The kind of man that every motorcyclist wishes he lived next door to. . . Extremely knowledgable and impeccably presented helpful videos. Well done man.
Absolutely awesome series! I owned a 1971 BSA. 650 Lightning back in the early 80’s. I never worked on my engine, but left it up to experienced mechanics. I wish I’d have kept that motorcycle and done a proper restoration.
I never owned or fancied a British motorcycle but I'll be watching the series of getting this lovely bike back into everyday use with interest, good kickoff video for the budget, plus the rest of the back catalogue of videos to watch, excellent!
BSA twins have always been my favorite motorcycles. I had a ‘70 650 Lightning in the late 80’s and had an older single carb 650 that I used for parts. I loved that bike so much! I’m looking for another one now. Great Video!! Thanks for Sharing!!!👍
Always nice to visit with an old experienced mechanic who knows his business well. These are the guys I want to take my vehicles too & pay good money for good work & advice. Thanks
I'm pleased you said most people. I don't have a car, never have, one of my six motorcycles is my everyday transport. Yes I know I'm an anachronism but I also know I'm not the only one. Nice to see an A50 for a change and low budget has been me for many years.
First bike i rebuilt from bits and pieces was a 1959 BSA Golden Flash.....then a 1966 Triumph 500 Tiger..after that i went to rebuilding/customizing British and American Motorcycles ..there's a lot of satisfaction in bringing these old girls back to beauty and life..Really enjoying your TH-cam Channel..Cheers.
I'm really enjoying this series. I rebuilt and put together a 69 lightning I got in boxes all taken apart ,back in the late 70s. That bike would scream but it wasn't a get away bike by any means,😁. It had a ritual you had to go through to start it. I never had to worry about anybody trying to steal her 😁 !!!
Thanks for your film and as you stated, when engines suffer blue smoke, it is very rarely rings! Most oil burn comes from Valve stem ware, or the stem seals have become brittle. New stem seals are cheaper than new guides, but never cut corners: if you need new "Guides". Nice one.
Hi, I've only just come across your channel and I have to say, brilliant - well done. A great channel with down to earth information that the average man with a shed can benefit from. Keep making them, please.
This has just come up on my recommendations (good play TH-cam algorithm!). Really good, clear explanations with no histrionics so I’ve subscribed and can’t wait to see all the other videos. Keep up the good work! 👍🏼
Hi from the world's most useless mechanic! The one and only knowledgeable comment I can contribute.... yes the off-side zip tool pouch was standard. I was, in my opinion, extremely fortunate to have owned a 1969 Thunderbolt right through the seventies, travelled thousands of miles on it, and it never missed a beat!! Happy Trails And Happy Days:-):-)
Enjoyed the video. I Have owned two '66 Royal Stars, they both had that tool pouch. The first one I had was only five years old when I bought it, the second one was approx thirty years old. I'm nearing 70 years old now & it was a bit of a struggle to get it on the stand so I sold it. I still have and use my Triumph Speed Twin I bought nearly fifty years ago, that one is easy to put on the stand! I like the "if it a'int broke don't fix it attitude." I'm currently working on a Bantam Cub & a Bantam sports to keep the Speed Twin company. Looking forward to the next video.
What a brilliant series and so interesting, esp. with all the handy tips & advice. I'm restoring an old Kawasaki and have been apprehensive about re-building the engine, as it to came dismantled. Even though this is for a different bike, this series has given me loads of confidence in re-building and hopefully actually getting it to work. Thanks.
I've got a 1970 royal star which I bought in 1982. Hasn't been on the road since 2001 so I think I need to get my finger out. Was wet sumping badly last time I rode it though. Good video too.
Mr. Mitchell, I enjoy watching your videos and learn a lot from them. They are detailed, yet the instructions quite simple and comprehensible to the aspiring home-mechanic. May I request you make a video/videos of restoration/maintenance of two-stroke motorcycles, please? It'll help viewers such as myself. I'm Indian and own a Yezdi 250 - an Indian derivative of the 2T Jawa Model 353/04. Thank you!
Nice video but I take exception to how you judge the valve guide wear. You're pulling the valve out well beyond where it ever operates and you wiggle it. Consider pulling it out to it's maximum operating "lift" and wiggle it at that location. If no wiggle, then it passes inspection and mucho dineros saved.
13:46 was definitely helpful, I need to check my TR6R that way. I look at the front wheel while waiting at stoplights and it seems to be wobbling forward and backward. I've been thinking that the bushings are worn. This was another great video. I recently picked up a numbers matching '70 T100C in Arizona for $750 as a project to play with. Rubber is all shot and a lot of the black paintwork has surface rust but it's very complete, engine turns freely and the chrome and fenders are fine. It was going to be a low budget fix that I would sand and rattle-can spray but as I go along I'm thinking, hmmm... powder coat!
Great video, in fact I've just subscribed ! - About twenty years ago I did exactly the same as you are doing now but with a US import 1970 Commando MK1 Roadster (long before the prices went through the roof !..) - I already had a MK3 Commando and wanted a British bike as a daily ride, luckily the Commando came up for sale (actually imported by a dealer in vintage Ford tractor parts..) Once I'd recommissioned it and made a few minor upgrades it was absolutely reliable, started easily and ran like a sewing machine every day, all year round and in all weathers for the eleven trouble-free years that I had it (on the original coil and points setup) with just routine maintenance and 1000 mile oil change intervals. The only cosmetic work I did was a thorough clean and a tank and side panel respray because the paint was in a very poor state. In fact that 1970 Norton was no trouble at all, much less grief than the low mileage 1996 BMW R850R I've just sold which really opened my eyes to the myth of German reliability. Great to see a British bike that is going to be used as they should be, keep up the good work !
Nasty flat spot in that front rim. Looks like pothole damage. We've all been there! I think that will vibe a bit at lower speeds. Might want to drop a new rim on or manipulate that one round again.
Thinking of having a look at a Lightening to make a offer on it if seems right. Other than normal checks, is there anything that I could look for on the 1967 bsa 650 lightening, that, that model might be known for. Been converted to elec ignition Great TH-cam posts & glad I found this as been off bikes for decades & enjoy the content 👍
Very nice. I enjoy watching old bikes being worked on and I like the way you are not just throwing cash at it but "making do" with what is "good enough". I never had a British twin ( B33 for me) but my brother had a Gold Flash. I was wondering if you ever found out why the engine had seized. And lastly etched into my brain is the sight of John "mooneyes" Cooper wrestling the A65 BSA around Clearways at Brands Hatch ( The Hutchinson Hundred which was run the wrong way round - Anti clockwise) The bike seemed to have a hinge in the middle , but then it was being ridden beyond it's capabilities.
Really enjoyable viewing, especially the work on the Trident, brought back fond memories, I was the proud owner of a T150 when I lived in the UK mid to late seventies, such fun to ride and that sound. Any chance of a Norton 750 Commando complete overhaul? Thank you and keep up the good work. Regards Pete
Were some 1967 models in BSA inventory titled as 1970? I have a 1970 Lightening, but the front end and brakes look like your 1967. I have the engine out and attempting to disassemble.
Thinking of having a look at a Lightening to make a offer on it if seems right. Other than normal checks, is there anything that I could look for on the 1967 bsa 650 lightening, that, that model might be known for. Been converted to elec ignition
i used to own a Lightning Clubman, the timing side main bearing bush kept working its way out and being eaten by the timing gears. never could get i get it to stay in place, 2000 / 3000 and i would start to find bronze in the oil
Very pleased to come across this channel - knowledgable, enthusiastic and down to Earth. Can I ask if you have any knowledge on the Royal Enfield 350 Bullet - I have had my 1997 bullet for seven years and not been able to start or ride it yet? Many thanks, Will.
Hey Will, hmmm; sorry to be vague, but it could be so many things. Might be worth sending it to a pro to get you back on the road, once it's going again it will give you so much more motivation. Especially if it's been sitting that long!!! (from Alex)
Interesting that Kawasaki continued with their W series 650s until 1974, which I think were pre-unit copies of the A10s. I suppose they kept them going because the Z900s were delayed until 1973 because Honda beat them to the post for a big four with the CB 750. We think of Brit bikes not modernizing and being left behind in this period, but not so simple..
i just fond your vidos i just pick up a65 650 1968 got it runing went to put it in gear and got a grind could it be a cluch ajusment or in gear cluster if you could give a idear thank you brian
![🎤 จับฉลากร้องเพลง x P’ #XXSIVK [EP.1] (2/2) เพื่อนจับได้คำไหน..ต้องร้องคำนั้น เริ่ม! 💓🎶 #MXFRUIT](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/1bJvMJXmeS4/mqdefault.jpg)
If you'd like to watch the entire series in a playlist, here's the link th-cam.com/play/PLLaaC3JrqSLAHvKe2Z5jSDY4Dp5EZqFOs.html
Love it, subscribed
@@jackjackson7577 Nice one Jack!
Fantastic, no rock and roll, no swearing, no posturing.......I want live near this guy..!!
The kind of man that every motorcyclist wishes he lived next door to. . . Extremely knowledgable and impeccably presented helpful videos. Well done man.
I’m about to restore my dad’s A65 Thunderbolt, and I thank you very much for this series. I’ll be watching this a second time now.
Good relaxed natural style...refreshing to listen to someone who doesn't insist on saying everything 3 times and adding loads of waffle.
Glad you enjoyed Del Cat, thanks for your nice comments :)
>0ppp9
Good video no posturing or bs . I really like this .
Glad you liked it! Thanks for your comments Andrew :)
Hi Dave , just discovered this channel and its about 1000 times better than Coles crap effort on tv .great stuff mate .bob GT 550 Suzuki
That triple in the background looks sweet. Love those.
Absolutely riveting watching the complete rebuild..nothing like a vintage British bike!!.
What a great comment! Thanks for saying!
TH-cam is short on good A65 rebuild instructions so well done, looking forward to watching the series.
More to come Cihelmrich, thanks for your nice comments!
Absolutely awesome series! I owned a 1971 BSA. 650 Lightning back in the early 80’s. I never worked on my engine, but left it up to experienced mechanics. I wish I’d have kept that motorcycle and done a proper restoration.
Hello again Racinchef, this series might take you back then!
I never owned or fancied a British motorcycle but I'll be watching the series of getting this lovely bike back into everyday use with interest, good kickoff video for the budget, plus the rest of the back catalogue of videos to watch, excellent!
Hi Mike, thanks for your nice comments, there's a fair few videos there for you to watch then. We're just finishing up on the entire series now!
Wow really enjoyed that, very good calm explanation....and good cameraman..
Thanks for watching Dave, nice of you to say :)
BSA twins have always been my favorite motorcycles. I had a ‘70 650 Lightning in the late 80’s and had an older single carb 650 that I used for parts. I loved that bike so much! I’m looking for another one now. Great Video!! Thanks for Sharing!!!👍
Always nice to visit with an old experienced mechanic who knows his business well. These are the guys I want to take my vehicles too & pay good money for good work & advice. Thanks
Right on Gasser! Thanks for checking in!
I'm pleased you said most people. I don't have a car, never have, one of my six motorcycles is my everyday transport. Yes I know I'm an anachronism but I also know I'm not the only one. Nice to see an A50 for a change and low budget has been me for many years.
First bike i rebuilt from bits and pieces was a 1959 BSA Golden Flash.....then a 1966 Triumph 500 Tiger..after that i went to rebuilding/customizing British and American Motorcycles ..there's a lot of satisfaction in bringing these old girls back to beauty and life..Really enjoying your TH-cam Channel..Cheers.
Very clear and understandable,nothing seams a problem, I will watch them all.
I'm really enjoying this series. I rebuilt and put together a 69 lightning I got in boxes all taken apart ,back in the late 70s. That bike would scream but it wasn't a get away bike by any means,😁. It had a ritual you had to go through to start it. I never had to worry about anybody trying to steal her 😁 !!!
Brings back memories. I had a 67 BSA Lightning. Nice bike!
Nice one Nicholas, thanks for checking in :)
Good video, good rythm, good pointers and clear explanations. Good show, thanks.
Thank you The East Man, appreciate your comments :)
Very helpful video no rambling on straight to the point love it, need to start my 65 build soon after an a7 and goldie👌
Thanks for your nice comments and watching our videos :)
Wow! I am mechanically inclined but have been a little apprehensive of tearing down my" 71" A65. I think I've got it now thanks to you.
Very refreshing to hear someone who does not talk like an American and say very very very.
Almost bought three old triumphs but passed . Too much work . Love them
Very interesting regarding what is serviceable, nice informative video, V Good 👍
Love ❤️ the British twins and singles 4stroke and 2stroke
Thanks for your film and as you stated, when engines suffer blue smoke, it is very rarely rings! Most oil burn comes from Valve stem ware, or
the stem seals have become brittle. New stem seals are cheaper than new guides, but never cut corners: if you need new "Guides". Nice one.
Another great workshop vid. Keep them coming 👍
Thanks, will do!
Hi, I've only just come across your channel and I have to say, brilliant - well done. A great channel with down to earth information that the average man with a shed can benefit from. Keep making them, please.
What a nice comment Andrew, thank you, stay tuned :)
Enjoyed your straight forward commentary and it's obvious you know what needs to be done. I appreciate the lack of B.S.
Thanks for your nice comments Terry
This has just come up on my recommendations (good play TH-cam algorithm!). Really good, clear explanations with no histrionics so I’ve subscribed and can’t wait to see all the other videos. Keep up the good work! 👍🏼
Welcome aboard Simon :)
Nice to see a realistic cost effective rebuild, not a we’re going to restore this bike by replacing it with another one.
Thanks for your nice feedback Pie Arm, glad you liked the video :)
Hi from the world's most useless mechanic! The one and only knowledgeable comment I can contribute.... yes the off-side zip tool pouch was standard. I was, in my opinion, extremely fortunate to have owned a 1969 Thunderbolt right through the seventies, travelled thousands of miles on it, and it never missed a beat!! Happy Trails And Happy Days:-):-)
Thanks for sharing that English Pete :)
Enjoyed the video. I Have owned two '66 Royal Stars, they both had that tool pouch. The first one I had was only five years old when I bought it, the second one was approx thirty years old.
I'm nearing 70 years old now & it was a bit of a struggle to get it on the stand so I sold it. I still have and use my Triumph Speed Twin I bought nearly fifty years ago, that one is easy to put on the stand! I like the "if it a'int broke don't fix it attitude." I'm currently working on a Bantam Cub & a Bantam sports to keep the Speed Twin company. Looking forward to the next video.
Right on Andrew, thanks for the detail! The second video of the series is out now by the way. Thanks for watching and your nice comments :)
Really good mate. Good presentation, no bullshi*. Must run my A10 SR soon!
What a brilliant series and so interesting, esp. with all the handy tips & advice. I'm restoring an old Kawasaki and have been apprehensive about re-building the engine, as it to came dismantled. Even though this is for a different bike, this series has given me loads of confidence in re-building and hopefully actually getting it to work. Thanks.
Like all the videos, not over sizing dose save a lot on the build and if you have to later on you don't have to worry about it being to far over.
Great watch, don't have a classic bike or any intention to buy one but I love this kind of thing, really interesting and well presented.
Thanks for watching Mark and thanks for the nice comments :)
A pleasure to watch. Thank you for the walk through.
Glad you enjoyed it Michael, thanks for saying!
Brilliant really enjoying these little videos, learning lots.. thanks for showing your work..😊
Thank you Eddie!
I've got a 1970 royal star which I bought in 1982. Hasn't been on the road since 2001 so I think I need to get my finger out. Was wet sumping badly last time I rode it though.
Good video too.
Nice one David, good luck with the motivation :)
Sound advice Dave. Looking forward to the next video.
More to come Chris, stay tuned!
Lovely Hurricane in the background I actually saw 2 in different places in Australia in the 1970s , sadly one caught fire and wasn't too good
Great video. I have a BSA A50, 1969
Really enjoying these videos! Love the workshop 👍🏻
Glad you like them Tom, thanks for the feedback!
'glands' ?, it's 'lands' between the rings. Good vids none the less, thanks.
Wondered if anyone else knew the difference . Brings questions to my mind.
Fantastic! Real world stuff!
Thanks for watching Marcquee6 :)
Mr. Mitchell, I enjoy watching your videos and learn a lot from them. They are detailed, yet the instructions quite simple and comprehensible to the aspiring home-mechanic. May I request you make a video/videos of restoration/maintenance of two-stroke motorcycles, please? It'll help viewers such as myself. I'm Indian and own a Yezdi 250 - an Indian derivative of the 2T Jawa Model 353/04. Thank you!
I would love to see you work on or at least feature a 67 Mark 4 special. Thank you.
Brilliant man!
Thanks for you nice comments Andrew and thanks for watching!
Nice video but I take exception to how you judge the valve guide wear. You're pulling the valve out well beyond where it ever operates and you wiggle it. Consider pulling it out to it's maximum operating "lift" and wiggle it at that location. If no wiggle, then it passes inspection and mucho dineros saved.
Pleased to find this channel. Pity I still don’t have my A 65 spitfire.
Excellent. Very enjoyable.
Nice one Malc! Thanks for watching :)
Love your videos/Garry /Ireland
Thank you Garry, very nice of you to say, thanks for watching!
13:46 was definitely helpful, I need to check my TR6R that way. I look at the front wheel while waiting at stoplights and it seems to be wobbling forward and backward. I've been thinking that the bushings are worn.
This was another great video. I recently picked up a numbers matching '70 T100C in Arizona for $750 as a project to play with. Rubber is all shot and a lot of the black paintwork has surface rust but it's very complete, engine turns freely and the chrome and fenders are fine. It was going to be a low budget fix that I would sand and rattle-can spray but as I go along I'm thinking, hmmm... powder coat!
Very enjoyable as usual Dave. Keep them coming! ...
Nice one Derek, thanks for watching :)
Great video, in fact I've just subscribed ! - About twenty years ago I did exactly the same as you are doing now but with a US import 1970 Commando MK1 Roadster (long before the prices went through the roof !..) - I already had a MK3 Commando and wanted a British bike as a daily ride, luckily the Commando came up for sale (actually imported by a dealer in vintage Ford tractor parts..) Once I'd recommissioned it and made a few minor upgrades it was absolutely reliable, started easily and ran like a sewing machine every day, all year round and in all weathers for the eleven trouble-free years that I had it (on the original coil and points setup) with just routine maintenance and 1000 mile oil change intervals. The only cosmetic work I did was a thorough clean and a tank and side panel respray because the paint was in a very poor state. In fact that 1970 Norton was no trouble at all, much less grief than the low mileage 1996 BMW R850R I've just sold which really opened my eyes to the myth of German reliability. Great to see a British bike that is going to be used as they should be, keep up the good work !
Great video.
Thank you for your nice comments Michael :)
Loved this mate! Real calm and very informative! Hanging on for the day I’ve got space to do a project of my own! Looking forward to seeing more 👍🏼
Thanks Jazznoodles, nice of you to say, there's a whole series there waiting for you by the way!
@@TheClassicMotorcycleChannel I’m on episode 9 haha! Favourite channel for sure. Looking forward to seeing more! 🛠⚙️🔩
I would have enjoyed watching you install the crankshaft assembly. Seems I got it wrong on my 1965 Lightning as a young man and always wondered how.
Hi James, thanks for your suggestion, they help us build a more interesting channel in future videos :)
I like to clean out/blast away any carbon around the valve guides before removal to prevent scoring .
Nasty flat spot in that front rim. Looks like pothole damage. We've all been there! I think that will vibe a bit at lower speeds. Might want to drop a new rim on or manipulate that one round again.
The pre unit Triumph or BSA just look in a class of there own .
Good video Dave, just subscribed, keep giving the "hints & tips"
Welcome aboard Steve, nice one!
Thinking of having a look at a Lightening to make a offer on it if seems right.
Other than normal checks, is there anything that I could look for on the 1967 bsa 650 lightening, that, that model might be known for. Been converted to elec ignition
Great TH-cam posts & glad I found this as been off bikes for decades & enjoy the content 👍
Top info video
Thanks John!
You have a new subscriber. Great content and style. Dean in Oxfordshire.
Thanks for watching Dean, stay tuned, more to come!
Very nice. I enjoy watching old bikes being worked on and I like the way you are not just throwing cash at it but "making do" with what is "good enough". I never had a British twin ( B33 for me) but my brother had a Gold Flash. I was wondering if you ever found out why the engine had seized. And lastly etched into my brain is the sight of John "mooneyes" Cooper wrestling the A65 BSA around Clearways at Brands Hatch ( The Hutchinson Hundred which was run the wrong way round - Anti clockwise) The bike seemed to have a hinge in the middle , but then it was being ridden beyond it's capabilities.
You know your stuff.
Just found your videos, great style nice and very informative. Great 👍🏼
Thanks Anth, stay tuned :)
Another jewel👍🏻
Thank you Carlos :)
Great video! :)
Thanks John!
Had 2 A7's one standard an one a shooting star also had a DBD34 Gold star and an A10
Really enjoyable viewing, especially the work on the Trident, brought back fond memories, I was the proud owner of a T150 when I lived in the UK mid to late seventies, such fun to ride and that sound. Any chance of a Norton 750 Commando complete overhaul?
Thank you and keep up the good work.
Regards
Pete
Can you do a complete front fork rebuild on a 1968 BSA a65l....Thanks you; enjoy your videos.
Thanks...Reece
Yes, the tool pouch is original.
Were some 1967 models in BSA inventory titled as 1970?
I have a 1970 Lightening, but the front end and brakes look like your 1967.
I have the engine out and attempting to disassemble.
Thinking of having a look at a Lightening to make a offer on it if seems right.
Other than normal checks, is there anything that I could look for on the 1967 bsa 650 lightening, that, that model might be known for. Been converted to elec ignition
i used to own a Lightning Clubman, the timing side main bearing bush kept working its way out and being eaten by the timing gears. never could get i get it to stay in place, 2000 / 3000 and i would start to find bronze in the oil
Great video, be careful not to squirt WD40 0n any rubber as it rots it, I found that out :-(
Very pleased to come across this channel - knowledgable, enthusiastic and down to Earth.
Can I ask if you have any knowledge on the Royal Enfield 350 Bullet - I have had my 1997 bullet for seven years and not been able to start or ride it yet?
Many thanks, Will.
Hey Will, hmmm; sorry to be vague, but it could be so many things. Might be worth sending it to a pro to get you back on the road, once it's going again it will give you so much more motivation. Especially if it's been sitting that long!!! (from Alex)
No problem - I understand, but thank you for your reply anyway.
Will.
Sorry I like your work mate
That makes sense now Tony, thanks for confirming :)
You don't see enough classic British bikes on the road surely people aren't just looking at them in the shed ,garage im out on mine every chance I get
How much end float is exceptable on the layshaft when back in the cases cheers
please can you let me know how much compression must have each cylinder of the1967 bsa THUNDERBOLT 650cc?
Interesting that Kawasaki continued with their W series 650s until 1974, which I think were pre-unit copies of the A10s. I suppose they kept them going because the Z900s were delayed until 1973 because Honda beat them to the post for a big four with the CB 750. We think of Brit bikes not modernizing and being left behind in this period, but not so simple..
Like your mate!
Nice bike! As you said the carburration looked ok, and I know it's not a two stroke, have you found any reason for the seizure?
What engine stand is that? I've had a real hard time finding a bench top one like that.
Would love to know what to do with an old aluminium cylinder head of an S7.
Where can i get a sidestand lug? Mines broken off.
Would you not line the guides instead of repacing them? Can you align the new guides and have enough meat on the existing seats to o it?
Hi Kev, we chose to replace them, stay tuned, we show that in a few episodes along :)
Man those cases cleaned up well! Did you media blast them?
No, that was all by hand. I don't think Dave even took them off the bike! Alex
i just fond your vidos i just pick up a65 650 1968 got it runing went to put it in gear and got a grind could it be a cluch ajusment or in gear cluster if you could give a idear thank you brian
The A65 was probably always recreational. Most bike riders used much smaller and cheaper machines.
Piston to bore clearance measured??
Great video! When you talk about grease what kind of grease you mean?
Bearing grease
Lands not glands 😉
I want to modify my bike and I don't know if I can help please I want a classic