Hi peeps,
Following on from this thread https://www.bsaownersclub.co.uk/bsaoc_forum/index.php?topic=6017.0 (https://www.bsaownersclub.co.uk/bsaoc_forum/index.php?topic=6017.0), I am about to become the carer for a 1967 BSA Lightning 650. Now I'm reasonable experienced with modern bikes, say from the 80s on, but I've never worked on an older British bike. I have three questions for y'all:
1. I have a well-equipped garage, but all my tools are metric. What will I need to add to my toolset?
2. My only resource is a Haynes manual from the 60s also :). What web or print resources do you recommend I read for good background, other people's restoration blogs etc?
3. What modifications should I do to the engine, or make sure have already been done to the engine? I'm not planning a rivet-perfect restoration, and already intend to convert to 12V negative earth, electronic ignition, solid-state rectifier etc. What's the shopping list for mods for a well-sorted, happily running Lightning?
Cheers,
- Pasta
you may need either UK set of sockets and spanners, BSF and Whitworth depending on age and fittings used. plenty to be found in in car boots or auto jumbles.
delve the internet, you will find online downloadeable free workshop manuals and service sheets.
if the motor turns and selects gears I would clean carb and try some fuel and a battery, my latest does not seem to wet sump if it starts and sounds reasonable try for a while to check for leaks. my first purchase years ago was a total strip straight away, my latest has Boyer ignition and a mikuni carb so with its paint job seems to have been looked after.
parts book at https://www.draganfly.co.uk/bsa/bsa/literature get used to the changes in part numbers.
or https://www.classicbritishspares.com/pages/free-triumph-bsa-norton-parts-books US based
manual for 1961 to 66 machines. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1A9-J8ctG7aYh6SgSb-IjYEXDeGPR9-qw/view
Hi Pasta,
Welcome to the forum.
If you are a club member worth a look in the members area at the BSA library/service sheet section. You will find all the factory updates for maintenance and rebuilding your machine which compliments the manual which chaz has linked.
Best wishes...
Whenever I buy a bike before I do anything I buy genuine copies of the workshop manual and parts catalogue for the year and model these can be bought online. Yes it is good being able to view service sheets online and I have used this facility on the BSA website being a member now for 24 years, but when you are working on a bike in the garage or workshop you cannot beat having the info at your fingertips. Haynes manuals are OK but not always correct. I have converted my early A65 to 12volts and fitted Pazon electronic ignition with no problems you get very good instructions with the Pazon system, I have not tried the Boyer system but those that have seem to be pleased with it, down personal preference.
reason I like the downloadable parts book and manual is twofold...
1/ you dont get oily paw prints over something you need later (or the ability to throw oil over a book)
2/ I can print off what I need, try working with a book or manual that keeps closing on you just when you need to read something and then have oily hands. easier with one or two sheets printed off than then with a book forcing the pages open and breaking the spine..
also you can write notes on the page as you strip the parts down.
:) :)
Hi. You may be interested in this
Ebay item No173995667484. It appears to be an original BSA A50 A65 unit twin Workshop Manual. Certainly a very clean copy/re-print. Again it appears to be identical to mine(which is an original).
Mike 8) 8) 8) 8)
Hi Pasta,
The 1967 model probably has UNF and British Standard Cycle thread nuts and bolts so you will need a set of A/F and Whitworth spanners.
The parts lists for each year are all downloadable FOC from the BSAOC members area Library. (Members only).
The Haynes Manual is about as useful as a chocolate teapot, so I would recommend a genuine BSA Workshop Manual for that year 1967, available from most dealers or the National Motorcycle Museum on line shop.
You don't really need to do anything to the engine unless anything is worn out. Also, why change from the standard positive earth to negative? The standard wiring has worked well for me on my A65's and A50. Electronic ignition is a good idea and I always use Boyer, but others are available. If any money is to be spent I would recommend fitting brand new Amal Premier carbs as the originals will be worn and new ones make a world of difference to the performance. Mikunis may be better but probably more expensive.
Good luck
Chris
I have Had BSA A50 A65 Workshop Professionally Reprinted in the UK in the Original Format on a heavy duty paper.
BSA A65 A50 All Models 1962. 63, 64, 65 one book
BSA A65 A50 All Models 1966, 67, 68 one book
BSA A65 A50 All Models 1969, 1970 one book
I also supply the 1971-1973 A65 Manual
I can be contacted directly on stevearch58@hotmail.com or 0191 435 4122
https://bsamanuals.com/product/bsa-a50-a65-manual-1966-1967-1968/ (https://bsamanuals.com/product/bsa-a50-a65-manual-1966-1967-1968/)
I too joined the Brit Bike club for the first time last year, buying a horrendously neglected A65 as well as a huge pile of miscellaneous spares/junk (delete as necessary!) and it's a real 'bitsa'. The recommendations from the guys are very useful and I've made good use of these publications. Whether or not you're restoring to concourse or, like me, just want to end up with a useable bike to have fun on I've found Roy Bacon's book 'BSA Twin Restoration' (ISBN ref 0-85045-669-X) an invaluable tool. Not sure if it's still in print but I found a used copy on eBay. Good Luck with the bike. Rob
Quote from: Editor on 19 Aug, 2019, 17:23
Hi Pasta,
The 1967 model probably has UNF and British Standard Cycle thread nuts and bolts so you will need a set of A/F and Whitworth spanners.
The parts lists for each year are all downloadable FOC from the BSAOC members area Library. (Members only).
The Haynes Manual is about as useful as a chocolate teapot, so I would recommend a genuine BSA Workshop Manual for that year 1967, available from most dealers or the National Motorcycle Museum on line shop.
You don't really need to do anything to the engine unless anything is worn out. Also, why change from the standard positive earth to negative? The standard wiring has worked well for me on my A65's and A50. Electronic ignition is a good idea and I always use Boyer, but others are available. If any money is to be spent I would recommend fitting brand new Amal Premier carbs as the originals will be worn and new ones make a world of difference to the performance. Mikunis may be better but probably more expensive.
Good luck
Chris
Hi Editor, if everything is correct on the bike, it should only have BSF and cycle, though 19mm and 20mm spanners are needed for the footrest nuts.
However after all these years. It's impossible to know what nuts and bolts have been fitted. So being armed with metric, AF and Whitworth are always worth while.
You can get some cheap 3/8 drive AF and Whitworth socket rails on eBay which are more than ideal for working on these ol bikes, I always try to use branded or better still old vintage spanners, a lot of the time 1/2" is actually 13mm. A box spanner for the front wheel nut and one for the gearbox sprocket nut and you should be away.
I stand corrected. UNF came in around 1968. I have only had post '69 models so not familiar with the earlier ones. Thanks for putting me right!