Britbike forum Forums British Motorcycle specific Brands Bsa bulletin board B33 project

Ive changed the name of this thread from "ID" to "project" because it has been moved up the project to do pecking order







Could this be an FB on the frame? If so it looks like both frame and motor are 1958 right.... ? And I thought only gold star frames had the dented frame at the bottom

All pre-unit B & M singles had the notch in the frame to clear the oil pump. Since all were based on the pre-war M series, they retained that feature to the end.

All of the B series have the kink in the frame. Looks like you have a very early 1958 which will have the first alternator for electrics. That is a strange ‘F’!, but is what it should be.

The lack of a kink in the frame identifies the frame as having a Twin engine fitted.

Hi Wade----those are not very common in US--at least not in the north east IME.
I picked one up a few years ago in northern NJ.
It is a bit of a bitsa--the frame number is EB31 84** which I think means the frame is a 1956 or 1957---probably the latter.
The engine is GB33 5** which I think means it is a 1958.
It has alternator electrics and is fitted with a QPD primary belt drive.
I had a hell of a job getting an outer primary cover---one with the saucepan shape to cover the alternator--but eventually got one from Draganfly in UK.
HTH

It looks a bit like there wasn't an 'F' stamp available, requiring a bit of creativity.

The engine number is quite low and so is the frame number, so it would have been built very early in the model run. Wade will need aside trip at the BSA International to visit the VMCC library at Burton on Trent.

So its quite possibly a matching engine and frame.... Previous owner wasnt sure but said its the pair that came to him..... Ill have to layout all the boxes to see whats there and whats not.... No fenders and no seat is all I know for sure at this point.

VMCC library sounds great

I'm a member, but you don't have to be to visit the library and go through the records.
I've already lined up a day there with my list of engine and frame numbers while Cheryl goes off doing touristy things.
The head librarian seems a rather nice woman, and has been very helpful so far.

From the dispatch book

"The numbers match, it was dispatched from The BSA factory on 30/11/1957 to Bsa inc (I think) which is East coast. It’s model is stated as B33B"


What does B33B mean?? Special trim ....base model..?

Started mocking up the bike tonight... Went from parts in a box to looking like a bike pretty quickly. Missing some stuff like headlight , seat , fenders and Ill need new rims as these are rusty but I am pretty happy overall ... Photos tomorrow ....

After just a few hours Friday night .. From boxes to something that resembled a bike ... now is this enough to make a proper B33 or not enough original parts and to go cafe/custom style ..... That is the question ....

And why is there a distributor if its a Alternator model. And what attaches where the mag did ?

dizzy goes in the mag hole .
alternator charges a battery ... battery runs ignition and lights .

Thanks Quinten.... Im missing that cap on the primary cover too. Is that your bike...? Got a better photo showing the side stand lug. I seem to have the wrong one...
Any and all photos would be appreciated ... I work better from photos

Inner side stand lug coming my way from England.... A lucky find ... As long as its the right size .... Now I need to get the rest of the side stand...

i had '54 about 20 yrs ago and it cost me a small fortune to do.it was together,but missing about the same stuff as yours.it was my one and only b-33 experience.it probably had led a pretty hard life,but i'm not sure what is "normal' on those.mine had been used off road and was fairly thrashed. there were cracks in the case and the oil pump drive shaft that runs bushing-less in the case had worn the hell out of the case to the point that drive gear engagement was "iffy" at best. your lucky its not a magdyno unit as the dowels that register in the case had wallowed out the slots making proper gear alignment a drama.round dowel's in an aluminum slot are poor engineering after all the money spent and a definite lack of spares support (i was living in the u.s.) i swore i'd never own another. if i was driven to own another and just HAD to have one,i'd bite the bullet and buy an ABSAF motor,unless i knew where a truck load of spare parts are hidden as it was just totally worn out.i'm sure they have their adherants and advocates. i cut costs a bit by installing a belt drive, and while the down side it eliminated the cush drive,it wasnt going to be flogged anymore at least by me.pleasant to drive, UNPLEASANT to start,but it sure was a pretty thing!

Wade,
Rerminds me of my B50 which came in 3-4 boxes and a locked up motor. Had to mock it up just to see what was missing. I might do one again someday. It would have to be a big single, preferable a GS but they are not within easy reach anymore unless you your pockets flush with cash. Good luck with your project and thanks for posting all those pics. I found one of those up at Mid Ohio years ago but it was just missing too much for the price he was asking. I never understood why these bikes often have so many missing parts. Yours looks like most of it is there. Great find!

Mr Mike

Wade, It looks like they are denoting the main color after the model type. Some of the others on the list are marked "Blk" Looks like yours was entered by another person than normal, different handwriting. Might have thought that 'B' was enough to denote black,possibly a little lazy?

My tins are blue right now so If they are original .... I had not come to that conclusion yet... But I'll look closer .... Then blk as black and maybe "b" for blue??? Who knows ... I cant even read where mine was dispatched too.......

Found a gear change lever in my stash but noticed how bad one of my oil seal holders is . Anyone have an extra one ? Is it my imagination or do mine look different then the ones drawn in the parts book? One step forward one back....

Also What the difference between a STD 2 gear box and just a STD box?

Those oil seal holders are a unique 1 year old only type, used on Unit twins, maybe unit singles also.

Mine look more like ones for B44s . as in these

https://www.eBay.com/itm/97-2514-NOS-BSA-FORK-SEAL-HOLDERS-CHROME-B44-C15-B25-T215-TROPHY-VICTOR-441/362952860099?_trkparms=aid%3D111001%26algo%3DREC.SEED%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D225074%26meid%3Dfe831d54a3b34147b56a619b1a9ffc28%26pid%3D100675%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D15%26mehot%3Dnone%26sd%3D133020462289%26itm%3D362952860099%26pmt%3D0%26noa%3D1%26pg%3D2380057%26brand%3DBSA&_trksid=p2380057.c100675.m4236&_trkparms=pageci%3A5a5b6328-978e-11ea-a9d6-aa33957dd1ba%7Cparentrq%3A1e370faf1720a4e8660c6855ffd55686%7Ciid%3A1

I should probably have these
https://thebonnevilleshop.com/bsa-a...fork-seal-holders-pn-29-5310-or-41-5142/

Got a pair on CBS .... Just so happen to be on sale and they are a Britbike sponsor ..... WIN WIN !!!!