Britbike forum Forums British Motorcycle specific Brands Bsa bulletin board A65 Alloy barrel

Hi

Been a while since I first mentioned I was to manufacture an alloy barrel for the A65, well finally made it.
The photo shows a 79mm bore version (not yet Nikasil coated), but can be bored to suit your requirements as with the stroke. The original weighed in at 9.3kg, this one is 3.5kg.
It comes complete with a set of 12.9 grade bolt and studs which are 3/8 UNF top thread.
In my original post I estimated them around 740 GBP. Due to jig and tooling changes I can sell these for 700 GBP plus P/P (no VAT).
I plan to cast another batch in January, if interested or want further information/photo's e-mail me [email protected]

http://i1314.photobucket.com/albums/t565/ecosse_lynx/79mmbarrelrearview_zpsb05b3c14.jpg

look nice..congrats and good luck with them.
joe

Time to save up my nickles and dimes...

They look really nice John, have you tested a set yet? I just had my alloy cyl re-plated and reduced the piston to bore clearance to .002" using Ed V's 79.5mm B44 forged pistons. I've only done 60 miles or so on them but they seem good so far, the thing has loads of power. I weighed my cyls at 9lb 11oz with the outer head studs. I think a big bore alloy cyl with plated bores is such an excellent upgrade for an A65.
Ed V's forged B44 pistons are good esp for long stroke motors because of the shortness of the skirt and where it is. People building long stroke motors need to check where the skirt is at BDC because some piston designs can have it half out the bottom of the bore.

Hi Mark

Not managed to test a set yet. Ordered pistons for Ed and should arrive today/tomorrow.
Know what you mean about the pistons, years ago I had a Norton crank in an engine and ended up with little or nothing below the gudgon pin. I'll e-mail you some other photo's and keep you posted.

These look very nice.
What is the block height and what kind of crank are you recommending?
Is that a breather on the rocker cover?

Lilo

There is sufficient height in the raw casting to deal with all crankshaft and rods configurations that I've considered.
I'll make them to suit what ever you have, 75mm x 74mm or 80mm x 90mm bore and stroke.
In an earlier post I put up photos of a rocker cover breather which I'd made.

Hi

I thought I might have had a few more than four comments/questions out of the 459 views!

John

I would comment that while I don't forsee one of these pieces likely being within my budget, I respect and admire that guys like you are doing this stuff.

I'm with leon. Impressive workmanship but out of my comfort zone.

John; A beautiful bit of kit. Some might be waiting to see how it works and stands up to use.
Gordo

Hi guy's

Thanks for your comments. Gordo, you could be right in that assumption. Hopefully by the end of the month I'll have one up and running in my 650 road bike.
In the meantime I'll be happy to answer any other questions.

John

John also putting up photos on the post rather than a link might get more interest. Sometimes your link opens showing a few views of the cyl in your album and sometimes just the one image?

Hi Mark

Many thanks for the tip. I'll give it a go, although not to good at this. Don't seem to be able to add a photo to a reply, might need to start again!
Managed to get my daughter to help me, that's why it was so quick. See below.

John

[URL=http://s1314.photobucket.com/user/ecosse_lynx/media/79mmbarrelrearview_zpsb05b3c14.jpg.html]test[/url] [URL=http://s1314.photobucket.com/user/ecosse_lynx/media/79mmbarrelbottomview_zps74de90a0.jpg.html]tres[/url] [URL=http://s1314.photobucket.com/user/ecosse_lynx/media/barrelsideview_zpse41b988f.jpg.html]3[/url] [URL=http://s1314.photobucket.com/user/ecosse_lynx/media/79mmbarreltopview_zpsc80bbada.jpg.html]4[/url]

John,
Looking better with the actual images.

Just use the 'enter' key on the keyboard to move each individual image code to the left side of the reply box. And use the 'enter' key to space each image code down a click or two, so they don't look all bunched up. Hit the 'preview reply' option to see how it will look before hitting the 'submit' option.

You can also go into your image thread above and hit on 'edit' and move the images over and make any other adjustments or changes.

The barrels look beautifully machined. Very tempting.

A couple of questions.

1. Does the price include Nikasil and finishing?
2. I assume the followers will run straight in the alloy - correct?

Hi

Yes the price includes the Nikasil coating and the followers run in the alloy block.
Not sure what you mean by finishing! If you can explain, then I'll be happy to answer.

John

I am probably showing my ignorance, but I assume Nikasil has to be surface finished in some way.

hi
Just a small comment from a someone less technical than all others replying to this.
Like many others i have been rebuilding bikes for less than 6 years and appreciate that while some understand the benefits of your alloy barrel not all do.
It may be a good ideal to explain to all the benefits, it may help you.
Thanks Sparky

I'd have to agree with Leon.

It's MARVELOUS to see tinkerers getting more power out of these OLD designs, seeing, AND hearing, changes to the exhaust note.

Nice to read about their exploits and accomplishments.

Successes, failures and rescues.

Thought processes, ideas, and any engineering made during any effort.

Alterations, and improvements.

But, for me, the costs involved are too much.

Why go to a taller set of barrels?

To get length for increased stroke?

This means at minimum, I'd think, new;

barrel[s]

crankshaft

If going for a bigger bore;

pistons, even custom made pistons.

Especially if the stock skirt length has to be modified to clear the crank at BDC...

And, depending upon the new stroke dimensions, there may HAVE to be longer rod[s] bought, and IF the engine is to be actually installed into a racing machine, really GOOD rod[s]?

Maybe a cam must be bought into the "bargain"?

I'm no racer. Any ego trips I've left years ago... I am not implying there are any egos going on here either!

I can go out and buy a MUCH faster, quicker bike... Already in too much trouble, I do NOT need any more of that...

The new bike may even 'handle' better... Once I'd gotten used to it?

But, These are not what this thread is about, it's about the success of someone getting an available successful set of A65 aluminum long stroke cylinder blocks made up in a batch.

For anyone looking for this modification, for street use, or in a racing venue, vintage or not, this is a _GOOD THING_! Saves anyone else from having to engineer and machine the same thing... Again...

For the price of the above components, I'd almost be able to buy another restored bike? At least a whole one.....

For myself, I often think about having a STOCK length aluminum alloy barrel made for my A10 or A65... Think of the weight savings... But the COSTS....

My pockets' depth is limited as it is.....
I am sorry I cannot afford to buy one, for one of my projects, so you can recoup some of your outlay...
It would be interesting to ride one of these altered machines, for CERTAIN!

Hi Rickman

You certainly managed to fill the page, and I'll answer your questions/comments as best I can.

a) The alloy barrel is a replacement barrel for a A65. It can be machined to suit bore sizes from standard 75mm up to 80mm.

b) The barrel height can be machined to suit what ever crankshaft you have, standard 74mm up to 90mm.

c) If the pistons you have in your engine have not see many miles, then you could even re-use these with new rings, true if you go for a larger bore then you need to buy pistons.

These are the main point of you post, the rest it off into building specials and other stuff that I'm not prepared to get into.
Although If someone is building a special feel free to drop me an e-mail and I'll see if the barrel can be machined to suit your requirements.

regards

John

Hi RJG

When the barrels are Nikasil coated they are hone finished at that time, when you get them there ready for fitting.

regards

John

Hi Sparky

In answer to your question. No one presently manufactures replacement barrels for standard bores. After reading on here what Mark Parker was doing, I thought I could take it a step further.

Make a replacement barrel from alloy that would be at least 5kg lighter than standard. Cover standard bore of 75mm up to 80mm.

Have enough height in the casting to allow for the use of longer stroke crankshafts with longer rods.

Be a replacement to cover both the early and later stud base stud spacing's.

Improve on the original by increasing spigot and base flange strength.

hope these answers are of help

regards

John

John; this thread is like a candy store for A65 folks.

For perspective the last time I looked a Pearson Gold Star barrel was over 500 UK pounds and a good piston for it was up around 165 pounds.

Most A65 riders most likely have some decent std and plus 20 pistons that with new rings would fit right into one of your barrels. As well std pistons are usually inexpensive if found as most engines are up at plus 20 or 40 already.

Gordo
It is very tempting for sure.