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Got the corner stone in the mail today that's been hanging the entire motor assembly. The CORRECT rocker box gasket. The B25's had very subtle changes to the rocker box over the first few years, which also slightly changed the shape of the gasket, sometimes just a mm...but if it's not correct, it will leak. After all, it's British, right?
It's funny. It's really weird now working on something now that's "pre-computer" design. Just some guys with pencils making changes year to year. Some so slight, they're hard to detect. Thankfully BSA put casting numbers on everything, and the Brit Bike forums have tons of info available to decipher these numbers. Pretty cool for research freaks like me.

All needed parts have been readily available, but this gasket took three tries. Hopefully get in some wrenching tomorrow before heading to our local store for the game.....and a few beers, of course. ;-)

Got the motor reassembled, valves adjusted to (Mr. Ratio's) spec, the compression release installed and adjusted, and the last oil lines run today. Glad it's finally together.

Next, prime the oil system and check for leaks. These bikes are dry sump with a separate oil tank. The oil pump has a feed and scavenge side. Fingers crossed.

If that all works out, then it will be install the new battery (positive ground), fire up Uncle Lucas, pray the Magic Smoke stays inside the wiring, and check for spark.

Got her fired today! Fourth kick, didn't toss me or wreck my knee! WOO HOO! Oil pump working great, seems to run ok. I'll tweek the carb a little more....and all the lights work! Lucas comes through!

Wow! Great news on your BSA. I had a 650 back in 1967, forget the year it was. Had a single carb. Sold it and bought a Suzuki X6 Hustler which was so reliable that it was boring!
Glad you are restoring the BSA.

Thanks Barnone! Good to see you're still hanging around!

Maiden voyage today. I'm not sure what's up but ice cold, it fired first kick. Let her warm up for a few minutes feathering the throttle, pulled in the clutch, hit the shifter (right side, of course) and was really expecting the "stuck clutch lurch and die"....but it went right into gear. Clutch worked great. I was really expecting to have to adjust the spring plate for flatness but I'm leaving it be. Maybe it's the tried and true Rotella T4 15W/40 diesel stuff I run in everything? Who knows.

Rode it up and down the street a few times. Shifted great through all the gears. No surprises or wobbles. Brakes work as good as 1967 drum brakes are expected too. Dang happy so far!

From past experience with British cars and bikes, that BSA is haunted if everything is working like it should.

You really want a scare? I rode it around my house yesterday for about 20 minutes, Got her good and hot. Parked it in the shop and started the 300 mile service on the Royal Enfield.

I locked up the shop last night after dinner and not a single drop of oil hit the concrete. I must have burned it all. Guess I should check it this morning.

If they ain’t leaking, they’re empty.:D

Adjusted the carb some more today. Amal's are a trip. It does have a slotted needle for moving the clip so that's good. Raised it one and got rid of a small stumble at 1/4 throttle. Running pretty dang good at the moment. Took her out for another short burn today and got it good and hot. See? She must be out of oil. This was after I got back and it sat for about an hour.

IT DRIPPED! IT DRIPPED!!!......but not from the motor or expected chain oiler. The left front fork. Not the seal, but the dampening rod bolt just above the axle on the bottom of the fork. I'll have to address that when I have the front tire off in the future. The guy I got it from said he just rebuilt the forks prior to putting it in storage. At least they have oil!

Can you back the bolt out a little and put some grease on the threads? That'll make it stop dripping.

Oh yah. It's current status is a "roun-too-it" right now though. Now that the BSA is running and I'm just waiting for good weather to paint, two bikes have moved ahead of it on the list. Just picked up a bike for Mrs. 2LZ. 2005 883 Sportster Low. Needs some TLC and it currently on the rack. Guess I should start a thread.....

D-U-N!

Primed and painted the tank yesterday and cleared it today. It's actually factory original colors, from England, but I decided not to do the side covers to leave them original 1967. Hopefully in ten years, they will match!

Anyway, other than detail work, she's ready for the car show in July. I got tired of messing with the Amal and replaced it with a JRC PWK 30 Keihin remake for Brit bikes. Starts first kick, ice cold. The Amal isn't a "bad carb", but archaic. The pilot circuit isn't tuneable unless you drill and tap. Not my thing. Replace with better, right??
This has been a cool project. I've really enjoyed myself.

It sure does look great .Well done !
As for it running ,riding and being reliable ,you just wait .The day you are counting on it ,is the day it will leave you stranded .The last owner clearly knew the score and let it sit for years .
Anyways ,it really looks fantastic .

Awesome job. :tup: She sure is pretty.

Thanks guys!
Regarding counting on it to get me around, I'm not worried. It's far more a shop ornament than a rider. The most it will see is the three mile ride to our little town for a beer and back, once in a Blue Moon. Hopefully it can handle that without leaving me walking. ;-)

Training Pads
 

Still not house broke.

Been taking her to town for my afternoon beers. Tourist season is picking up here. Many of my local old buddy's are digging their hot rods out for the seaons and bringing them to the store. Well, I gotta say, the BSA is a people magnet. My buddy brought his '37 Slant-back Ford...and I parked the Starfire in front of it.

Folks would walk by, check out his Ford....and then see the BSA. "Whose is this??"
In less than an hour, I had five convo's with older guys, who asked me all about it and then shared their own stories of younger, glory days on their Brit bikes. Lovin' it so far.
I'll get pics next time.

Beezer Delay Factor aka BDF. Similar to Ural Delay Factor aka UDF. You'll get it a lot, so get used to it.

All done and ready for the local car show July 1!

Try as I might, I couldn't get the new foam and seat cover to fit correctly so I seeked the help of a local pro. He nipped, tucked, redid some seams and fitted it perfectly, including the chrome strips, all for three 20's. I was tickled pink.

Anyway, I think it turned out great. Bike also fires first kick with the new Keihin-style PWK carb installed. Can't complain about that! A little detailing and she's ready to go!

I'll get car show pics to post when the day comes.

Pretty! :tup:

Posted this somewhere else but I'm so happy with my little Sweety. Had a great pizza run a couple weeks back.
Now I'm searching out a '68 B44VS. I know Fastdoc a long time back, didn't have a good experience (and of course, I'll need cheesy's approval), but I think I'm the man for the job.

Here's one I'm looking at. It's aweful perty.....

Well, the kickstart return spring broke. I can't complain. It's 57 years old. This bike is in a hell of lot better shape at 57 than I was at the time!

Anyway, it's cheap (15.00 delivered) and easy to change. Arriving today so I tore it apart yesterday. Only took a half hour. I didn't even have to drain the gear oil. Just tilt it over.

I was stunned at how clean the motor is inside. I did very little clean up, mostly RTV scraping around the edges. These Brit bikes are so simple compared to all the Japanese stuff I've wrenched on in the last few years.