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

That's one nice looking motorcycle. Has a real "road bike" look, not the MX look that most B50s default to when they're stock.

Hot starting a problem or is that sorted out?

Lannis

Thanks Lannis.

I've put a few hundred miles on it by now but those first miles were a bunch of short trips really close to home. It started and ran but it really never was "right". I'm not sure how long the coil had been going bad but it finally got to the point where it would start but when you put it in gear it would stall.

During all that time...it was still a one or two kick starter hot or cold. Last night's rides and today with the good coil.....one or two kicks hot or cold. I'm starting to count all over again and as of now I only have a hundred +- miles on it since it's finally running right.

Took it over to Jonesville tonight to eat "almost seafood"...I love the H4 light and the only problem I had was those darn spring BUGS!!!!! I need to go ahead and get a windscreen for it.

What impresses me the most is the differance in the handling between the OIF and the B44. Night and day and the OIF wins hands down for flickability. Those 580cc's don't hurt either and there's lot more throttle than I'm willing to use right now.

See ya in May....have fun in Ca.....Gordon

The bike's looking great and Stone Mountain is a place I'd like to visit..
I'll bet that bike rolls on strong out of the corners or in the middle of them!

I just got Shanes 1970 VS up and running for his visit to the USA.
Sweet bike, low level of previous owner abuse, an honest machine.
Love the way it pulls(pops?)along. Real pleasure to ride.

Put me on the list of first refusals Gordon, I've never wanted a B50 until I saw yours!


Don in Nipomo

Gordon,
Glad to hear you have it sorted out. B50's are a nice ride. Having owned the B series 25, 44, and 50, the B50 is the ride of choice. I know how you feel not getting too far from home during the sorting process. Can't tell you many times I have gone out on test rides, never getting too far from home. Would rather walk home that have to call the Missus to come and get me...although that has occurred before...but only once.

Lannis, I think I have the hot starting issue resolved with a small change in technique.

See both of you you in about a month.

Mr Mike

Mr Mike, I'm with you 100% on that call home. I can get home one way or the other. A man can do 3 mph on foot if need be.

I wish that darn coil hadn't been bad. I chased stuff from one end to the other and the hard part was when I'd change something some times the bike would run fine for awhile then start acting up. It was a real head scratcher but I was going to keep at it until I had it sorted.

I really LOVE the way the OIF handles....such a big differance from the B44. Now don't get me wrong....I do and will always love my Victors (no matter what other people say) but this B50 is going to be fun.

BUT....I do have a question for you, if you don't mind? What do you do with your breather? I went with Stan M's ford valve and his "get it as far from the engine as possible". It exits the bike at the rear just short of the tail light. I'm not sure I did that correctly because I'm getting a little oil splatter coming out of the valve. Is that normal? I wonder if there's a baffle I could use in the primary cover to stop the fluids from getting to the hose. Or...can I put a 90 on the end of the valve and try to redirect the oil to the poor fellow following me? Some kind of catch bottle at the end of the valve? I probably have something wrong there and it's next on the list to sort.

Don....I got you on the short list :bigt but for now I'm going to keep it. Only down side I can find right now is...I have to put my darn feet down at stops!!!! Oh and trying to pick which one I'll take for a ride.

Opie

Try a filter breather to see if that controls your oil drip. A piece of filter foam wrapped around the hose works as well.

IME, those breathers are always a little wet......

Hey Rich...hope you're doing well?

I'm using (as can be seen in the photos...the close up of the tank and seat) a Ford One Way valve at the end of the hose..ala HPStan.

Is a filter breather something different? Help a man out here I'm really clueless when it comes to a lot of things.

I have a bunch of filter foam left over from the off road days..but where would I use it? If it was used at the valve (at the end of the hose run) it might stop the oil from getting on the fender but wouldn't it cause the valve to fill up...sooner or later?

It's messy they way it is and I have to do something.

Have fun in Ca.....Opie

If its a fresh motor, it will be messy for several hundred miles IME. You can try to get the hose as high as possible before turning it towards the back of the bike. I use a catch can. Ugly, yes. But effective.

I am doing well.....just a bit stressed about the upcoming road trip......story to follow

I see the valve now. The filter breather is just a miniature K&N filter that goes in the end of the hose. Or wrap the end of the hose with some filter foam to do the same thing.

But doesn't look like you have a hose...just an outlet. Mike is right, if this is a fresh engine, it may still be seating in.

Looked at the picture again, try to get as much vertical run as possible on the hose where it comes out of the primary. Gives the oil a chance to drain back quicker.

Too bad you two don't have more time...but you guys will have fun. Probably be tired as hell with all the driving but my bet is it'll be worth it.

Okay....I got the filter thing. Seen those used. I will try to get the hose up a little higher and yes it's a fresh engine so maybe it'll get better. There's not a lot of oil...but enough to make a mess. Might just put some filter material on the end of the valve and change it out often...and take the valve off to drain. If all else fails...I'll tuck it back in closer to the battery tray and use a catch bottle.

Thanks for the help fellows. Mike, sure never had a coil do the strange things this one was doing...and I won't ever forget it. Easy enough fix but throwing a brand new coil away hurt.

Rich....have fun and slap Ron for me when you feel like it.

Opie....oiled in NC

Gordon, place some coarse steel wool in the hose in the uphill section as a baffle. It will help percipitate oil out before it gets to the end but still let it chuff.

Thanks for all the help fellows. I think for now I can get the pipe a little higher and use a foam filter "diaper" (I gota lot of that stuff left over from my TL125 days) on the end of the valve and see how it goes.

I feel a LOT better just knowing it's not unusual for there to be a little blow by out of that vent.

Going to try to make it to Windy's this weekend....I owe him lunch and I need to touch base with the folks in Blowing Rock.

Opie

Gordon,
I have the same valve (HP Stan's) that you are using. I have about 18 inches of hose with the valve tie wrapped down by the speedo cable. It drips all the time. When you time the B50 you will see what a huffer it is. The misty air/oil mixture condenses and drips. A catch can will solve the problem and everything mentioned above will help but will likely not eliminate. I don't let it bother me... it is a BSA and it marks its territory. I do think the valve helps. I have very little other leaking except one leak in the rocker box and despite my best efforts I have been unable to eliminate it.



Mr Mike

Good looking bike Gordon! Paint scheme on your gas tank tricked me! Looks just like a victor, very nice.

Thank you for the kind words C.B.S

I'm not the first person to paint up a OIF tank like that...I've always liked the look though.

I'm not a fan of decals but I'm getting a little bored with the "plain" look of the side covers and tank so I have some ordered for those....might make it look more like a Victor and IMO that's not a bad thing.

I took the bike to Windy's Sunday (75 miles one way) and that was a big step with a bike I put together. Windy said he saw a puff or two of smoke out of the tail pipe but I've ridden behind Mr Ben on his B50 and seen the same thing so I'm not going to worry about that for now. I still have the oil spitting out of the breather...havent sort that one out yet...I got lazy and just put some filter foam over the end of the valve and didn't raise the hose.

Here's proof the B50 was in shady valley



The B50 fits right in with the rest of the farm implements.

Windy followed me to Blowing Rock....probably the slowest he's EVER ridden a motorcycle



Windy is a top shelf mechanic and I respect his opinion but when he was telling me about maybe using that valve on the breather wasn't a good idea...and all I got back from him was a blank look when I kept saying "Stan" says it's the thing to do....I was taken back a little. Then it dawned on me he's not a BSA man....and for sure not a BSA unit singles man so how would he know. Here on the East coast there are three fellows that IMO are "THE" BSA unit single gurus....Ted Hubbard (RIP), Stan Millard and Ed V.....if either of those fellows told me to tie a 12' 2x4 to the back of my bike because it helps....I'm gona do it without question. Stan helped me out a lot on my B25 trials bike, ED V did the machine work for me and I had the honor of sitting with Ted Hubbard and watching a motorcycle race before he took me for a tour through his shop...honored I tell ya.

It's kinda like Mr Healy...I read EVERYTHING he posts and listen to what he has to say....figure I might learn a thing or two if I do.

The B50 (even with a splatter of oil all over the rear end) did well...started hot or cold and would do better if I could just teach myself to NOT turn the throttle when I kick it...that always cost me an extra kick. It's didn't skip a beat and got me home safe and sound....I couldn't ask for anything more.

Take care, Gordon in NC (aka Opie)

Gordon,
I actually did some testing of that valve and it in fact does allow the crankcase to run slightly more negative than without the valve...so listening to HP Stan is good advice. Other than a rocker leak which I will have to pull the head to fix my b50 leaks very little. My 441 is not as good but I do not spend the many hours that some do to try to keep the oil on the inside. I just like a reliable easy starting ride with decent brakes, a strong clutch and the cosmetics including oil leaks are secondary.

Mr Mike

I hear ya Mr Mike. I got a "taste" of it when I strobed the thing....just like you mentioned. I think the shop door still has the splatter on it from that deal.

I'm still learning about these B50s.....so far I'm very impressed. BUT.....I'm missing out on my side car fun so it's going on a trip next weekend.

It'll be good to see you in a few weeks and swap some stories.

Take care and we'll see ya soon, your friend Gordon in another part of NC

gordon
with NOT being failure with THAT valve and its particulars it was an unknown to me just like anything BSA. these things are funny with how fast and light they react to crankcase pressure pulses if they will create negative pressure in the crankcase. if you recall i also asked just how light the open pressure was IE can you blow through it easy? and has it been tested with any kind if gauge ( manometer ). on nortons it was found with testing that the best location was directly in the crankcase @ the source and a read valve tuned to the harmonics.
as to a slow ride it was still fun to just putt along BUT I did have a little fun on 421 if you remember.

Windy, I just went back and read my post....sounded like I was talking about the valve but what I was talking about was you not knowing who Stan was.....and why would you? you're not a BSA unit singles man But for some reason I thought EVERYBODY knew him.

I haven't been on Shulls Mill road in a LONG time and boy did I enjoy it. Darn Woodlands was closed (Easter?). I called Melissa on the way home and she said you had stopped by.

Darnit.... I'm going to have to ride back up there this weekend A man's work is never done.

Take care and we'll see ya soon....Gordon