Monday 5 May 2014

Another MOT



1911 BSA

It is that time of year again and MOT time for my Velocette LE. I have used Jack Lilys since 1993 when they were first in the High Street in Shepperton and then when they moved to Ashford. The MOT was last Friday and I always feel a little uneasy when I have to be at a destination at a specific time on a 50 year old bike. Needless to say it performed as it should and got me there and home again with no problems. I usually ride a much bigger bike so only having 200cc available you have a different approach to how you ride. Starting with some trepidation with the A312 which is a speedy dual carriage way I expect to be be run over or carved up at any moment but after that it is a much more slow speed journey but still with the same risks. I got to Jack Lilys in plenty of time, got an MOT and made my way home again. Leaving more fliers behind. Pete had been there too as there were still a few left and I also left application forms for the BMCT. On the way home, this time of day, in much heavier traffic I now had the upper hand! I could filter and maintain my progress. All those motorists that whizzed by me only got to the traffic jam sooner, I passed with ease and left most behind. I was well pleased with my trip home and with the traffic, as opposed to the norm of being harassed by impatient drivers.



On Saturday I zipped out to Tescos on it a well and Sunday, after a trip out on the Buell to the Wey Valley Advanced Motorcycle Observed Sundays handing out more flyers for the Museum and the BMCT I was out on the LE again to drop in to the Museum to see what was going on. The Thames Valley Velocette Owners Club had paid a visit the other Sunday Pictures of the bikes is on the Museum Facebook page. Sorry I missed you. I was hanging around to hear Rowley get the Venom Clubman fired up for the first time after rebuilding it. I left before it was started up.





It was a nice sunny afternoon and he was hot and bothered by all the kicking. While waiting I had a close look at our new acquisition the 1911 3 1/2 HP BSA. If you compare it to other machines of that era it was bristling with innovation. BSA had been producing motorcycles since 1906 so had some idea about what they were doing.


On early BSA models the tank badge actually has Birmingham Small Arms in the logo. Later models did not have this. From the outside it had something on the right side that looks like a cloth cap box.










I'm not sure what that was for but the mechanical ideas are very interesting. Heal and toe gear change that operated a Sturmey Archer style hub gear. Unlike the bicycle that you pull the gear into position BSA had used a rod on a screw thread that pushed or pulled it into the right gear. Even the gearbox was connected to the pedal and chain drive.



It must had been a bit heavy to pedal along. The other departure was the type of leather belt used. Instead of using a studded belt they used a link one. I guess that the studded belt ran a bit rough so the linked one would be much smoother.



On the cylinder head is a tap and a pipe that comes from the petrol tank. The carburettor does not appear to have a tickler so I, again, guess that this was a way of getting fuel directly into the engine to aid starting. I think Rowley might need this on the Venom! On the way home I did more filtering on the LE. I think the sun had brought out something nice in the motorists and was quite a pleasant ride.




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