How a tie-wrap, duck tape and 3 roller bearings saved my Normandy trip.

Last Normandy trip, after a few days, I got problems (kick) starting the BSA!
I heard the cush drive/shock absorber ratling....bad news...and without a new spring and a compressor...the end of the trip, I thought.

See below, how we managed with just a screwdriver and above mentioned stuff to complete the trip...and drive for atleast 100 mls afterwards aswell. It was still lasting perfectly before taking it apart, but with Market Garden as the next upcoming event, I'd thought I'll fix the BSA anyway before putting it away for winter.

So, keep them parts in your spares box,..and a old spring will never be a problem

Cheers, Jacco

Very complicated. A piece of fencing wire wrapped around would have done the trick!

hmm yeah well..had no wire...and this was a 5min job. and was sure this would not come loose and jam stuff..

Hi Jacco
"Necessity is the mother of invention" as they say !
Great shot of the bike on the beach too.
Cheers Stu

email (option): stuartcameron66@hotmail.com

Hi Jacco...The spring you have now fitted is the incorrect one...The 'round wire' spring is from a swinging arm bike and requires a higher amount of pressure to compress it, as it is made to suit the different operating characteristics of the 2 lobe shock absorber cam profile......

You should check that the shock absorber is functioning correctly (still moving sufficiently to 'absorb shock'....Ian

email (option): ian@wright52.plus.com

Thanks Ian, I,ll look into it. Got it from de Groot...could not locate it elsewhere...suggestion? .part # was differend I noticed. How do you advice I check if I have enough shock absorbtion?!


Thanks Jacco

email (option): Vansnippenberg@yahoo.com

Hi Jacco...You have to look at the amount of movement of the shock absorber cams under load.

Using the kickstart turn the engine over slowly until you come up against the resistance caused by compression....

Then gently apply more pressure....This should make the shock absorber operate (make the cams move against each other) until the pressure exerted by the movement of the cams on the shock absorber spring is greater than the resistance caused by cylinder compression...

At this point the engine will turn over through compression and the cams will then 'close'....

Using this test the cams should move against each other approx. a quarter of the way up the 'slope' of the cam....

This test assumes of course that your engine has reasonable compression!!...

If you are of 'average' weight a good engine will just about support your weight on compression if you put your weight on the kickstart...Ian

email (option): ian@wright52.plus.com

lovely story, lovely bike, i am going to keep taking my tape out with me for sure now. all best all!! peter

lovely story, lovely bike, i am going to keep taking my tape out with me for sure now. all best all!! peter