charlie prescott

Hi Guy,s This is the old problem with anything new??? You think I bet we will be overrun with entries for our event ? ( Which they should be at this venue). But when it gets near to the closing date compromise has to come into place. This trial is worth a go just for the hill climb section, " Proper old school" and fun to compete in and to watch. Good Friday? Well it should be , and you have three more days holiday to be with the family. So get out that twinshock or "Britshock" and give it a go!!! OK. Regards Charlie.

Hi Guy's. Still looking ? there must be one in a shed somewhere?? Regards Charlie. www.bsaotter.com

Hi Guy's. Bit abrupt there Hillary. John is so right we should try to get more young blood into Classic trials, and this young man looks as though he is keen on the older stuff, if he prefers that type of machine to the "Modern" stuff. This is why Wright'y and Co, have set up there new trials series to encourage guy's to try the simpler trials sections on cheaper available machines, this swing back to "proper" trials bikes with saddles fitted is just what the sport wants. And I have said before there is know better way than riding with your son in a pleasant trial, and not balling at him stood watching him try to achieve somthing he does, not really want to do on a "Modern" bike. My opinion. OK Regards Charlie. www.bsaotter.com

Hi Guy's Hi NB Just go for the Triumph /BSA. Four stud forks. Because if you are trying to hide Jap forks as you call them inside British sliders you are not building a British Pre 70 trials bike, you are building a "Britshock" So why go to the expense of trying to disguise the forks, when you could fit some of British manufacture? Regards Charlie. www.bsaotter.com

Hi Guy's, Yea that's the sort of section we want, shame it has gone. My eldest sons best mates father used to own that quarry, both him and his sister were top class BMX riders. And I am trying to persuade Scott to ride one of my Otters, I am sure he would do it justice if he had a go. Just like a chip of the old block so to speak!!! Regards Charlie ...www.bsaotter.com.

Hi Guy's. Pete, Turbo said hill climbs? Well I remember realy good uphill sections at Fish Hilll, Not a blast but realy steep tricky upside down sections with an outfit. And proper up and around trees for solos. And these sections seemed to missed for years?? Regards Charlie. ....www.bsaotter.com

Hi Guy's Hi Pete. Is that a Yes then? This is just the sort of section to stir the hearts of those competing, and also show some of the general public how good Classic trials really are. This section . is actually more famous than the more difficult?? Pipeline. And stirs, has I say the same sort of reaction. Just to say I have ridden up Camp is one of the memories to pass onto the next generation of Classic trials riders. All those in favour say AYH Regards Charlie.www.bsaotter.com

Hi Guy's. Hi Guy’s, What a stunning day out, the Stratford club gave us. A tour around the beautiful Cotswold Countryside passing through lanes that I had not been along since the sixties, but most of them still jogged memories of that time (on one narrow lane I remember Ron Doug, Dan and myself, practising our sidecar racing skills, using all of the lane and sometimes the banks as well, it is only a miracle that we all came out of the lane without injury). The route took us past all the old favourite sections used and even a couple of pubs, and the lunch break gave us a chance to catch up with a few old friends, eventually arriving at Camp, where it seemed as if we were in a time warp. Same old faces of works riders from sixties same old banter and comradeship, same sounds from the bikes, and the strong smell of Castrol “R”. Then the greatest pleasure of walking up one of my all time favourite sections, Camp, with memories from the past flooding back, as we reached our vantage point, the sound of Ron’s Ariel crack up, sent shivers down my spine. The anticipation grew as the crescendo of rev’s got louder at the bottom of the hill, and the site of the plot coming around the dog leg being ridden at the same old pace and with the same old skill, as the lad had when he was younger was astounding, the determination on his face said it all, as it did with all of the boys that rode up the hill that day, A superb ride from Gordon Jackson on a machine he had only sat on short time before his ride was amazing. Thank you Stars of the past, and thank you to all the hard work the boys of the Stratford club put in. Wright’y can we have it again next year? All of us old boys would love it, and we won’t be here in another 100 years. Hi Pete, is there any chance of getting to use "Camp" for the trial???? Please. Regards Charlie. www.bsaotter.com

Hi Guy's. just reading this page from the C 15 title before. With the picture of my converted frame, it was asked by the last poster Is it Pre 65 Scottish Legal???? Is it ? I don't know? The rules change every year don't they!!! A bit more help on your engine here Andy M . Regards Charlie ...www.bsaotter.com

Hi Guy's. Hi Andy , Road cam, If you go for the 9-1 Triumph piston , you will need to do the timing side bearing conversion ,really. But I know you are convinced you don't want to go this route. So good luck with what ever you decide. After all it is only a trials bike. One thing I would go for if you can afford it is a clutch from Pete Kirby. And a new Amalminium concentric carb. You will I no doubt fit either PVL or electrex CDI ignition, Or may be you will try the Pit Bike route ?? Good Luck again. Regards Charlie. ..www.bsaotter.com

Hi Guy's Hi Jon. The first thing to do is to anneal the alloy, heat it up has hot as you dare and quench it. This will make the alloy more workable for a short while. I am spoilt now has I have the use of a fly press ,along with an hydraulic version . But the first plates I made a long time ago ? Well a few years anyway. With the use of a big vice, well bolted down, I might add, I welded two lengths of about eight inches long x one inch and a quarter strong tube, to a long length of scaffold pole the gap big enough for the plate to sit between. The plate was clamped into the vice with steel reinforcing spacers, the power bar slotted on from one side and the bend gently formed. The side's if need be can then be for end in the same maner. If you work the aluminium to much you will need to anneal it again ,as it soon hardens. OK Regards Charlie. ...www.bsaotter.com

Hi Guy's. Deryk. I have only just taken a look at this page. The first picture of Scott with the bent front down tube was a modified second batch C15T frame that also had the seat tubes pulled in. BOK228C though. . The second picture is Scott riding BOK228C with the last guise frame in the 1966 "Experts" before it was chrome plated. The bike that won the experts in 1965 still had steel wheel rims and different front fork stays, and now that I have enhanced the picture I have, although it is in black and white, it looks like the tank was standard Victor with the yellow painted front section. I have double checked in the Don Morley book, and the picture of the bike with tank removed ,confirms it in this guise for the 1965 Experts win. This is the frame that was later copied by Harry Foster, and named the "Otter" Why? Because Harry's workshop was by the side of the river Otter near Ottery-St-Mary. in Devon. Regards Charlie www.bsaotter.com

Hi Guy's The top subframe cast mounting, is just a hearth brazed sleeve over the tube. best way to remove it is to cut very gently with a 4'mini grinder nearly through the casting on both sides horizontally . then heat with oxy gas welding torch until the braze starts to melt now give the casting a sharp tap with hammer and chisel and the two parts of the casting should fall away. Heat and wire brush away the remainder of the brazing residue. You will not effect the tube by heating as long has you do this before cutting out the bottom tube (if you are going too)I have found that the tube is 14 gauge ERW?? Pictures on the bsaotter web site. The bottom hearth brazed lug does hold the seat and bottom tube run. Sump shield ?? I would make your own 4-5-6 mm alloy sheet Regards Charlie. www.bsaotter.com

Hi Guy's. Just check out the GF tank page on my web site. Regards Charlie ...www.bsaotter.com.

Hi Guy's The frame was built for Bonkey Bowers, or was a copy of that frame. Wrighty, was getting some replica frames built by Faber at the time. But I have never seen one. This bike used the Triumph/BSA four stud forks that came from a 1971 bike (although they were designed in the early sixties for the GP scrambles BSA) This bike won the Scottish trial, Then but are barred now??? Why. Bonkey used Bultaco forks on the bike at one time painted black has a disguise. A true "Britshock"!!! Regards Charlie. www.bsaotter.com

Hi Guys. Look a trials bike is worth has much as the love you put into building it ! If you have not got that dedication , don't bother, for then it will only be a pain. You know I am right!! Regards Charlie....www.bsaotter.com

Hi Guy's, Hi Martin. I may take a mould from my Mini majesty tank seat unit so that I can make a spare. But it won't be until the summer. But you can keep this in mind if all else fails.OK. Regards Charlie ..www.bsaotter.com

Hi Guy's. Hi Blocky I have put the page with the swagging tool up. at www.bsaotter.com Another new "BRITSHOCK" page up later.!!!! Regards Charlie. www.bsaotter.com

Hi Guy's. Hi Blocky, Look I will do the page on my web site ,about the tools and the jig this week end. I have promised to do it for a long time , and have most of the pictures! Just need to do the wording. The tool for swaging the headstock is quite simple to make, and takes the size down to 47mm, to take an available bearing, and well worth doing. Glad you enjoy BSA Otter.Com. That's what I built the site for ?to give information about building up Brit Bikes, and where to get the parts to do this ,with less hassle . "Britshocks" are still possibly the cheapest class, to get into Classic trials riding. If you use your head and not your wallet? To much anyway!!! Regards Charlie.

Hi Guy's . Hi OTF , You don't read my web site Then????????????????? Headstock bearings ? Simple ? When you make the right tool. Regards Charlie. ...www.bsaotter.com

Hi Guy's, Hi Andy, Why??? So you would use a +60 C 15 piston? But not a Triumph that is +80 say.?? And boosts the power slightly ,reduses the weight of the barrel, and adds to a better power characteristic . I know that this is a totally different concept ??? But what is the compression ratio on the New 4RT???? Are we thinking along different lines ,now a days?? Or has all this Trick stuff that has been put into "Britshocks" come to a close ??? And are we now Retro thinking??? Regards Charlie.

Hi Guy's Hi Andy. There are three sets of diffrent sets of gears, that will fit "Dizzy" engines standard, close, and wide. some you can swop! To be honest close is probably best if you don't do a lot of road trials? and you use the 18 tooth engine sprocket. My opinion. Are you building the bike for the "Britshock" class??? You know what I think about pistons BSA Otter Site, and I have researched this subject over the past couple of weeks, with several people, and we agree, that this is probably the best choice. Getting the ignition sorted, with the right timing curve for the job in hand is the most important thing to get right. a couple of systems spring to mind, but I am looking into other possibilities. Regards Charlie. www.bsaotter.com

Hi Guy's Look I am using 9-1 Triumph T100 pistons on these builds , standard C15 heads and valves. It may not work, but this is what the last of the works boys did, and it was said to soften the motor even more. Cotswold BSA C15 is what I am copying has the Nick Draper bike has this set up, and I thought I would build these two engines to that spec. The Blue C15T was on a low compresion set up when I took it to bits. It was using a piston from a B25, and C15 head, and that mix just does not work?? although the bottom end power is good. It ran out of steam at the top end on Long climbs. They still use some of these in the IOM you know!!! Andy I am just doing a page on the BSA Otter site about the convertion from a standard "Dissy" engine to the "F"type spec. and it is not that easy. Hope this helps Guy's. Regards Charlie.

Hi Guy's. Hi Andy. If you fit smaller engine sprocket you will have to machine of the oil. Seal lip and then fit a thinner seal. Look on the BSA Otter web site!! You may have problems with the kick start by fitting the WD gears ,unless. You use a latter inner timing cover and machine off the crank oil feed boss. You will then need to use a points on side camshaft and make up a one off bush for the crankcase side cam bearing. Basically you need to convert the engine to "F" spec . Using the Rupert book has a guide. Regards Charlie ..www.bsaotter.com