charlie prescott

Hi Guy's You know I do not want to get dragged into this discution, But What ever. Firstly we have to drop this "Pre65" thing and be sencible and start calling the bikes, "Britshocks". Now the first ever trials bike I built way back in 1959 was based on a plunger framed James. Not good ehy. Well eventualy the hacksaw came out, and frame tubes were altered has you can imagine, and then the frame was welded back up with a Stick "Ark" welder, practise on these frames gave me the skill as a welder in later life. From that day on every other trials bike that I owned had the frame changed in one way or another, even the top tube on a Greeves Scottish was lengthened. as the result of a crash with a tractor, and that bike always steered better after that!! So frames were modified from "DAY ONE" and is still the case today. When is a replica not a replica??? :thumbup: Regards Charlie.

Hi Guy's Hi Bill, I appreciate what you are saying, and totally agree. Paulie, who has not touched a sixties engine or many others in fact, But is a superb silversmith and engineer and works most of the time on commissions for most regiments of the British Army. He also has a superb eye and mind at solving most mechanical problems that crop up, with always a fresh approach. Said it would make sense to either get a left hand end mill to do the operation or thread the bosses left handed. What he also said was that a new approach could be considered on many of the aspects to the machining operations that I have suggested to him, that need achieving on a BSA or Triumph engines to make them up to the standard of today, and he is now committed to seek alternative ways to achieve what I have suggested. I feel that an engineer- craftsman of his calibre with a new approach could achieve what has not been even considered before. And I am really thrilled and pleased that someone with a new eye has got so interested in a project which incorporates single cylinder engines of the past era. Watch this space has they say. Regards Charlie.

Hi Guy

Hi Guy's. Was Yogurt invented in 1964 or late in 1965, this is a sour note I know where milk is concerned, and once spilt you can never get it back. Is Reynolds 531, and T45 a name you use on expensive frames, when you know they are made from at the best CDS tube, and does it matter if the frame does the job. Was Rome built in a day? I don't think so! Is the Scottish two day trial rules ever likely to be fair to most people.? Dont be silly all of your life!!!!! :rotfl: :D :D Regards Charlie.

Hi Guy's What OTF. A House or a bike, Working on 2013 models of both :rotfl: Regards Charlie.

Hi Guy's Look OTF, take it easy and don't rise to the bait. Your health is more important, than One event for works of engineering art. Dont you realise that it takes twelve months to hide and develop the next years mods? that is why the bikes are out of commision for this lengh of time. What you need to do is save up for a house offshore, if you realy want a ride in the event!!! :banana2: Regards Charlie.

Hi Guy's Hi Roger. Thanks for the information. I just feel that I must try and make this modification myself, has I have the milling machine and need to do something with it!! I also need the bike finished to take to the IOM by the Christmas holidays. I know I have set my self a tight deadline but a young talented rider wants to ride a Classic Trials bike,( I am not saying it is as out of the factory of the time, but it is of British manufacture ) and not a modern one, so I should make all the effort I can to help him with this quest before he changes his mind. Get the young Guy's interested in "Brit- bikes early, and they are keen on them for the rest of there lives??? Regards Charlie.

Hi Guy's Just about to mount a PVL ignition stator to my Cub crankcases. Now I have thought of several ways to mount the stator including a plate between the chaincase joints etc. But have come back to the conventional pole or stud (BSA) set up. Now do you think, it is better to mount the crankcase on a rotary table, on a milling machine, and scribe a 81mm circle (pitch Cirle diameter), then spot machine three pads, and then machine and tap three alloy or steel poles, then drill and thread the crankcases to exept these poles, then machine them level to exept the PVL stator plate. Or should you make up three poles and drill and countersink the crankcase from inside and screw to the poles this way. (locktiting the threads) Which do you think is the best way? or are there others? I will be guided by those who know. Regards Charlie.

Hi Guy's Just had a calculate of 1958 prices to todays. And a NEW Ariel HT5 in 1958 was about

Hi Guy's Looks like this thread has been put into the wrong catigory? Should it not have been posted in "Twinshock"? As It seems like you guys are talking about "Britshock" machines and not bikes built before January 1965. I think the time has come for people owning "proper" pre 65 bikes. to have events organised for them , very simular to the "Colmore Revisitation" event, a realy good day out for us Oldies, on old bikes with one or two old type long lane sections throw in for a bit of reality. Anyone interested in such an event, contact me. :icon_salut: :thumbup: Regards Charlie.

Hi Guy's. Yea hi Katie. We will be there if we posibly can. Intresting people the sidecar crews, I have tales that would turn your hair green. May spill them one day!!! I am sure Rob and Andy (Bludge) Will get there if they can?? Let me know if you need more, because I have contacts from last year? Regards Charlie.

Hi Guy's Hi Stephen. Love the blog, I am realy glad you enjoyed the day out in the Cotswolds as much as I did. And what better way to test ride a Royal Enfield. I must again congratulate the Stratford MCC, for a superb event. And the feedback that I have recieved over the past week. Only goes to show that this type of event has a Great future, in the calender of Sporting Motorcycle Trials Events. Nice One, :thumbup: Regards Charlie.

Hi Guy's Hi Katie, We rode trials outfits in the sixties, my driver was a top flight roadracer. I am building a replica of our trials outfit at the moment. If I can get it finished in time we will be there, promise. Regards Charlie.

Hi Guy's. Hi Pete. Love that, only proves how good this event was. I am sure that 101 years needs marking in the same way. See you next year. Regards Charlie.

Hi Guy's. Hi OTF. Yes I know what you are saying, and I know there are a load of military B40's in Jordan, for instance. but are you going to get them out of that country? and pay the tax's etc, and then make a profit on the parts? Someone will by the load for scrap, it is worth more. So parts will get re-made when they are needed. Regards Charlie.

Hi Guy's. Hi OTF, Are you saying that someone, is having a load of new BSA unit bits made then? surley not/ I did not know about this? or should I have? my mind does seem to wander now-adays though. I thought a guy named Wassel was the only boy that was having new replica BSA parts made. ? Regards Charlie.

Hi Guys. Probably made a bad job of putting these on, but could not find a way of reducing the size, when I have sorted the problem I will put the full shots on or link them, I should stick to working on bikes!! Regards Charlie.

Hi Guy's. And a couple more photos. Just a pity I have had to crop them. Regards Charlie.

Hi Guy's, Heres a link to video clip, Just a pitty there was not more footage, but the "Magic" moments went so quickly. http://www.youtube.com/user/leeaprescott?feature=mhum#p/a/u/0/Obru_EMcyL4 Regards Charlie.

Hi Guy's Hi Dave ,Hi OTF. Yea, I have managed to find a a lot of NOS bits or nearly NOS but I think that this is as far as we go with NOS BSA parts because they seem to be running out,Like you Dave I am just longing to get the current build running, to see if my theories are right, or at least workable. OTF ,I think that the Honda part may just have scraped into the sixties as it was a copy of a early Jap bike engine,but downgraded, Regards Charlie. Andy seem to be having conflicts with typing this copy tonight? not running as smoothly as normal??

Hi Guy's. Hi Dave, Yea thanks for that, that would be good. Would love to know what you are using in the motor? You could PM me if it is "Top Secret" The middle bit in the engine I am building at the moment has a Honda part that drives a machine that usaly dosen't move very far!! Regards Charlie.

Hi Guy's, Lee has just mailed me, and if you go to, www.leeprescott.com he has a good selection of photos from Saturday on his web site. and he tells me he will publish more when he has finished sorting them. Take a look, it portrays a Great event. (A picture speaks a thousand words) and all that. :icon_salut: :icon_salut: Regards Charlie.

Hi Guy's. Hi Woody, Are you still using the Mk3 Otter frame? just wondered as you say oil tank? Would love the information for the build for my website, www.bsaotter.com. perhaps you can mail me? Regards Charlie.

Hi Guy

Hi Guy's Hi Bob, With a unit BSA it is all about balance. Back in the sixties the boys in the Comp shop did there damdest, to try and find a reason why the B40 would not find the same grip has a good C15. Every thing was tried mostley to no avail, The boys sticking with the C15 motor found more grip. Most of them used higher comprestion pistons than was standard, and this made the motor even softer with its power delivery. There was no reason to it but it worked. I have always felt that a bit bigger piston might just help to increase this grip found with a C15 and 280-285 cc seems to be the Magic number.(Dave's bike is in this range) I have watched bikes perform with this capacity, over the past couple of years both solo and sidecar, and I cannot believe the grip and power that they are finding, I have been told this week that Jeff Smith agrees with me. So I can say no more, but watching Dave compete, on the bike for sale, I can tell you that this is a "Magic" engine, and one I would love to own. :thumbup: Ps,there may be spelling mistakes in this, but I have ditched the Google add on, as it was slowing up the computor to a standstill. Regards Charlie.