Good day.

As I am putzing around taking things apart and making them green, I realized my tank is missing any signs of where the hardware would go for the knee pads. Hopefully a kindly person has taken some photos of their motorcycle without the pads on and can share what it looks like underneath. I know there are two metal plates that sit under the pads but have no idea if there are studs or welded nuts, etc..

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers,
Justin

email (option): justininia@gmail.com

does this help?

https://www.draganfly.co.uk/index.php/bsa/bsa/a710--b3133--c101112--m202133/category/957-knee-grips

Cheers

Justin,

Two days earlier and I would have had a close up photo for you. I just installed the pads. That was &%(&#^@ch!, however I do have this photo before I started work on it:



The two "rings" in the middle of the side of the gas tank is where two screws attach the mounting plate to the tank. Pete posted a great link to show you the rest. If you cannot find the openings, it is also possible that the previous owner "bondo" it. The reason I'm saying that is because the previous owner of my motorcycle bondo the inside of where the screws go into....that was another *%)@*%ch to fix.

Good luck!

email (option): mike.kaczorowski@gmail.com

There are two bosses with a 1/4" BSC tapped hole each side as in Mikes picture, welded into the tank on assemble. I've a feeling that late war production M20's had knee grips omitted. What with the shortage of rubber and war economies etc. Just in case yours have been filled in at some time, you can see the front bosses through the filler neck with a torch. Ron

email (option): ronpier@talk21.com

I agree with Ron, there are plenty of photos that prove that the kneepads were indeed omitted later on. When I got mine, the previous owners intention was to show just that, however I ride on the tank and I like having those kneepads there and since mine is a 1943, being mid war, I'll swing it

email (option): mike.kaczorowski@gmail.com

Thanks for the photo and the information. My tank is an aweful shade of metallic red and is getting blasted and boiled before I repaint it. There is definitely filler on the tank as I can see the telltale sanding scratches. The photo gives me a good idea where the screw holes should be and something to move forward with.

Thanks again for the tidbits.

Cheers,
Justin

email (option): justininia@gmail.com

Hi justin

The last 2 contracts of the war to my knowledge did not have tank rubbers or plates - the handlebar grips were also equipped with a webbing material

I have photos somewhere of the S5205 contract machines without these rubbers

Rubber had become a scarce commodity with the Japanese invasion of Burma/Thailand prime suppliers of rubber raw material - supplies from South America were also affected by u boat activity

In short - the bike riders did without as rubber was still required in big quantities in particular for aircraft production

Best regards

John

email (option): Jonnyob1@googlemail.com

John,

As of the contract numbers, how do you determine which contract your bike was? I don't really know where to find this information.

email (option): mike.kaczorowski@gmail.com

Is it not the case though that the threaded inserts were always fitted, and indeed one on each side utilised for the tank-top air filter which became a standard fitment very late in the war, as all production was anticipated to be for use in the Far East.

Hi Rik

All the tanks I have seen have the threaded inserts

No change there - also the last 2 major contracts had the tank top filter fitted as std - so as you say - it was secured using these tank fittings

Also another reason for no rubbers

Job

email (option): Jonnyob1@googlemail.com

Mike, the main, commonly available source is Orchard & Madden's "British Forces Motorcycles" If however, your bike falls outside of the batches that they were able to document at the time, or more particularly came from an early contract then life can be complicated.

The easiest manner would be to post photos of your engine and frame numbers and then those of us with access to factory or ministry documents can do some digging. With a bit of luck, we'll be able to find a photo of a machine that is fairly close.

More fun information.

It turns out that the threaded inserts are on the tank, hiding under filler but it appears that someone weld-filled them. I will get the pleasure of drilling and re-threading the inserts... yay :|. Time to break out the expensive drill bits and pray for not puncturing the tank.

Cheers,
Justin

email (option): justininia@gmail.com

You can still have the knee grips with a Vokes filter. Ron

email (option): ronpier@talk21.com

Hi Ron -

I trust "torch" over there means "flashlight" over here?

(I think this forum should require YOU to include a picture of any dam* thing you want to every time you post ANYTHING. Absolutely gorgeous stuff!)

Bruce Cooper
Houston

email (option): btcoop77069@aol.com

Exactly so Bruce. We also don't use Hoods, Trunks, Fenders, Headers, Mufflers, Wind-shields, Gas or Tires Ron

email (option): ronpier@talk21.com