Britbike forum Forums British Motorcycle specific Brands Bsa bulletin board Need help restoring my BSA C15 from 1959...

Hi everyone...
Im Sérgio Crespo, im from Portugal and i have a BSA C15 from 1959...

First, i dont know if im writing in the right place in the forum, im new here...
If im wrong, sorry, and please move me to the right place...

I need some help with my bike, please...


I need a a complete wiring harness for my bike, i also going to need the 2 switches, light and ignition...
In ebay i saw one that as the Lucas part number 54940666.
I have a copy of a book that says in the cover
"BSA
Spares
250 star
model C15
catalogue nº. 00-5105"

I dont realy know if this is a good book to search part numbers, but i dont find that Lucas part number i wrote above.

Can someone help me, so i can order a correct wiring harness...
Or if you know a better wiring harness that you recomend, please tell me...

Another thing, i searched on the web the right year of the bike by the number of the frame and engine...
The frame is C15-101**
The engine is C15-104**

In a few sites that i seached i didnt found any engine number C15-104.
In the first registry documents the numbers of frame and engine are correct...
Is here something wrong??

P.S.: Sorry for my English...

Best regards
Sérgio Crespo

I cannot help with the wiring information, but can recommend the book by Rupert Ratio on the unit singles. It is an excellent manual for working on the engines and is available on e-bay and Amazon.

Regards,

James.

+1 on the Rupert Ratio book

The engine number is a 59 also just built later on in the sequence, there were quality problems with the early C15 and yours could have been easily caught up in the factories rectification work and fitted with a slightly older engine. An enquiry to the VMCC would tell you if the bike left the factory with that engine or if it was changed later.

Rupert Ratios book covers the engine well but not the cycle parts, it does have details of how to rewire the bike to 12V to improve lighting etc.

Hi...

Thanks a lot for replys...

My bike is almost ready, only need the full wiring harness...
My bike is going to be 12V and not 6V.

As my bike is almost done, only need the book for the correct part number.

Does anyone have it and can see it for me??

Best regards
Sérgio Crespo

Your English is much better than my Portuguese. I do not have the spares list for the C15 but do have the Lucas electrics list. For 1959-61 C15 Star, they list: 54940666, cable harness so your book looks right. Cheers, Don

Hi Sergio,

Welcome to the BritBike forum.

In 1959 the C15 frame numbers started with C15-101 and went upwards.

In 1960 the C15 frame numbers started with C15-11101 and went upwards.

Your frame number is between these two numbers so it was made in 1959.

Next.

In 1959 the C15 engine numbers started with C15-101 and went upwards.

In 1960 the C15 engine numbers started with C15-11001 and went upwards.

Your engine number is between these two numbers so it was made in 1959.

I hope that this is clear enough for you.

Where abouts in Portugal do you live?

Beezageezauk.

Hi
the switches you need were fairly widely used by many british bike manufacturers around that era and are available as Lucas 88SA switches (Both for ignition and lights)
Depending on the harness you may also need the sockets that these plug into, I have seen some harnesses where the socket is part of the loom and some where the harness terminates in a cluster of bullet connectors to connest the socket too. The two sockets have different pin layouts to math their respective switches.
You may also find that the wiring harness also needs a sub- harness for the rear light and one for the dip/ horn switch
although these are fairly easily to manufacture
I would reccomend fitting an additional keyed switch as well as the original ignition switch as the original level of security on these bikes is not the most impressive ,the ignition keys are all identical and have a tendancy to fall out of the switch, loosing your key is not too much of a problem as the switch can easily be operated using a screwdriver.
enjoy your C15 I think they are awonderful little machine
yosemite

Correct part number for the wiring harness is 19-0743 (Lucas 54033117). If you cannot find OEM, britishwiring.com will make a very nice one for you at a reasonable price.

The switches are 88SA 34289A for lighting and 88SA 34427B for ignition. Paul Goff sells reproductions as do many others.

Thanks again for replys...


@Beezageezauk - I live 5kms from Porto.

@Don M. - You miss undesrstand me.
I didnt found in my book that part number you wrote above.
But if you say that is the right number for a full wiring harness, i think thats only i need to buy it...

Now, do i need to have some SPECIAL ATTENTION to choose the wiring harness from store to store??
Or they are all the same??
I will buy one that as the plugs for switches.
I think is best...

Best regards
Sérgio Crespo

@Alex - I dont have my book here with me right now, but i think that number is the one there...

Hi everyone...

I also asked for help on "BSA Owners Club Forum".

".... 00.5105 is the parts book for 1960 to 1962, but will do as the switches are the same as 1959.
1962 onwards the ignition switch changed to having a key.
the correct parts book for 1959 is 00.4095, the wiring harness is the same to 1964, but 1965 onwards wiring harness will do as well.

basically the light switches are the same as are the ignition switch up to 1962 when they then had keys. "

If some one here have the book it refers and want to help me, please...

As i have 2 diferent part numbers, i realy need help...
Does anyone here in forum as a bike like mine??

Best regards
Sérgio Crespo

Hi...

No one can help??
Please...

I have 2 part number for the wiring...
Wich one is the right one??

Best regards
Sérgio Crespo

In all probability if you ask for either number the same harness will show up, all the harnesses are made by one company in the UK and sold by distributors, good places to buy are Britishwiring in the US and TMS of Nottingham in the UK. Suggest you ring up TMS and tell them what you have and get them to sort you out. They do not list a harness for my Victor Special but I rang them up and bought a TR25W harness on their advice and it fitted perfectly.

http://www.tms-motorcycles.co.uk/store/products/list.asp?cat_id=232

Hi...

Thanks...
I sent an email yesterday to the TMS asking for help, still wayting for reply from them...

Best regards
Sérgio Crespo

Most email addresses posted on websites get infested by spam as the spammers trawl websites for valid email addresses, so they may not reply to your email. Give it a few days and then phone.

Oh...
I write and can read English.
But i dont speak English, :-(

PM me the questions if you do not get an answer by email and I will ring, I need to order a harness off them next week anyway. List the numbers you have and I will ask for the differences between both if any.

Thanks.
Lets way for tomorow, if they dont reply ill PM you...

Thanks a lot...

Best regards
Sérgio Crespo

Hi...

One step done, thanks to Kommando, lets go to the other step or two...

1- I need the chromed bezel for my speedo, asked some sellers on ebay and till now no one can help.
Does any one know where i can buy a chronometric bezel for my BSA C15 from 1959??

2- Since i have the harness, now i need the other electric parts so i can run in 12v.
Can some one help, because i dont realy know what to buy exacly...

Best regards
Sérgio Crespo

Hi there....

The bezel for my speedo is done...

Now i need some help to get this part:

19-0742 LU54520104 INNER HEADLAMP RIM

Can someone help me please...
Burtun bikes does have it in stock, do you know other dealers that might have it??

Please help...

Best regards
Sérgio Crespo

Try here: http://www.britishspares.com/Cart/Main/Home/change_currency/EUR
or http://www.britishonly.com

Hi...

Thanks for reply.

I recieved just now a negative reply from them.
As also from TMS...

So for now Burton Bike Bits, TMS and British Spares are out, they dont have it and dont know when they get it...

I will try the British Only right away...
Thanks...

Best regards
Sérgio Crespo

Try C and D autos. They should be able to help.

Thanks...

Mail sent...

Hope i get it...

Best regards
Sérgio Crespo

Hi everyone...

Im waiting that the rim arrives this wheek...
Burton was the only one who can get it...
Thanks to who tryed to help...

Now i need the brake and clutch handlebar levers...
Doherty ones are the best ones or i need to search for others??
A friend warned me that some levers are too thin, nothing like the original ones but he doesnt know if its the doherty ones...

Can someone help me here??

Best regards
Sérgio Crespo