Mid 20,s Beesa,s.... I think

[Bear640]

Hi guys, 1st post with many to follow .
I have over the years built a few pre war bikes & the opportunity came up to purchase a few round tanks. I have been going thru all the boxes of bits to see what I have & noticed that out of the 5 frames I have, there are 3 different shapes. 2 are definitely round tanks as motors fit in perfectly.
The others are no where close, can only find a frame no on one B48159.
Hope some one can shed some light for me.
Thanks

[Martin_UK]

Looks like a 1927 BSA Model B to me......

[Bear640]

Yes but isn’t the wedge & round tank motors the same?
The motors I have won’t fit these frames but fit two of the others

[chaterlea25]

Hi
Please post some decent photos of the unknown frames
Resizing the photos so they can be seen easily on the forum will help and reduce space on the forums server
640 x 480 size shows up well

John

[cardan]

B48159 is a very high frame number; it takes us all the way to 1929! So certainly wedge tank. For 1929, the B29 De Luxe (250) engines started at B 42108, frames started at B 47120. If you have an engine B43000-ish it probably goes with the frame.

Sausage tanks started in 1924 at engine number 1. The motors didn't change much, although I think the oil pump arrangement on the timing cover was one visible change.

Cheers

Leon

[Bear640]

The seat area on 3 of the frames are different so that may be another clue.
Now... engine numbers are B 32786 , B30170 , B18075. These three motors fit round tank frames. Other engine numbers which are B21498 & B19452 so I’m thinking these are all round tank motors.

I may have a wedge tank frame with no motor so I’m guessing I will be keeping an eye out one at swap meeps now.

[cardan]

Aren't all the motors more-or-less the same? If not, post a photo.

Re engine numbers:

B18075, B19452, B19452 are 1925
B30170 is very late 1926
B32786 is 1927 so probably wedge tank?

Re the frames that don't fit the motors, BSA had 350s, 500s, and twins, with vertical and sloping motors, through the mid-late-1920s. That's assuming they are BSA and not something else entirely. Frame numbers will tell.

Cheers

Leon

[chaterlea25]

Hi All,
Besides the numbers the only difference between the round and wedge tank engines is the timing cover
The Round tank has a simple worm oil pump that delivers oil to the tank mounted adjuster and sight feed
the wedge tank has the adjuster and sight feed mounted on the timing case
This unit is made from zinc alloy and is often /easily damaged, replacement units are available though
Better deal to go to the maker, joseph60.7771 on eBay rather than
http://www.vintage-motorcycle.com/index.php?language=en&site=4&pid=254&id=20684&limit=0

I have to recommend Joseph's BSA and Rudge parts they are absolutely first class 

John

[Bear640]

Over the years I have bought quite a few parts off Joseph & totally agree, top products.

[murdo]

Things I have bought from him have been 'spot on' too.