Replacing the Gear Change Spring on Swinging Arm BSA A10

Working on the A10...

Being pressed back into action for the first time in years, you sort of expect a few issues. The only thing that went wrong was the gear change return spring snapping, but did it leave me stranded? Not at all, shoot back home, take off the cover and order a new one. It was there the next day! 

So, without further ado... The outer cover comes off easily with four nuts to remove and three screws. The kickstart and gear change can stay attached at this stage and makes it easier to remove the cover. Also, the outer cover can be removed without affecting the gear indexing so makes this a very easy job.

With cover removed, you can see the offending item sticking out behind the gear change mechanism. The split pin, visible here, can stay in place, just remove the tiny circlip from the outer side of the cover and the whole unit will slide out from this side, revealing the spring.

Classic Brit Bike Road Test Fest!

Biketech7 - Back to the UK for a Roadtest of the Past.

What can I say about the latest road test? It's been a while, but this was pretty unique. To ride old faithful was gift enough after all this time. Sat for the last seven years with oil in its petrol tank (thanks dad), the '54 A10 astonished me. Still a first-kick starter, petrol tap on, a quick tickle and it was running. Effortless, except for the hefty heave on the kickstart, I couldn't have been happier. But to get out on the other two bikes too, outstanding!

Devauden.

Early evening in Tintern.

The next bike to get an airing was the '59 T110, pretty much an original bike, and another easy starter as long as you remembered the retard lever. I was rusty. I forgot. Still, the old Triumph is a true gentleman, or lady, and was perfect once up and running. Certainly more oomph from the Trumpet, and the front brake was a hell of a lot stronger, but annoying play in the head bearings became a pain when upping the pace. More on that later.

Back in the UK

Flew into Heathrow at 3.30pm on Saturday.  Straight out into dad's shed a couple of hours later to see my BSA that's been under wraps for a year and a half.  She was looking good!

Sunday morning I was ready to start.  A new battery was waiting for me courtesy of the component shop on Ebay.

 http://stores.shop.ebay.co.uk/component-shop__W0QQ_armrsZ1

Under a tenner delivered - can't fault it!  A 6V 6AH battery that will fit inside the rubber "Lucas" battery box.  So the seat off and a new battery fitted, it was time for the oil to be sorted. 

The oil that should live in the oil tank had by now made its way down to the sump so draining was necessary.  This was made easy because of the SRM sump plate fitted.  Old oil out, new oil into the tank and we were nearly there.

http://www.srmclassicbikes.com/news/srm-magnetic-sump-filter-kits

A gallon of petrol out of dad's jerry can and it time to kick her over - instant success!  Runs like a top and soon the oil was returning to the tank.  Check the charging and she was ready for the MOT on Monday morning.

Monday morning came and a cracking ride up to Beales in Coleford to see John and we soon came away with the necessary document.  What a great feeling to be riding my old BSA again!

On the way home and a quick photo on the way into Staunton.  Days don't get any better than this.