A65 side panels

[geraldhattrick75]

I recently bought a set of these side panels off fleabay; https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BSA-A65-A50-TWIN-CARB-PAIR-OF-SIDE-PANELS-WITH-BADGE-RECESS-UK-MADE/293725048908?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649 and was reasonably well surprised at the quality which, while they're not perfect, can be made to look very nice.

The only real problem being that drilling the fitting holes showed how out of whack the front ones are- so much so that I have had to make a bracket/ adaptor  for each side (see piccies).

The newly fitted side panels look to be in the correct position (to me, anyway), and the Oddie stud fixing also look to be in the right position on the panels, so I'm wondering what actually is wrong.... 

I wouldn't be surprised if I've missed something obvious....... 

Thanks,
Dave.

[Martin S]

Looks about right to me; mine had similar adaptations when I bought it.
Nothing to do with side panels, but is that a Mikuni carb on your bike? Do you have any experience of how it performs?

Martin

[DAVE BRADY]

Hi Martin,

I have previously posted a comment under "Swapping carbs and the dark art of spark plug reading".
I replaced a 30mm Mikuni with a 28mm Premier and have found it a great improvement.  Not necessarily because it is new but because it is the right size.  I have also fitted a 1" spacer to lengthen the inlet tract a bit.  This increases the low to mid range and helps to get rid of a bit of a flat spot at about 55mph. The standard filter can just about be fitted.

Dave.

[geraldhattrick75]

Nothing to do with side panels, but is that a Mikuni carb on your bike? Do you have any experience of how it performs?

Martin

Yes Martin, it came with the bike - mounted on the single carb head, presumably by the factory during the 4 (-ish) years they used it as a 'mule'.

I'm aiming to return it to the 'Clubman', twin carb head standard that it once was- when I have the money to do it. (except that the twin carb head has suffered some fairly serious misuse in the past)

I have it on authority that a couple of carbs fills the 'ugly' gap between the side panels- hence my choosing those side panels...

But it was a non running basket case when I bought it so I can't comment on how well it performed with  the Mikuni. (mind, a lot of articles I've read suggest the mikuni is a good way to go.....
Easier starting, more reliable running and only slightly down on power.

I have previously posted a comment under "Swapping carbs and the dark art of spark plug reading".

Dave.

I'll be reading that soon Dave.

Thanks,
Dave.