of original machines.
If you're still looking for original '55 Golden Flash (US) pictures.
http://www.britbike.com/forums/ubbthreads.php/topics/35979/original-pictures-examples-55-golden-flash-us#Post35979