classic motorcycle forum

It was the fact that the plunger suspension units were slanted slightly forwards that got me wondering. Its tough to marry that up to a postwar Indian Scout frame. ?

http://www.classicmotorcycleconsignments.com/motorcycles/Indian/images/1949%20Indian%20Scout/1949%20Indian%20Scout-BJulian-1.jpg

https://silodrome.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/1948-Norton-490cc-ES2.jpg

I've got a few Norton plunger models, and they are quite distinctive in the suspension dept.  Which is not to say this bikes parentage is all purebred (?), builders of 'bitzers' are a gifted lot at grafting on stray and assorted bits - hence the BSA oil tank etc.
Are there any other pics of this Crocker to view, we wonder ?

That chrome oil tank on the crocker scout looks to be BSA, widely used 1939 into the 60s.
Surprisingly tough to find a good view of one.


You know, I have half a suspicion that frame might be norton.
The plunger units look to be slightly slanted forward, and the central axle mounts look to be alloy,
and the frame tube meeting the plunger casting is higher up, and the plunger business is not waisted in the middle, and the muffler mounting point just ahead of the alloy part are all more Norton than Scout ?

Even the centre of the chrome back rim is painted black, ala 40s Norton ?
That might make the tank Norton too ?  Not impossible, its tough to see the tank cap clearly though, that would make it hinged...

Hopethishelps !

As said above, engines are  always (almost always ?) set so the spark timing is a certain number of degrees or fractions of an inch (or mm) before tdc fully advanced - and the retarded value will take care of itself.
So that is/was most of your real problem all along... ?

You need to research this further, it would be odd if BSA had suddenly discarded decades of experience in quoting this value ?

My bikes - not W32-6 though - will not start if fully fully retarded, the spark has faded a bit by then.
So your spark may be a bit weak by the time its fully advanced ?
You likely won't find this out until conditions (inside t'engine) are tougher...

Likewise, have you tried a new plug since this non-starting business arose.

I've been trying LMC and TDC and AKD, since they almost fit what's on the tank ?
Some years/models these logos were in block letters.
ChaterLea possibly made the frame parts, although it would have been helpful to see lower down,
and the forks are druid.

Any chance of a bigger scan of the tank logo.
If you can zoom in in the scanning, this sometimes makes it quite readable.

?  Wrong tank logo

Visiting the NMM would be high on my list of places to visit.
Always learn something new in such places, and they look to have a fabulous collection.
Go for it, if you have an interest in bikes...

The fenders look a good match, but the pipes are not.

The gear lever is (well) behind the petrol cap on your mystery bike,
but well in front of it on that 1930 one.
The rear guard is also valanced on your mystery bike.

That 1939 James is looking a goof match, at this point.
T'other side view would be good to find...

Thats looking closer, much closer.
Be useful to see t'other side, and the chaincase,  and carb location -
tucked up partly behind the cylinder in the mystery bike.

Also explains why they could have been beetling around after ww2
with still a fairly new bike, if it didn't see much (any ?) use during ww2. ?