As progress continues, it’s apparent there are different ways to measure things and some misplaced components make a reappearance.
Words: Tim Britton Photographs: Tim Britton and Fiona Watson
There are readers out there, I’m sure, who do know how many different combinations of BSA fork, wheel and brake plate parts there are.
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However, I’m not one of them and thankfully for this feature I don’t need to know the finer details. Having solved the lack of front wheel spindle last issue – I bought one from Burton Bike Bits – and fitted the front wheel I’ve been using in my 650cc Triumph when it’s in scrambles mode, into the project, to see if I could get any idea on the sort of off-set the new wheel is likely to need, several things became obvious.
First, the wheel sits tight against the timing side fork leg – I expected it to be close as the Triumph yokes are different to the BSA ones, but not as close as it is.
The brake plate I have for the project is similar to the one from a WDB40 used on the 650 wheel, but not the same.
Another difference is the locating stop for the project plate; the fork legs are obviously different as there is no lug for it to sit in, so, thinking that I’d get away with it, I cut a piece of aluminium sheet to fit the old plate – no chance.
There was little option left but set to and fit the new plate and hub in place and start again.
At the same time, I tweaked the spindle so the UNF thread was removed and still left enough spindle to cut a new 9/16in Cycle left-hand thread and clamp everything up in the wheel department.
I might have to be creative with the other end as the Tommy bar hole may be inside the spindle clamp, but that’s a minor thing.
The shoulder of the thick part on the spindle needed moving back a little and this is within my lathe use capabilities.
Read more and view more images in the August 2019 issue of TCM – on sale now!
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