Britbike forum Forums British Motorcycle specific Brands Bsa bulletin board 1965 BSA Lightning Rocket-Original Survivor

Beautiful. It’s a real life restoration guide.

Here's the laundry list so far of my "pre-flight" inspection and maintenance activities before the first start up and ride.

Drained oil from crankcase and cleaned lower and upper "filters".
Added clean oil through the pushrod gallery for startup.
Set valve lash per the book. 3 were a bit tight, 1 a bit loose.
Points were dirty. Cleaned points and set gaps. They were set a bit too open.
Drained and filled transmission
Drained MUCH excess oil from primary.
Drained, flushed, and filled the fork legs with 20 wt fork oil. The oil that drained out was the nastiest looking crap! I guess that's what happens after 57 years.
Lubed all cables and greased all points that require
Drained gas tank of leftover gas and flushed out tank with Stoddard.
Fuel lines were dirty and AMAL fuel filters were very dirty, almost clogged.
Petcocks were dirty and am waiting on Viton o-rings to reassemble.
Disassembled air filters and lightly cleaned.
Sorted battery compartment and installed new Duracell 6v.
Thoroughly cleaned and lubed secondary chain.
Successfully removed burned adhesive residue on the headers. I am guessing the headers had this residue since the bike was new.
Gave the whole bike a good detailing.

If the point gap was adjusted, I would check the ignition timing.

Ed from NJ

adjusted about .001

Then I would definitely check it. The timing will have more of an effect than that small an adjustment of the points. Its easy to check. There is a machined slot in the crank that is accessible from the the front of the crankcase. Line the slot up with the access hole using a screwdriver. Clip your continuity light to a fin on the barrel. Place the point of the continuity light on the spring side of the points. The light should come on. Using a screwdriver in the slot on the end of the points cam rotate it CCW as far as it will go, the light should go out just as you reach the end of the points cam's travel. Adjust as necessary. Then rotate the crank 360 degrees and repeat the process for the other side.

Ed from NJ

The access port for the timing plug was a running change in 65. If it has the port, there will be a plate with 2 screws on the RH crankcase at the front.

It has the port.

Ed, thanks for prodding me to check this. The static timing was off by about 4 degrees retarded. I followed your procedure to a T. Since I tend to be a visual learner I watched a quite good YT video that performed static timing exactly as you outlined.

I had my first ride tonight. It runs great.

Dave, you said to pick it apart. It is a beautiful bike but I have some reservations as to its originality.
The first thing that I mentioned was the fuel tank and you stated that the home market had this style.
I don't believe that there was a home market Lightning Rocket but was an export model. Yours is not a home model with high bars and that tail light, home had a Lucas 564.
The centre stand is from a later model, I think that style came in in 1966.
I would like to hear thoughts from others on this.
As I said , it is a beautiful bike and I would like to own it.

Thanks for your interest and questions.

It is not a home market bike, It was exported to BSA New Jersey. but it does have the optional 4 gallon "touring" tank that could be ordered. Some refer to this tank as the "home market tank". The touring tank is not that common, but not extremely rare in the USA either. See 1965 brochure excerpt below.

I do not have any intelligence to share regarding the center stand. What I can share is that this is a quite late 1965, dispatched in June of 1965. It may have a few changes for 1966 incorporated by the factory as running changes. I do know of another unmolested 1965 LR that is 283 units newer than mine that has the same center stand. Others with more knowledge than I will hopefully report in.

There were some of them here in Australia, probably 1964 models, and I know of one. It has the 2 gallon tank with 4" badges and a "Lighting Rocket" decal on the tank top. The top yoke is the type with the drop down ends and has short headlight brackets. I think that there is some type of shroud which covers the handlebar bolts but my memory could be failing.
As a matter of interest, the front mudguard and stays are the same as the Rocket Gold Star.
The centre stand on it is the early type and it should have chrono instruments.
I could have bought a 1964 model several years ago but finances didn't allow it. Still kicking myself.

Hi Trev,
My bike cowers to Dave’s original condition but is also in alleged, unmolested condition. I am a pre unit Triumph guy, so I have little BSA expertise. I attached some confirming pics of my bike and a round-about video (link at the end of last picture) after first start, as my example was also “despatched” to BSA, New Jersey, USA, February 7, 1965 and built a few days later than Dave’s phenom with half the miles and obviously stored better than mine over 57 years. If anyone out there wants original pics of an A65LR, please ask, this would be the “thread of opportunity”. If I was restoring one, I’d be on this like “[***] on stink”. (If you, in turn, have any original pre unit triumph pics, I want them most gratefully and pm me. Right now I am hot for original pics of 56 T110 and especially 56 6T Thunderbird in Crystal Gray Metallic with original decal pics)





1st Start 65 A65LR

Hi Trev,
As stated previously not being a BSA expert, I believe Smith Chronos ended after 62 for Triumph duplex when unit construction began in 63. For what it's worth. I get fuzzy when BSA/Triumph ownership intermingled.

The first unit A50 BSA bikes appeared in 1962.
I have a chrono that came off of the wreck of one, but it gas the face of the magnetics.
A real odd-ball gauge.

AIUI, The A65 Rocket (single carb bike) was still fitted with chronometric beleive, despite the star models receiving magnetics for that same year. I have never seen a grey faced chronometric tachometer.

Pretty sure both BSA and Triumph switched to magnetics at the start of the 64 season. I think (?) I read somewhere that chronos were still used past that point on Police bikes, maybe some others?

There are pictures of very early 64 dual carb BSA’s with chronometrics. I have not actually seen one equipped that way in recent times.

I have been schooled that I may not be able to read "British" date numerically. Birthdate July 2, 1965?

Separated by 1 week! Very cool.

A short walk around video.

I'd like as many pics as you feel like taking. Details of assemblies. Thx, will message you my email. Will be helpful in getting my 65LR right. Only difference will be my tank.

Wow! That's a beautiful tank! I will send pictures.

It has been mentioned before, but not by me, Dave...

What a gorgeous bike!

Cheers!

Phil

The large tanks (4 gallon) were around in the US as the one on my bike (same style as on Dave's bike), early 4 gallon, flip-top cap and pear shape badges was picked up at a swap meet somewhere in my travels around Pittsburgh PA in the late 90's. OVBSAOC swap perhaps?

I'd say it would have been off a bike. Cant see it being imported to the US just for the hang of it, but who knows.

Ray