1971 BSA B50T

[stevejc]

My B50T Project

My first post on this site.
Purchased this bike as a project and although it looked fairly tidy enough it's surprising once you start how much work you realise there is to do.
It came as a non runner with a broken kick start quadrant, so that was my first job.
Kick start quadrant, new spring and new pinion gear arrived from CCM and there came my first problem, where does the spring fit on to, I know this is simple to most but I haven't really touched a motorbike for around 40 years.
Beezers on Facebook came to the rescue with pictures and advice which was great help and really appreciated and allowed me to tackle the job in minutes, they also recommended joining this site.
The carb was seized so I have purchased a new one , spark was weak, cleaned up points and reset, cleaned out the petrol tank and fitted new taps, new clean fuel, attached a new battery and kicked it over to start, it popped, banged a smoked but wouldn't start and after nearly breaking my foot (well that's how it felt and taught me very quickly not to wear Crocks to try to start it) I left it for the night and will return to it once I have read up on timing etc.
A long way to go and I'm hoping that this site and it's members will give me much needed advice on what and where for what ever I need.
This is a bike I longed for in the early 70's but being only 12 on it's production year it was a long way out of my reach and although I looked for one in good condition before this purchase there were non to be found.
Steve

[AJ CCM]

They are a friendly bunch on here, just ask a question and hopefully you will get a reply.
you need to purchase "The Rupert Ratio Unit Single Engine Manual for BSA

[stevejc]

Another bit of advice from Beezers Facebook page and volume 1 and 2 were delivered today, thank you for confirming it's helpful potential.
Steve

[minetymenace]

to the forum stevejc, would you update your profile and let everyone know roughly where in Blighty you are please?

Nice bike, Crocks

[stevejc]

All done, but it wouldn't let me add my website ?, but it's not about bikes so not important.

[lathejack]

I remember seeing this one when it was for sale, doesn't look too bad, they look like Japanese indicators, and an interesting choice of yellow someone has decorated it with.
Let us know when it fires up, and how it runs.

Great you have finaly got the bike you have lusted for after all these years. I bought myself a none running B50T 15 months ago and it is still sat on the bike lift since then. I must find the time and enthusiasm to work on it more, your new purchase of one might inspire me to try and get on with it.

[stevejc]

I hope it does encourage you to build yours, I'll keep updating progress on mine.

[stevejc]

I have decided to fit electronic ignition, but which one
Boyer Micro MK1V
Wassell Micro MK1
Wassell Vape ( is this the same as above
Pazon Surefire
I like the look of the Wassell but which one or another one is better?

[Barry Creary]

I like the Tri-spark easy to fit and no external box to fit somewhere.

[stevejc]

I will be trying to source a TriSpark one this week, is it worth changing the coil at the same time ?.

[Canberra]

I replaced the coil with the heavy one from Tri-spark and they are really good for starting the bike and fast running but I feel it may eat spark plugs (unless it is just my engine).

[stevejc]

Sourced a TriSpark electronic ignition and a few other bits and bobs and hopefully will have a go at fitting it this weekend and getting it running.

[bacigalupo]

I've got the TriSpark ignition and coil on my B50 - seems to work really well, and easy to fit. No effect on plug life!

Steve

[mlb50]

Trispark and coil. 1st kick start.

[stevejc]

When you wired your TriSpark in, where did you take your black and yellow wire to ?, was it the ignition ?. I understand what the drawing from tri is showing but the wiring on the bike has a cut out button on the hand handlebar switch. Do you wire it to keep this ? if so how ?.
In anticipation
Steve

[Barry Creary]

If it's a earth kill button don't wire in if you want a kill button you must have a open circuit button. I was advised this by Tri-spark

[JB]

Steve
The BSA wired cut out button is the live feed wire for the ignition, when you press the button to stop the engine you are simply cutting the power supply to the ignition. The problem with those Lucas switches is that unless you strip them out and make sure everything is 100% they can be a source of problems themselves. A continuity check on the switchgear will confirm if it's working properly or you could simply bypass it and use a white live feed from the ignition switch.

John

[stevejc]

I have fitted the TriSpark and the little red light came on when I set it all up but only with temporary wiring as I need to understand a bit more about the electrical box and its contents.
TriSpark instructions say don't use the condenser, that's fine and I disconnected it but what does the capacitor do ? part 59- 1858 54170009, mines blue on my bike and next to the coil.
Ordered a few bits to finish the electrics off, connectors etc. Next job is to sort the fuel tank out and try starting it again ( without Crocks on) boots from now on.

[JB]

Steve
The blue capacitor is only there to allow the bike to be started with either a flat battery or no battery at all, it will store enough of the charge to enable kickstarting the bike batteryless as standard, whether that's still possible with your ignition I don't know.

John

[stevejc]

I'll drop a line to TriSpark on that one, I wired direct to the white on the ignition as you suggested and it worked fine.
Thanks for your input.

[stevejc]

I've purchased a new guide to help me rebuild my B50, few words but great solid state and only 250cc version.

[JB]

WOW...that's nice

[stevejc]

Thank you, I swapped an A65 Firebird for it. I have been reading about your rebuild this afternoon and have to say it gave me a lot of inspiration on how to tackle my B50 although my first job is to get it running and see how it runs before I decide what needs doing, then take it apart and rebuild it to original colour scheme but seeing your chrome guards has got me thinking.
Regards
Stevejc

[JB]

The chrome guards were only fitted to the 72 B50T model and the rear guard is the harder one to source as it is unique to that model, you could of course have a good 71 guard chrome plated...not sure of the cost though?

The front is the same as the TR5T and new pattern ones are available, which is what I bought. The front pattern guard is not 100% identical to the original as it lacks the two indents for the forklegs, not that it really matters because it works fine without them, mine came pre-drilled but one hole was off-centre and had to be adjusted slightly

[midgie]

I had a pair of nos genuine mudguards plated for my 72 b50t restoration cost was £300.

[stevejc]

Luckily my mud guards are OK except for the colour and a bit of minor rust, I think I'll decide which way to go later.
On another note, I finally got the engine running yesterday ( Sunday 22nd) but then it wouldn't start again and it now lacks a bit of compression but it looks as though the decompression lever is sticking, something else to sort but at least it did run.
The reason I couldn't get the bike started following setting up the electronic ignition was that although I had set it all up as the instructions I had set it up on the wrong stroke.
The next big decision is what to do with the bike, total refurbishment or more of a decent looking useable bike, not sure which way to go or even possible sale.

[stevejc]

After a lot of work my 71 B50T is back and how happy am I, from the yellow thing I originally purchased to this wonderful bike, just got to get it registered now.

As Purchased

Underway

Frame done

Finished

[beat]

[lathejack]

Holy s..t! It looks fabulous. In your previous post you were unsure what to do with it, and also considered selling it, it is certainly worth keeping now. What a great looking bike.

My own B50T project has sat on the bike lift in pieces since purchased in December 2016. I wish I could make some progress and end up with a bike looking like yours.

[JB]

WOW... That is VERY NICE...
What a fantastic job you have done with this bike, you must be well pleased with the result of this, BSA definitely got the design of these bikes right imo and you've captured this perfectly with your restoration

[stevejc]

Thank you for your comments, I'll put a list up soon of everything that has been done to the bike, I will say it was a lot more than first envisaged but it does look good and you can't do half a job.
Steve