newcomer

[barney_66]

Hi,
Don't know wether i am posting this in the right place,but as a newcomer thought i'd introduce myself,I'm from Shropshire and i have a 1981 Harley sportster, 1961 AJS mod 20,and a 1969 A65,which i wan't to restore hopefully in the winter.
This is the reason i've been looking for a forum to join for some help and advice and i'm hoping i found the right one,I,m hoping someone can help me to start with by telling me what model the A65 is if i gave them the engine number and the frame numbers ,
Thank you,look forward to your replies
regards barney 66

[L.A.B.]

I,m hoping someone can help me to start with by telling me what model the A65 is if i gave them the engine number and the frame numbers ,
Thank you,look forward to your replies
regards barney 66

Welcome Barney, and the A65 model identification shouldn't be much of a problem if you have the numbers handy.

[barney_66]

Hi L.A.B thanks for the welcome the numbers are as follows,
frame no,A65L 12435
engine no,A65.2025
thanks for the help,looks like i,ve found the right forum for help.
regards barney 66

[L.A.B.]

The frame number appears to show it to be a 'Lightning' (twin carb) model, probably from the 1970-71 production years. 1969 should be A65LC.

The lack of a letter after A65 in the engine number suggests that the engine (or parts of it -crankcases etc.) is from an earlier '63 'Star Twin' single carb model.

Number info from the BSA OC website:

http://www.bsaoc.demon.co.uk/post1960.html

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If it is an 'oil in frame' model then that would identify it as being 1971.

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However if it is a '69-'70-71 model frame then there should be some additional date code letters?

[barney_66]

Thanks L.A.B. for your help,its not an oil in frame model
and the log book states registered 1969,i shall scrape the paint off the frame tonight to see if i can see any more numbers or letters on the frame.
thanks again, barney 66.

[L.A.B.]

The date code info is here: http://www.bsaoc.demon.co.uk/intro.htm

So I would expect to find a month-year (?C) prefix for a 1969 (C) model? Month letters running J to H (August '68 to July '69) as '69 model year production actually started from around Aug. '68 although they didn't start this date code stamping system until about October so actually 'N' could possibly be the earliest month stamp (so NC)? Yours could be an early one and not have the date code?

[barney_66]

Checked my engine number and frame number tonight,rubbed the paint off to see if there was anything i couldn't see and the numbers i stated are the only ones there,are there any records of frame numbers so i could get an exact date of manufacture?at the moment although the log book says registered 1969 i take it the bike must be a bit earlier and had an engine change.
regards barney 66

[L.A.B.]

I would think the best course of action would be to contact the BSA owners Club? As they are likely to have more detailed information from factory records etc., sometimes there can be a genuine reason why certain frame and engine numbers do not correspond with the published information available.

There were also a large number of detail changes made to the A50/65 models over the ten year production period, so it should be possible to get an idea of exactly what you have from doing a little detective work, but of course many original parts could have been changed over the years?  

[barney_66]

Thanks for all your help L.A.B. i will have a look at the BSA owners club and see what i can find
thanks again,
regards barney 66

[barney_66]

Just an update on the A65,got in touch with Roy Bacon on the Isle of Wight who specialises in this sort of thing for a small fee,he say,s the numbers are a bit odd but both BSA & Triumph messed around with numbers around 1969 so he will do some research, i'm looking into where the registration number was first registered,will keep you posted on the outcome .
cheers barney 66

[barney_66]

received a letter off Roy Bacon today to confirm the bike i have is a 1969 lightning and a letter earlier in the week off Wolverhampton archives to say that their records of the reg no only show that the number was registered to a BSA dealer F.Stallard in 1969.
cheers barney 66