A65 Lightning project......

[geraldhattrick75]

Wahoo! I now have a very shiny, rebuilt, front wheel and I've even fitted an Avon roadrunner... (I have the appropriate back of the hand bruises.... What a maul)

Meaning that I can now look at finishing the front end re-build.


So, my next question, if I may, is  to do with buying some front fork shrouds.

Does anyone know the external dimensions of the lower flange please?

And am I right in thinking that this flange sits directly on top of the fork springs?

Hope you don't mind my asking...

Dave.

[Bess]

Hi Dave,
             If you are fitting fork gaitors the shroud has an inner of diameter of 55 mm and outer dimension of 61 mm. The gaitor slips over the 6 mm lip.

https://www.draganfly.co.uk/bsa/bsa/a50-a-a65/1968/category/302-68-front-forks

The spring butts up to the lower yolk in all cases.

Best wishes...

[ricketty76]

Once again Bess, many thanks.
I was looking at some advertised as having a 66mm flange- and that didn't look right when I measured the gators...

P'raps I'll wait till the bike show and mooch around the stalls.

Thanks again,
Dave.

[geraldhattrick75]

Hmmm.
Just come across an e-mail from the Natsec- BSA owners club saying this engine is from a Lightning Clubman, shipped in 1966 but not in the present frame. Hence it can never be a 'Clubman', only a Clubman replica.....

Which is a bummer as it means I ought really to fit the twin carb head back and continue the build as a Clubman replica. (most of the parts are with the project....)

[Bess]

Hi,
     So the frame is not from A50B-10761 onwards?

Best wishes...

[geraldhattrick75]

No Bess, it's A50B 4435.... (Left hand front downtube)


Engine number is A65 DC7144.

[Bess]

Hi,

From the info I have:

A65DC-7144 Engines from number A65DC-2158, September 1964 on, A65L Lightning

A50B-4435 Frame from number A50B-4001, September 1964 on, Fitted to - Lightning or Lightning Clubman or A50C Cyclone or A50CC Cyclone Clubman

If it was used as a factory mule, only being registered in 1970 it will be worthwhile asking BSAOC for a full dating cert.


Best wishes...

[geraldhattrick75]

Thanks for that Bess.

I've just looked at the log book and the frame number listed is A50B 4485 (I miss-read it from the actual frame as A50B 4435...Sorry about that. Mind it's difficult to be absolutely certain that it is 4485 and not 4435)
Sorry for causing you to chase up wrong information....... ('Old F**ts eh?)


The actual email sent to the previous owner, on the 19th of August 2019 was from 'National Secretary' 'natsec@bsaownersclub.co.uk' was

Sorry, there's no provenance this project is an A65 Lightning Clubman.

The dating officer agrees the frame number is not recorded but has found the entry for the engine which is from a Lightning Clubman, shipped from BSA in 1966. Not in that frame though.
It is the frame number that determines the model type so, if rebuilt, you'd have a replica rather than the genuine model.
regards

I reckon I'll just build it as a Clubman replica now, even with the extra cost and consequential increase in time....

Again Bess, sorry for the incorrect info.
Best regards,
Dave.

[ChrisG]

Hey Dave,
Back in Jan 2016 we ran an article on a member's genuine LC. I've just remembered that he told me there was a distinguishing feature on the frame that was peculiar to the LC. It's to do with the rearset footrest fitment. I have a picture that may help so please PM me with your email address and I will send it to you. You never know, if yours has these this feature then it may well be genuine.
Chris

[Bess]

Hi Dave,
            Numbers 4485 or 4435, it doesn't matter much. The frames from number A50B-4001 are from September 1964. In October 1965, frame A50B-10761 - Lightning Clubman was discontinued. So yours was built within this period.

Best wishes...

[geraldhattrick75]

Thanks again Bess...

That's appreciated,
Dave.

[geraldhattrick75]

Well the front wheel is in now bolted in (tight but not overly tight as I'll need to remove the fork legs to fit the fork shrouds... when I eventually get them...)

As per the parts diagram (half width hub) I haven't used any spacers - just the spindle (67-5566) and spindle sleeve (67-5565) which all tightens up nicely...

However..... (there's always an 'however with me isn't there?) the wheel is not sitting equidistant in the fork legs, ( 1" left fork leg to wheel rim and 1 5/8" right fork leg to wheel rim).

Is that normal?  (Everything else looks ok on the assembly.)


Also, if I may, any suggestions for getting my rear brake linings replaced...... (I live near Stafford (yeah, I know))

Regards and thanks,
Dave.

And thank you Chris for your help with the frame info.

[Bess]

Hi Dave,
             This might be worth a read first.

https://www.bsaownersclub.co.uk/bsaoc_forum/index.php?topic=1817.0

If the spindle is 90 deg to the fork legs and they are not the ones with the counter bore then your offset is wrong. I build the wheels as true as possible off the bike, finally setting up centrally mounted in the forks.

For the brake linings, I have used Saftek Friction, BD19 5LT they have a good understanding of brit bikes or new from either Draganfly or Fecked.

Best wishes...

[Talisker]

You just never know and I will tell you why.I have been putting a Thunderbolt back together for what seems like an age, every now and then some new problem would come up and I would get over it but lose a little enthusiasm until I installed the front wheel and a larger gap on one side than the other. I have ignored it every time I have gone into the garage for the last three months but today !!!! saw your post and at least I have some company with the problem or better still they are designed that way. I will be watching this thread like a hawk thats been to spec-savers. Regards Jim

[Bess]

Hi Talisker,
                Worth reading service sheet 150.

Best wishes