Hi All,

I am purchasing what I believe to be a 1967 BSA Lightning which is untitled. Can anyone confirm the frame number (listed below) as being correct for that year of bike?
Frame # A657A1653

The engine # is PC14433A65F Can anyone confirm what engine type and year this is?

Also, does anyone have any knowledge of how to obtain a pinkslip for this bike in Ontario Canada?

thanks in advance
Steve

Hi Steve,

I am afraid the numbers may not be as you expect.
I think the frame is possibly a 1967 Lightning and you may have misread the 4th character. Is it A65LA1653 ?
The frame number should be stamped on a flattened boss at the left front engine mount.

The engine should be out of a 1969 Firebird Scrambler. The left case will have the numbers on a raised flattened pad.

If the engine has an oil pressure switch then chances are the whole engine is a 1969 model.

Photos may help here.

I am sure the Canadian members here will sort you out with pink slip details.
All the best with the deal.

Thanks Kevin for the frame info I will check the number.
As for as the engine it does not have the oil pressure switch and also has the older style pressure relief valve.

Allan may well be correct in that the books show it as fitted to 1970 models. I know the early 1969 bikes had the older type but I thought the domed one was introduced during the year.
It is certainly a change point, or identifier, I would like to see mentioned later on.

Perhaps Allan can be our man on the inside. I know he has an interest in these details and he is in the UK.

Not many Brits are talking A65 at the moment.

The subject bike may have had a replacement left case. Do the digits under the engine on each case half match ?

The bike in question did have the the bottom end changed,from what I understand the original owner was on a cross country run from British Columbia to Toronto when the bottom end blew in Calagry thus the Firerbird cases.
I rechecked the frame numbers and they are A657A16353

That frame number has to be unusual. I am glad you discovered the extra digit as well.

There would be a few questions then..
No title, and a very unusual frame (VIN) number could make for problems down the track.

Could it be A65TA or A65HA even ?

Does it look like a 1967 frame ?
I know it may sound like a strange question but the '67 frame is different from the '66 and '69. I will have to think about the '68's.... same as 1967 I believe.

Is there a chance of some pics ? you can PM me if you wish.

Cheers.

Maybe its a '66 that someone added the 7 later. The '68 frame has the angle bracket for the condensers.

The reason I have not posted pictures of the bike is that I have not taken possesion of the bike yet,hopfully next week.
At this time the current owner is trying to check that the title is clear on the bike so we can move forward.It should be easier for him to do this than myself as his late uncle was the original owner.

Well I finally got possesion of the bike,so I cleaned the paint off the serial numbers for a closer look.
What I originally thought was a 7 is actually a L stamped upside down so now have the correct numbers for a 67 frame.

Thanks
Steve

Any chance of seeing a picture of the frame number?

Definitely out of the ordinary, certainly not out of the question.