Britbike forum Forums British Motorcycle specific Brands Bsa bulletin board Starting my B50 today

That's a kickass single!!!! nice job. I have a 67 B25 Starfire
and a 69 B-44VS Both are big fun!!!

That would be SO funny if it wasn't SO true....I'm going on 4 years on the hack project....but damnit it's NEXT!

Can I count them as dog years????

Thanks for all the kind remarks.

I know this bike isn't what a lot of people like. I didn't build it for somebody else,or to sell or win awards...I built it for me to ride and did it like I wanted....the "correct police" need to move on to the cookie cutter assemblies and leave me and my poor bitsa alone.

Opie

I'm with with MR. Mike on the comfort of the B50 dual seat. I'd even say it's the most comfortable Brit Bike seat I've every ridden. It makes the B44 seat feel like a wooden plank. Must admit I have very little natural padding!

Ben

Just one of those little things … Sorry I mentioned it!! That list of upgrades you noted are all exactly the right things to do. This could be an IDEAL 20th century single-cylinder Brit.

Only other thing about a B50 that’s always had me shying back from them …. And that’s Hot Starting. The kickstart ratio is funky to begin with …. And everyone I’ve ever known with a B50 has had hot-starting issues with it at some point, no matter how dialed-in the carb is and no matter how hot and well-timed the spark is and how good the compression is.

Mr. Mike has come as close as anyone I know with his oversized idle stop screw, and finding the trial-and-error setting to use to raise the slide a fraction depending on how hot the bike is when you restart. Yamaha used to have a hot-start lever on their big singles that would raise the slide a fraction when the bike was hot …. It’ll be interesting to see how you address this apparently timeless and universal problem … !

Lannis

Hey Lannis...the fender comment I got from you didn't bother me at all...I thought the same thing, just decided to let it be for now.

Hot starting problems????? You got me on that one. I've only ridden one other B50 and that was Ron T's. BUT....I've spent some time around Mr Ben's and I've never noticed a hot start problem with his. At the OSMR we were never waiting on him to get going.

Only time will tell if this bike will have a problem with it and I'll report on it if it does.

This bike is faster than I'm used to....something Richrd is going to like.

Take care and seeya in May.....Opie

I'm just full of advice today, but it's because I really like this bike ... Decals? Since this is a highly personalized bike, I'd probably ask one of our local artistes on the board here who's good at that kind of stuff to make up a "Gordon Gray Special" decal, whatever you think would express your feeling about the bike when you rode it......

Lannis

You know Lannis, that's not a bad idea at all. I've looked through a BUNCH of decals and a few are "close" but just not what I'm looking for.

There was a fellow (and bike) a few years back....who had a Shooting Star (B44) with a nice chromed tank and fixed up really nice. It was and still is my favorite BSA unit single (if you don't count the Enduro Stars or the Trials Cats) he had some decals made up for his....something like "Victor Clubman Special" or something like that. Nice touch.

I'll have to think about that one for a bit....but I like the idea.

Take care.....Opie

I was thinking of doing a similar thing for the next project.

Lannis has a point. I have found that virtually everything must be perfect for hot starts to be reliable. If you get one thing out it is not very forgiving. I have had many times when trying to hot start, it will pop once and stall....over and over again. My little adjustment screws seem to help me. Here's what I learned: For cold starts raise the slide 1/2 to 3/4 of a turn and richen the idle mixture about 1/4 to 1/2 a turn. For hot starts just raise the throttle slide about 1/2 turn. Then with the compression release bring it over TDC and give it a real healthy kick.... but before that look around to see if anyone is looking. If someone is looking it won't start. Sometimes I will go weeks with it starting right up all the time and then it will get an attitude and I have to go back thru everything. Some day I will put electronic ignition on it to eliminate a variable. But other than that it is a hoot to ride and easily my favorite motorbike. It has only let me down one time since I rebuilt it and that is when I broke a lifter. I was a couple of miles from the house after a 70-80 mile ride so it wasn't a big deal and fortunately it didn't tear anything else up. It has been otherwise pretty reliable now for about 5-6 years.


Mr Mike

Hey Gordon and Mike. Or anybody, for that matter...how have you solved the points wire entry hole behind the points cover? Is there a rubber boot/grommet for it? Mine had blue silicon when I bought it.

Bill

Bill (aka no name man)

What bike are you talking about???

The B44 is dry (well sort of...the points wires enter near the clutch arm with a rubber boot then pass between the outer and inner cover before they enter the points cavity) and has a plastic? tube protecting the wire where it enters the points cavity.

The B50 uses a rubber grommet....part number 60-3755. The wires run outside the engine before entering the points cavity. I had some in my stash that fit...not sure if they were correct or not but they worked.

Opie

The B50. I was told there was no part no. for it...incorrectly I reckon. Figured I'd try to find something that would do.
Thanks for that Gordon...

The part number in the 71 B50 manual shows the grommet for the B44 which is part number 41-0715. There are a lot of mistakes in that manual. They were largely corrected for the 72 manual and that part is in fact 60-3755. I was able to get one when I redid my bike.

Mr Mike

Hey Mike...yes, I easily obtained the grommet for the B44. The B50 one doesn't seem to be as easy to find. Where did you get it?

I like a GG the idea of a gordon gray special decal! it would be the only one in Springfield ne

A nice little GGS logo embroidered into the seat cover.
Contrasting stitching of course, Victor yellow.

Don in Nipomo

No name man.
I think I purchased all my grommets and small bits from British Only. That is before they went totally to an on-line ordering house. When I could no longer talk to someone, I took my business elsewhere.

Mr Mike

I like Lannis' idea about the logo. There is a trucking company in Illinois called Garland Gehrke. Their trucks have a big scripted GG on the side. It would work just as well for Gordon Gray. Here is their logo.

Ray

Nice Bike would'ya happen to have any close up piccys of the bike with out the fuel tank or with out the sidecovers thanks

how far do you think that can go on a tank of gas?

Well....no. But what are you trying to see??? maybe I can get a shot or two for you.

Richrd...I'm still trying to dial the carb in so I'm not paying much attention to mpg just yet. I've put a little under 200 miles on it so far (it has a working Smiths speedo.. wonder how long that'll last?) and it is a hoot to ride. PLENTY of power and I'm very happy with the way the OIF handles.

The carb is a AMAL 932 off a late model Norton 850. I guessed at the jetting/carb slide and I'm getting close.

I had a HECK of a time getting the B25 filter to quit leaking but I think I finally have that sorted out. I just came back from a 50 mile run and it's dry...so I'm happy.

Just can't come up with the right decal...not really up for anything with GG on it....Victor 500, Victor 500 Special, Falling Star 500, Bullet Beater ......

Hope you all are getting a little saddle time in.....spring is just around the corner :bigt

Opie

Gordon,
Here's my 932 carb setup on the B50; .106 Needle jet, mid position, 3.0 slide, 250 main. At 580 cc's you might get by with a 260 main. I'll send you my filter setup by private e-mail. Will be easy for you. BTW my speedo on the B50 is the only one I have that works. Never did anything to it.

Mr Mike

Does the spray tube have the 'hood' on it? Not sure how well that would work on a B50.

David...I don't have a clue what a "hood" spray tube is. This one has the stepped spray tube and I'm like you....not sure if I can get it dialed in on the B50. BUT that said, so far it starts in one or two kicks hot or cold....and idles fine.

Mr Mike...I set mine up just like yours. Haven't made it to my "main jet hill" yet...maybe this week.


Later fellers....GG

Mr Mike, I've followed your filter set up since you first started sharing that information.

I know the B25's filter is a bit of a mess but I do like how it fits and how well the hoses run. Not sure if it was a smart choice but the only down side so far was all those leaking old o-rings...once I got them replaced it's doing fine. YES...it is messy to change but I'm getting the hang of it and I've never minded getting my hands dirty.

Thanks for the information....I've got it saved in my BSA info and if the B25 set up gives me any more trouble....I'll go spin on.

Gordon