The boys who built a Project BSA in a day
Rick needed help to sort a bike for the widow of an old friend. Luckily, Lewis, the teenager whose Excelsior Rick’s been helping to restore, was happy to step in at short notice
For many older enthusiasts, it’s their worst nightmare. You’ve got projects in the workshop but sudden terminal illness leaves one helluva mess for your nearest and dearest to sort out when it comes to the crunch.
We all know what’s where in our sheds but that specialist knowledge is seldom shared by those we leave behind. I knew Les had the BSA – the 1927 Model S27 Deluxe is big brother to my 350 – so, knowing my 1920s Beezas, when Les died I offered to help his wife Angela sort it out. But I wasn’t expecting what I found. In cracking unrestored condition, the poor thing looked like the grisly victim of a shark attack – control cables and oil lines were still connected, but the torso was severed behind the fuel tank...
Les had begun a ‘sympathetic’ restoration, working from the back forwards; the rear frame and gearbox were missing, along with both wheels and mudguards. Luckily, the wheels turned up, rebuilt, with new tyres fitted – and after an afternoon digging out the rest, I wheeled it, like a cumbersome wheelbarrow, across Angela’s garden into my van.
It’s hard picking up where someone else has left off. The gearbox cover screws were undone – but coming apart or going back together? Problem or just taking a look? And where are the screws? Ruined getting them out or soaking in a dish of paraffin somewhere?
There are springs but no brake shoes, so they’ve gone for relining... but where? The front mudguard is missing; they rot – but Angela remembers one existing, and even if it was scrap, surely Les would have kept it as a pattern? Ah, unless it was just some crummy aftermarket thing he wouldn’t refit...
And how far do you go? I want to get the best deal for Angela; I could pile it up as a basket case but it will only fetch its proper value complete, running and ready for the road. I’m sure Les would appreciate that, but there’s a problem. Space and time may rule the universe, but they seem particularly concentrated in my bit of it.
I can’t add another long-term job to my list – we’re still only halfway through Lewis Perry’s Excelsior... Hmmm, how about this? What if I can get Lewis’ help – what if we could rebuild the BSA in just a day? I called him and yes, he was happy to abandon revising for his mock A-levels in favour of a Sunday getting covered in oil and paint in my workshop!
He was at my place at 10am – and, apart from five minutes eating the sandwiches he’d brought along, worked through till we downed tools at 5.30pm. By that time, the BSA was all back together and, even if we do say so ourselves, looking pretty damn good. Best of all, Lew said he’d enjoyed a really interesting day.
So thanks very much, Lewis. Angela is delighted and, er... I hope your exam the next day went OK!
‘IT LOOKED LIKE THE GRISLY VICTIM OF A SHARK ATTACK’