Last week I purchased some NOS pre war levers from a guy on Facebook for 150 pounds, today they arrived covered in old hard what appeared to be grease. I stuck them both in the sonic cleaner for several minutes just to give them a clean for a first inspection.
I was wondering if anyone could let me know if they are the real deal? there are a few marking that I have spotted so far, one is a small circle on the main levers with the numbers 222 inside, the other marking is on the main body and has No 274281.
The steal seams to be coated in a finish possible zinc? if anyone could let me know what this finish is, It may help me determine the best way to clean them without stripping of the coating. The coating has been compromised in places and allowed a small amount of surface rust to show.
Re: NOS Pre War Levers purchase, are they original
We did discuss this last week and those are correct BSA pre war levers. A steal at £150
The finish leads me to think they might also be from an early WD contract as I would think the civy items would have been bright chrome. I would also think that the metal parts must be either Cadmium or matt chrome.
And once again the long lever on top of the clutch is NOT the mag adv/rtd it is in fact the engine decompresor. Ron
Re: NOS Pre War Levers purchase, are they original
Exactly so Horror! And I've wired mine up so that I can't accidentally slip it on after a very embarrassing episode at some traffic lights years ago Ron
Re: NOS Pre War Levers purchase, are they original
I've frequently heard these called 'combination levers'...Whether that refers to their use for sidecar outfits or to the 'combined' nature of the assemblies I'm unsure...
One theory is that the ratchet is there to stop the bike rolling of the rear stand if facing 'downhill'...Ian
Re: NOS Pre War Levers purchase, are they original
Dear All
Many thanks for the feedback.
Dear Ron
Yes we did discuss but at that point I hadn't paid for the items and didn't have any good pictures of the levers. I will clean them up as best I can and leave the possible matt chrome as is. The brass I will polish up and also keep an eye out for a brass long lever to match.
Re: NOS Pre War Levers purchase, are they original
plain unplated brass is usually seen on later-war components. Early on they were dull chromed or cadmium. I suspect that these parts were made as spares to replace damaged items on early bikes.
To look factory fresh, they ought to be re-plated, otherwise just cleaned...and it's a WD vehicle so the brass certainly shouldn't be polished unless you're portraying rear echelon CMP or Brigade of Guards !
Re: NOS Pre War Levers purchase, are they original
['brass certainly shouldn't be polished unless you're portraying rear echelon CMP or Brigade of Guards !']...
The M20 I mentioned in my other post was an 'MP' bike and the ex MP owner said they tended to bull hem up with polished brass, shiny paint etc...(and lots of bull on the uniforms too when they were on special jobs..)..Ian
Re: NOS Pre War Levers purchase, are they original
Hello Stuart,
Congratulations on sourcing your pre war levers ! As Ron stated... a steel at £150. And yes they look very original from where I'm sitting 👍🏻
I fitted these early levers to my 1940 M20 which I was really pleased with, but I do find that the long lever gets in the way of my clutch changing which often fowls my progress.
Reading through the thread I note that Ron has informed you that the long lever is actually the decompression lever! I will need to swap my cables around now as I thought the long lever was in fact the Advance and Retard. Perhaps now I can cut the engine off whilst gear changing instead of retarding the engine🙈
Points to note ..... when fitting your cables into the top hat cable nipples ... be sure not to murder tight the little nuts or you will sheer the heads off the bolts very easily... as I have done several times 😩 .
I really like the idea of my front break working when I pull the break leaver, but I have broken 2 sets of bolts now, and am struggling to find replacements.
Re: NOS Pre War Levers purchase, are they original
Hi Ron,
Thanks very much for clearing that up ! I will certainly swap the cables around this coming weekend.
I can now also see that the long lever above the clutch will no longer interfere with my gear change one I've swapped cabkes (as it sits well out the way until you need to actually pull it to decompress the engine) 😀👍🏻
Re: NOS Pre War Levers purchase, are they original
Does anyone have any decent pics of the levers that were used after these. From what I can gather my '42 WM20 had separate levers. I don't think the ones fitted are correct but think the advance/retard and choke are the correct clamp on type.
Re: NOS Pre War Levers purchase, are they original
I have a set of these as well, also brass long levers, they finish is identical to yours. They have green paint on them though! I wasn't sure if they correctly belonged on a WD bike or not, so I'm glad for this thread. I was going to replace my single chrome levers with these for style alone. Anything is better than my chromed levers. Sounds like you got a really good deal on this pair of levers!
Re: NOS Pre War Levers purchase, are they original
Dear Paul
I bought the levers thinking they were pre war but thought they looked a lot more tidy than all the stand alone levers spread around the handlebars. I am glad that there are so many knowledgeable people on the forum to help out in identification and the overall consensus is WD.
I had some of the pieces in my tumbler most of the day yesterday and they have come out very clean and tidy now and will leave them as is showing some age and patina.
Re: NOS Pre War Levers purchase, are they original
Same as Mark asked for above, can someone clarify what is correct for a later war M20, say '43/'44? I was under the impression that these prewar configurations were different than the wartime configurations in more than just the plating.
Re: NOS Pre War Levers purchase, are they original
Later war seem to have had standard clamp-on Amal controls but for some reason the early levers remained in production as spare parts with a cheaper finish.
Re: NOS Pre War Levers purchase, are they original
Thanks Rik. Now I am back to considering the prewar levers for my M20. I already have a nice brake lever assembly. Just need the clutch lever assembly.
Wish I could happen upon a great deal like Stuart did!
Re: NOS Pre War Levers purchase, are they original
This is a scan from a 1944 parts list showing the standard Amal set up. I actually met a guy in France one year who had set the controls exactly as the drawing The position on the handlebar is about normal (although I would mount the valve lift trigger much closer to the grip) the rotation of the left side levers is just for viewing purposes. Note, the the brake lever is just an upside down clutch lever (same part number). By this period these parts would all be dull plated steel.
Ron
Re: NOS Pre War Levers purchase, are they original
Thanks Ron. I'm thinking this is the set up I should have as I have the clamp on type controls. I know the pressed levers are not right and should be solid but thought that the perches may be correct.
Re: NOS Pre War Levers purchase, are they original
There seems to be a slight mixture of positions to the adv/rtd lever in the overall picture but they seem to have adopted similar positions as the line drawing. I was helping the bloke I met in France to re-time and tune his bike. The valve lift trigger in that position is the most awkward thing to use and for that reason I would prefer it under-slung near the grip. I assume each rider would adjust the controls to his own comfort position. Ron
Re: NOS Pre War Levers purchase, are they original
I suspect the drawing is done like that so you can see the lever, you wouldn't be able to if it was underneath where you can reach it, this diagram is more to explain the use of the levers than the position.
Re: NOS Pre War Levers purchase, are they original
That was my thoughts too Rob, as I suggested in my post with the drawing. But the Australian bikes seem to have been delivered like that, but I'm sure they were not meant to be used in that situation.....Unless of course you are cack handed Ron
Re: NOS Pre War Levers purchase, are they original
I saw this picture online and liked the configuration as it leaves the rest of the handle bars uncluttered.
I will be going the long lever approach but Hong Kong law dictates that I have to install mirrors to the bike. has anyone seen a WM20 with drop down handlebar mirrors Café racer style and if so do they look OK? I'm worried regular mirrors will interfere with the long lever.
Im still looking out for the dipswitch and horn buttons to attach to the levers if anyone knows where I can get a set from.
Re: NOS Pre War Levers purchase, are they original
The problem with using that lever on top of the clutch for the ignition is that it seriously gets in the way of your clutch hand. It's not designed for a friction washer although I've seen it done.
As for the mirror law Can't you just get away with one "token" mirror on the right side? Maybe WD type rectangular mirror and paint it to match the bike. There are always bar end mirrors but they look too modern and hamper your filtering through traffic.
The only bike I can think of that seems to have had a factory fitted mirror was the Indian 741. I have one on mine and also one on my Indian special and must admit it's a joy to have them. Ron
Re: NOS Pre War Levers purchase, are they original
The Hong Kong Government are kill joys. I also have to have a KPH speedo with light, and a larger brake light that functions on both the rear and back breaks. No oil leaks during the MOT. Ohh and no front number plate allowed
One good piece of news is that I don't need to install indicators.
I will look in to just a single mirror I should be able to get away with that.
The good news today I managed to get a rear seat in Hong Kong.
Re: NOS Pre War Levers purchase, are they original
You're doing well with your finds. That is the earlier long pattern saddle as fitted to M20's and W/NG's etc. Very hard to find and usually quite expensive when you do. You just need the mudguard like piece and fixing lugs.
This is the one off my W/NG after I had it recovered with the added front bump! Ron
Re: NOS Pre War Levers purchase, are they original
Thanks Ron
If you get time and can take a picture of the bottom plate so I can see the shape that would be great but no hurry, I can then fabricate one by myself. I paid about 90 pounds for it but it was a friends so I just offered him what I thought might be the going rate. The whole bike is becoming a whole series of smaller project that will eventually slot together, great fun.
Just hanging out for a rear mudguard and a headlamp rim but the contact whom sold me the levers might have found them for me he will send some pictures to me on Monday while Im in Singapore on business.
I am just about to post a thread on getting a new line of mudguards manufactured.
Re: NOS Pre War Levers purchase, are they original
Hi all,
I have been following this thread closely, as I have a set of combo levers for my M20.
I have had them over 20 years, and I think that I got them from Russell's. Mine are a mix and match, brass decompresser and dull chrome choke lever.
Paul mentioned that his had green paint on his, in the other thread Loom Clip, there is a photo of the MP bike with levers that have been painted, and the paint is peeling off. I can't put the photo in as i'm useless..
Re: NOS Pre War Levers purchase, are they original
Hi Dave, If yours are a mix and match of several finishes, you might consider tinning them. You can do it yourself get the same look as cadmium and it is easy, though, quick and save. Cheers, Michiel
Re: NOS Pre War Levers purchase, are they original
Dear All
The guy I bought the levers off has informed me that he had a full unopened box of 12 sets of levers. He has sold 5 sets to another person and one to me, He still has 6 NOS sets left, If anyone would be interested let me know and I will see if they are still available, by the time there is postage to me and I add a bit on top I would pass them on for 250 pounds a set excluding postage.
Re: NOS Pre War Levers purchase, are they original
['but the front wheel looks bigger than 19" to me and of course the ally/stainless front guard is an afterthought.']
Possible 20" front wheel?..Or maybe a 21" with the bike done as a competition bike...that would explain the mudguard as well!..Or maybe he just likes it like that...Ian