BSA A70L Lightning - First Start After 40 Years
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 18 เม.ย. 2020
- It's time at last. We're ready to attempt a first start after all the years since it probably last ran and after all the work over the last two years. Will it live again?
- ภาพยนตร์และแอนิเมชัน
I'm a bit late to the party having just found this channel enjoyed this... It has not put me off getting a classic English bike, in fact more determined than ever to get my hands on one. Thanks for the content Angus and i've still got the other play lists to view.
So when I acquire an old classic bike I can just tell my lovely wife that it's all Angus's fault.
There by not accept any responsibility for my own actions brilliant.
Thanks for the comment and interest. You can blame me for everything lol. Just tell her it’s an appreciating investment.
Congrats Angus, nice even runner, age old problem the pipes blueing before tuned in could always do with a slave set
Thanks. Yes I know the big twins - both BSA and Triumph - can suffer from this but I was surprised how quickly this pipe turned so hopefully final tuning up should help. The slave set idea gets the thumbs up.
Congratulation Angus! I was surpriced it started so easily.
Thanks Torbjorn - me too.
Absolutely bloody brilliant! If it were me I wouldn't have been able to resist a ride round the block.
Many thanks. Won't be long before a test ride.
Enough to make an ardent Honda CB750 fan buy a Beeza, stunning bike.
Many thanks Graham - appreciated. I passed my test on a Honda and have always admired the CB750 and many other Japanese bikes over the 70s and 80s. I should add that my brother owned a CB450 Bomber at one point and lent that to me for a European trip. Great bike and fond memories. Thanks for the interest and comment.
Beautiful bike.
Thanks for sharing.
Triumph is still a going concern (let's just ignore that they are built in Thailand) but that BSA unit engine is a peach and should still be produced with DOHC, etc.
My 1964 Thunderbolt, bought secondhand in 1979, was reliable and easy to start. Sounded lovely
Sorry, that was badly written.
I meant that the BSA unit engine would have been really special if it had lasted long enough to develop into a DOHC engine
Thanks for the comments and interest. My first Brit bike was a ‘68 Lightning in 1976 and that bike was reliable and enjoyable to ride. I think they were really stretching its limits with the A70 though although it won plenty of races in the US. Thanks again.
Hurray for you!!! All that effort paid off handsomely and you should be rightly proud. Press on!
Many thanks John. And you’re absolutely spot on - we press on with things to do. Next stop timing cases off!
Beautiful
Thanks Larry for the kind comment and interest.
Congratulations. That is a milestone to celebrate.
Cheers Mac indeed.
Excellent, she lives again!!! Many Congratulations! Must admit my heart was in my mouth as I'm sure yours was. Out of interest I use Millers CVL Octane Booster which I find the best having used many types over the years. Use it in my Turbo cars too:-)
Cheers Paul and thanks for another helpful suggestion.
Just come across your post, so happy I did, it's great to see these bikes finally being in the hands of someone who can give them the attention they need. The transformation is spectacular it looks and sounds superb, looking forward to finding out the solution to the oil leak. A great example of a beautiful BSA motorbike. Thankyou
Many thanks Estaban for the interest and kind comments. It’s been a challenge since that video but I’ll leave you to enjoy the follow ons. Thanks again.
Good day Angus. Just discovering more of your videos. Im not terribly knowledgeable on the BSA marque.
I’m guessing that is a very rare bike?
Your restoration on it is absolutely beautiful!
Hello Michael - thanks for the interest and very kind comment. On the exterior this bike looks like a standard A65L 650 Lightning built between Jan-Jun 1971. However it’s a factory A70L 750 Lightning of which only 200 were built to homologate the new 750 motor for flat track racing in the US. Hence rare. About 50 are known to still exist. Many were butchered to put the motor in a flat tack chassis. It was due to become a production bike for the ‘72 model year but that plan was scrapped with the factory financial difficulties. Thanks again.
@@BSAPowerSet Fabulous! Thank you for the info!
Nice one Angus!!!! Fantastic!
Cheers Sam thanks.
Hadn't seen the condition it was in when you started, I'm well impressed. Looks great, sounds great, lovely job.
Thanks for interest and comment - appreciated.
Congratulations Angus, well done!
Many thanks.
I think you have done an amazing job, the bike looks beautiful congratulations 👍
Cheers thanks Jerry.
This is great to see . Excellent job . congratulations . Enjoy .
Many thanks - appreciated.
Well done Angus it's a credit to you, you must be very pleased. Sounds sweet as well.
Many thanks.
lovely job pal, sounded brill.
Thanks Neale for the interest.
Congrats on a great restoration, well done . Engine sounds great,
Cheers Matt. Hope to see the Rob North and hear that once the current situation eases.
Cheers, hope you get the oil leak sorted soon,can't be much, whip of the cover s, check for flatness and very lightly counter sink holes by hand, not using g a drill to eliminate issues, the north is really loud!!
Thanks Matt and yes we'll be onto the oil leak issue this evening! Striking while the iron is still hot!!
Always fancied the lightning, still do. Nearly bought one about ten years ago ago but the guy sold it on the day i turned up with the cash. So bought a 1975 bonnie which has the same side panels as the lightning, been everywhere where on it!
Thanks for the interest, comment and anecdote Patrick. I bought a brand new ‘78 Bonnie Special - enjoyed that bike too (and the styling).
Gidday, Very nice restoration.
I notice that the lever on the rear brake cam is pointing down whereas the one on mine and every other one I have seen is positioned pointing up. Makes it easier to adjust the rear axle. something for train spotters.
Look forward to seeing your results when you finish the furry, had one ordered when I was a young fella but of course it never turned up so continued useing the C15. (watching from New Zealand)
Hi Brian - thanks for the compliment and for your interest and comment from NZ. Agree the position of rear brake arm that year has always generated debate. The parts book definitely shows it down in common with the R3 - which I’m sure was originally down although many people have turned those the other way up. Maybe a point to research against pics of original bikes and with associates at BSA OC. Anyhow we crack on - plenty to do - and shouldn’t take long to complete the Fury when the head returns. Famous last words. I’ve met so many people like yourself who ordered a Bandit/Fury - all with great little anecdotes from the period. I was only 14 in ‘71 but me and my brother were messing about with a T20SL cub and blasting that up and down my parent’s driveway. They received complaints lol.
What a DA.
I’ve no idea what that means Perry but whether derogatory or not, thanks for the interest.
Bloody brill m8 bike sounds great 😜👍
Cheers Mick thanks.
Hi Angus,I had a strong suspicion you had gone all the way to firing her up.
I was paying attention and did notice the left header turning straw colour. Its a force of habit for me to look at header temps on a new build startup. The strobe will reveal a lot. Edit to add:I'm not at all surprised it started promptly with the kick starter. Everything is pretty much as it should be with fueling,sparks and compression. Given those 3 are in the ball park its usually going to run.
Thanks Howard. Yes hopefully the final tune up should help once we've sorted that oil leak. Thanks to you for your interest and helpful advice and suggestions on the way - appreciated.
Hi Angus, I worked as a mechanic for BSA motorcycles, referring to your oil leak (of witch we had quite a few) we found that the timing cover had been linished unevenly, best way to check this is to take timing cover off again and check mating surface with a straight edge. hope this help's.
Hi John thanks for the interest and comment/advice. I ultimately traced this to a proud oil pump mounting stud so it was sorted in a later video. Hope I haven’t given anything away!
Congratulations on the finished bike,I've just showed my missus the before and after pics and she even said WOW👍 love the colour 👍👍
Many thanks Gary. Glad you've got a good missus too lol.
No pushrod tubes.👍
Indeed Larry - a blessing.
Blimey Angus,
My mate Dave Crawford had one of those. 🙄 where do you find them? 🤔 that really was the last one out of the preverbial door.
It was a sweetie to ride I remember 🤔
Hi Andy - thanks for the interest and comment. I was lucky and found this at a Birmingham brit bike dealer advertised through eBay. In a hell of a state but with matching numbers and the LH crankcase still in one piece. Still tuning up on the road but showing good potential as a fun ride. One of the first of the A70s (June 71) but yes the last "new"wish model to be listed - and then it wasn't really listed!
Runs nice and the carbs haven't been balanced yet either
Yes Thomas I was surprised too at this stage.
Semi chrome and paper towels will pull the yellow off the pipes, and keep The chrome shiny, The paper towels are the trick.
Thanks for the comment and interest. Never heard of that tips so will give it a try. Thanks again.
Many congratulations on a job well done . Do you intend to go after some of the other bikes of the "power set" now? I suppose 20+ bikes might need a bigger garage....
Thanks Stewart. Good question so you're getting to know me, and my now garage limitations! Seriously, we're short of a single - 250 or 500 I'm not fussed ;)
Hello. I need a cluch endcover assembly #19-7801 or 57-3705 do you have this part, what is the price? or do you hnow who can sell it to me? Thank you very much. I live in Spain.
Hi Carlos - thanks for making contact. I'm afraid I don't have one and that will be a hard part to find without buying a complete clutch. I've checked my suppliers and cannot find any in stock. The only chance is one I haven't yet tried and that is Andy Johnson at Sheffield British Motorcycles - contact details at their website sheffieldbritishmotorcycles.com. Hope that helps.
@@BSAPowerSet Thank you
@@carlosgayoso9303 Anytime Carlos. Also might be worth trying the TR3OC on their website as current triple owners usually have a stash of spares.
@@BSAPowerSet Please can you send me the contact address? Thank you
it will overheat
Hi David thanks for interest. Once I’d reset timing and took out for test, the pipes did not yellow/blue any further. Although there were other problems -see later vids.
Grey paint always looks like primer. Unfinished look.
Hi Frank and thanks for the comment and interest. The dove grey certainly polarises opinions.