Fixing up a '68 BSA B25 Starfire - Page 8

elite-less · 11-12-2011, 09:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 22manyrides

.

Why not flip the maul and split the cases at the same time....

Airhead Wrangler · 11-12-2011, 09:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dogmantra

Had a doctor appointment with the wife yesterday. This morning the whole fam went out to breakfast to open the envelope and reveal the news. Everything is perfect except the lack of a ding-a-ling.

It looks like I'll be on a stumble sprint to get this BSA done by 3/31/12.

Congrats on the news! Is that the bluestar? I'd kill for breakfast there. I miss seattle.

..not the weather, but everything else.

dogmantra · 11-12-2011, 06:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by airhead wrangler

you win picture of the week. Hands down.

+1!

dogmantra · 11-12-2011, 06:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Airhead Wrangler

Congrats on the news! Is that the bluestar? I'd kill for breakfast there. I miss seattle.

..not the weather, but everything else.

No, not the Blue Star (looove the Blue Star) but the 5 Spot up on Queen Anne. They are featuring Philly this month. Meh.

You aren't missing anything weather wise these days. Rain, hail, and thunder yesterday! Good times. How's Mexi?

dogmantra · 11-12-2011, 06:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jva118

If you end up needing a cylinder let me know I have an old one laying around. I am unsure of whether it will need boring or not. It looks ok, just dirty. Just pm me if you need it. And congratulations on the new addition.

Quote:

Originally Posted by jva118

And on the piston front. I have the number of a bsa guy in Knoxville, Tn that had a piston last time I spoke to him. Hes one of those guys that has what you need, but doesnt negotiate. He will tell you a price and thats it. Most times its not too bad though. Like I said earlier I found a cylinder already bored and a NOS matching piston for $140 on ebay. It was a deal. Also, I bought some cork gaskets from a seller in the UK off of ebay. A primary , cylinder base, and a rocker box. They help alot with the typical bsa leaks.

I'll drop you a note at the end of next week if I can't manage to cross paths with the local guy here. I gotta find someone to look at this cylinder in the next few days. Personally I think it's pretty good but I don't have much to compare it to and I'd hate to work with it to find out later that it's not good. Even with as easy as this top end it I'd rather not have to redo anything if I can avoid it.

dogmantra · 11-12-2011, 07:48 PM

Had a few minutes today so I went out and popped the piston off.

Here are the things I observed:

There is just a minute amount of horizontal play on the connecting rod
Pumping the kickstart lever cycles the crank beautifully, rolls like butter
There is a sensation of gears working as the kickstart moves up and down. Almost like a cat purring. I assume that indicates nothing unusual and/or that I am desperately in need of some new similes.
There is no rust or dirt at all inside. In fact, it looks awesome. As the crank rolls around it is still swarthed in fresh, clean oil. I am happy the PO was telling the truth when he said he kept it oiled. For a bike not run in 32 years this is pretty amazing:

Houseoffubar · 11-12-2011, 07:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elite-less

.

Why not flip the maul and split the cases at the same time....

That there almost made me cry laughing

Houseoffubar · 11-12-2011, 08:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dogmantra

I'll drop you a note at the end of next week if I can't manage to cross paths with the local guy here. I gotta find someone to look at this cylinder in the next few days. Personally I think it's pretty good but I don't have much to compare it to and I'd hate to work with it to find out later that it's not good. Even with as easy as this top end it I'd rather not have to redo anything if I can avoid it.

I think I mentioned it before, but Dale at the Prop Shop in Mukilteo does fantastic cylinder boring, and honing. Very high quality work, friendly, and cheap too! I can't recommend him enough, if you need measurements, or machine work!

Congrats on the young lady, and to your missus, I'm sure she thinks there's a few too many ding a lings around the house

BTW totally out of beer, and not done with your tank, so I cant ask for more....any suggestions?

Houseoffubar · 11-12-2011, 08:06 PM

Sorry one more......

You gotta run some better oil than you have been, that stuff is just not cutting it!

dogmantra · 11-12-2011, 08:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Houseoffubar

I think I mentioned it before, but Dale at the Prop Shop in Mukilteo does fantastic cylinder boring, and honing. Very high quality work, friendly, and cheap too! I can't recommend him enough, if you need measurements, or machine work!

Congrats on the young lady, and to your missus, I'm sure she thinks there's a few too many ding a lings around the house

BTW totally out of beer, and not done with your tank, so I cant ask for more....any suggestions?

Fret not HoF, the beer fairy will be up your way in a few days with a nice array of various frosties. If you can't wait until next weekend but find yourself in the north Seattle area let me know! A bar-based beer raid may be in order.

I jotted down Dale's info. Recommendations are good.

Oh yeah, also:my buddy who cat boats wants to talk with you about his rig and what you might be able to do to improve it.

2manyrides · 11-14-2011, 12:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elite-less

.

Why not flip the maul and split the cases at the same time....

I did get a split in the bottom of the liner as one photo shows...
The goal was to save the jug as all fins were good. Did't care about the cases cause I have many, but then someone mentioned a reason for saving them and I did.
The reason is you cut a window in them so you can inspect what's going on with the tranny when you're blueprinting the transmission.

But I know you're jesting me...

dogmantra · 11-17-2011, 06:45 PM

Hoping to catch a break. Looks like I may not be so lucky. When I got my BSA the spark plug was seized and sheared off. All I had to work with was the threaded stud. I drilled out the core the other day after week of many many squirts of mystery oil. After removing the core I Dremeled two notches in the stud and tried to back it out with an extra wide flat head screwdriver but it wouldn't budge.

Today I went after it with a few drill bits and extractors but the thing will NOT move. Here is what I'm looking at:

The extractor had a lot of bite but it just winds in tight and the stud won't break free. I was working by hand tonight as my big boy drill is at school. I'll bring that home tomorrow and wrack it up but I'm worried that all the extractor is doing is burrowing in and tightening the whole thing. I have an extractor that is one size larger that I will try as well, but I'm not feeling too optimistic.

I'm not too hopped up on drilling it out by hand but I'm realizing that may be an option I have to pursue. So, questions:

Has anyone used a helicoil on their plug? I'm dubious...
Any other sexy tips or tricks I should try?

YZman · 11-18-2011, 05:47 AM

Heat. Get yourself one of those small map gas handheld bottle torchs and carefully heat the head. It is aluminum and will expand like crazy. That should help release its grasp on the plug. That and soak the crap out of that plug with some good penatrating oil. I use PB Blaster. I bought several cans and soaked the crap out of that bike for a good month every few days before I ever layed a wrench to it.

Just make sure most of the Penetrating oil is off the head before you heat it.. Dont want you bursting into flames

Oh and get yourself a set of these.

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_1...=1321624136745

Another thought is you might be able to put the head in your wifes oven and heat it up to 350deg or so. That might do it as well. Just make sure she isnt around when you try this....or if she is... we need pictures

MacNoob · 11-18-2011, 07:54 AM

Or you can just drill out the plug with bigger and bigger drills until you have just a tiny thin bit left in the threads, then squeeze it with vise grips and turn it out. Or possibly just pick the bits out of the thread with a pick. And there's nothing at all wrong with a threaded spark plug insert other than the cost of insert and tool.

Houseoffubar · 11-18-2011, 09:36 AM

Good advice all, one more option....Drop by, and I'll weld the inside of the drilled out plug. The weld contracts, pulling it free of the head. Works great for removing stubborn bearings, never tried it on a spark plug, and I love an experiment!

Helicoils on sparkplugs=magic! No more vague, "is it tightening"??? feeling again!

11-12-2011, 07:48 PM	#111
dogmantra ^OP the White Shadow Joined: Feb 2008 Location: Seattle Oddometer: 347	First Peek Inside Had a few minutes today so I went out and popped the piston off. Here are the things I observed: There is just a minute amount of horizontal play on the connecting rod Pumping the kickstart lever cycles the crank beautifully, rolls like butter There is a sensation of gears working as the kickstart moves up and down. Almost like a cat purring. I assume that indicates nothing unusual and/or that I am desperately in need of some new similes. There is no rust or dirt at all inside. In fact, it looks awesome. As the crank rolls around it is still swarthed in fresh, clean oil. I am happy the PO was telling the truth when he said he kept it oiled. For a bike not run in 32 years this is pretty amazing: __________________ "Being shot out of a cannon will always be better than being squeezed out of a tube. That is why God made fast motorcycles, Bubba...." -Hunter S. Thompson 1968 BSA B-25 Starfire

11-12-2011, 08:06 PM	#114
Houseoffubar fine beer sampler Joined: Dec 2010 Location: Bothell, Washington Oddometer: 1,528	Sorry one more...... You gotta run some better oil than you have been, that stuff is just not cutting it! __________________ Performance Welding Service 1978 R100/7 Build thread 1915 Boardtrack racer replica (Electric Powered) Lots of bicycles Hemp: The strongest natural fiber in the world, and the most nutritious plant on earth.....why is this illegal again?

11-17-2011, 06:45 PM	#117
dogmantra ^OP the White Shadow Joined: Feb 2008 Location: Seattle Oddometer: 347	Aaah, c'mon! Hoping to catch a break. Looks like I may not be so lucky. When I got my BSA the spark plug was seized and sheared off. All I had to work with was the threaded stud. I drilled out the core the other day after week of many many squirts of mystery oil. After removing the core I Dremeled two notches in the stud and tried to back it out with an extra wide flat head screwdriver but it wouldn't budge. Today I went after it with a few drill bits and extractors but the thing will NOT move. Here is what I'm looking at: The extractor had a lot of bite but it just winds in tight and the stud won't break free. I was working by hand tonight as my big boy drill is at school. I'll bring that home tomorrow and wrack it up but I'm worried that all the extractor is doing is burrowing in and tightening the whole thing. I have an extractor that is one size larger that I will try as well, but I'm not feeling too optimistic. I'm not too hopped up on drilling it out by hand but I'm realizing that may be an option I have to pursue. So, questions: Has anyone used a helicoil on their plug? I'm dubious... Any other sexy tips or tricks I should try? __________________ "Being shot out of a cannon will always be better than being squeezed out of a tube. That is why God made fast motorcycles, Bubba...." -Hunter S. Thompson 1968 BSA B-25 Starfire

11-18-2011, 09:36 AM	#120
Houseoffubar fine beer sampler Joined: Dec 2010 Location: Bothell, Washington Oddometer: 1,528	Good advice all, one more option....Drop by, and I'll weld the inside of the drilled out plug. The weld contracts, pulling it free of the head. Works great for removing stubborn bearings, never tried it on a spark plug, and I love an experiment! Helicoils on sparkplugs=magic! No more vague, "is it tightening"??? feeling again! __________________ Performance Welding Service 1978 R100/7 Build thread 1915 Boardtrack racer replica (Electric Powered) Lots of bicycles Hemp: The strongest natural fiber in the world, and the most nutritious plant on earth.....why is this illegal again?

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11-18-2011, 05:47 AM	#118
YZman Bouncing off Trees Joined: May 2006 Location: Meeeechigan Oddometer: 1,100	Heat. Get yourself one of those small map gas handheld bottle torchs and carefully heat the head. It is aluminum and will expand like crazy. That should help release its grasp on the plug. That and soak the crap out of that plug with some good penatrating oil. I use PB Blaster. I bought several cans and soaked the crap out of that bike for a good month every few days before I ever layed a wrench to it. Just make sure most of the Penetrating oil is off the head before you heat it.. Dont want you bursting into flames Oh and get yourself a set of these. http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_1...=1321624136745 Another thought is you might be able to put the head in your wifes oven and heat it up to 350deg or so. That might do it as well. Just make sure she isnt around when you try this....or if she is... we need pictures

11-18-2011, 07:54 AM	#119
MacNoob Beastly Adventurer Joined: Jun 2010 Location: The mosquito-y Center of Canada Oddometer: 1,007	Or you can just drill out the plug with bigger and bigger drills until you have just a tiny thin bit left in the threads, then squeeze it with vise grips and turn it out. Or possibly just pick the bits out of the thread with a pick. And there's nothing at all wrong with a threaded spark plug insert other than the cost of insert and tool.