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Mar 11th, 2023
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Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 2,241 Likes: 9
Life member
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Life member
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 2,241 Likes: 9 |
Looks just like mine, even the sidepanel decals! ![[Linked Image]](http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c58/dbeezer/Lightning/DSC00511.jpg) Don in Nipomo
1956 Zundapp KS601EL
1960 Greeves Scottish/Hawkstone Velorex 560
1963 BSA Gold Star Spitfire
1964 Triumph T20SM
1965 BSA C15T
1966 BSA VE
1968 Bonham Tote Gote
1969 BSA VS
1970 BSA A65L (with a "Y")
1972 Husqvarna 450 WR
1986 Yamaha TT 225
1987 BMW K75C
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Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 16
Britbike forum member
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Britbike forum member
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 16 |
Very smart looking lightning!!!!
Did the 1970 lightning only come in blue?
Were there differences in colour for UK or US models?
I also have a 1970 lightning but it's a long way away from painting just yet....
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Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 14,911 Likes: 502
Well'ard Rocker
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Well'ard Rocker
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 14,911 Likes: 502 |
Tell me seriously, is this really happening in "real time"? If you started this work when you started posting, this is all happening over the course of 3 or 4 weeks?
This kind of restoration usually takes the most determined and consistent restorers many MONTHS to do, and a year or two for most of us .... ?
Lannis No, this is not happening in real time. If you had read the earlier postings on this thread then you would seen that this restoration was started in early August. Much of the painting and motor overhaul was contracted out so not all of my labor hours are in this project. This is not my first restoration, but these days I leave the really hard work (e.g., the guts of the motor) to the experts. I have several good craftsman that I rely on for such projects, including master British motorcycle mechanic Jack Geoghegan of Deer Park Cycle in Eldersburg MD and master mechanic, painter, and artist John Owings of Custom Cycle Studio LLC in VA. Without them this project would have taken much longer to happen. Still amazing. That would have taken me years ..... Lannis
Patriotism is supporting your country all of the time and your government when it deserves it.
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Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 1,678 Likes: 16
Britbike forum member
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Britbike forum member
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 1,678 Likes: 16 |
That is just fantastic. Hope you enjoy riding it. You are going to make some new friends every time you park it.
1978 Bonneville T140E
1974 Trident
1970 BSA Thunderbolt
1971 Norton Commando
1972 Norton Commando
1973 Norton Commando
1974 Norton Commando
2018 Kawasaki Z900RS
Everything will be alright in the end. If its not alright, its not the end.
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Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 7,679 Likes: 271
Britbike forum member
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Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 7,679 Likes: 271 |
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Posts: 361
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Would it not be easier to put the oil in via the timing plug hole, rather than taking the tank and rocker cover off and putting it in the rocker box? The oil will only run to the bottom of the engine anyway? Or am I missing something here?
Dave
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Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 7,897 Likes: 210
Britbike forum member
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Britbike forum member
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 7,897 Likes: 210 |
Jon W.
1957 6T Thunderbird 650
1968 T100R Daytona 500
1971 TR6R Tiger 650
1970 BSA A65F 650
1955 Tiger 100 - Project
1971 BSA A65 650 - Project
1972 Norton Commando 750 "Combat"
"Charlie don't surf"
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Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 192 Likes: 8
Britbike forum member
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Britbike forum member
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 192 Likes: 8 |
YESSSS.....it's alive!
You've certainly brought it a loooong way from the sorry state in which you found it.
Here's hoping it rewards you with many miles of "spontaneous grinning" as mine has always done for me.
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Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 16
Britbike forum member
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Britbike forum member
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As a regular follower of this thread I can say i'm genuinely excited for you.....
Can you post a video of it running? I'd love to hear it start up and settle down to fast idle.
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Joined: May 2013
Posts: 9,043 Likes: 314
Britbike forum member
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Britbike forum member
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 9,043 Likes: 314 |
Life is stressful enough without getting upset over the little things...
Now lets all have a beer!
68’ A65 Lightning “clubman”
71’ A65 823 Thunderbolt (now rebuilt)
67’ D10 sportsman (undergoing restoration)
68’ D14 trials (undergoing transformation)
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Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 52
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Britbike forum member
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Posts: 52 |
Been following this rebuild great to seeit runs and rides good
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Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 172 Likes: 1
Britbike forum member
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Britbike forum member
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 172 Likes: 1 |
What you say is exactly correct. Another small piece of transport history saved from the dump and that's got to be worth more than just the cost of restoration to you.
Great job.
What's this thread?
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Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 2,194 Likes: 30
Britbike forum member
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Britbike forum member
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 2,194 Likes: 30 |
You are making a mistake keeping your bike idling after first start. Start riding as soon as possible and give her same much needed revs under pressure  .
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Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 2,194 Likes: 30
Britbike forum member
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Britbike forum member
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 2,194 Likes: 30 |
Just after this video ended and the motor was warmed up to the point I could not touch the rocker cover I took the bike on the road, putting load on the motor but not being too aggressive. I've done this break-in process before with Triumphs and Harleys, more than once, so give me some credit.
I give you a lot of credit, repeating how great this rebuild was doesn't improve anything or help you, besides everybody else told you this already. So what I intend to do is tell you little tips which worked for me during the years and helped to make a great ride from my A65, however it isn't even close to yours in looks department . One of this tips was to load the engine before setting the carbs, not after - unfortunately I am dismantling a triple in the moment and got late with this comment.
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or 
![[Linked Image]](http://s25.photobucket.com/user/dbeezer/media/Lightning/DSC00511.jpg.html)
![[Linked Image from i.postimg.cc]](https://i.postimg.cc/bJMXsBP5/willeysmall.jpg)
![[Linked Image]](http://i1311.photobucket.com/albums/s678/J_Gordon_Leishman/th_BSAfirststart_zps7a61930e.jpg)
![[Linked Image]](http://i1311.photobucket.com/albums/s678/J_Gordon_Leishman/th_BSAfirstkick_zps07fe5bd3.jpg)
