charlie prescott

Hi Guys. Hi Ross. Have just found some more info on the bikes built by you and your brother Mike and father Ray. There is one on e-Bay for sale at the moment. a C15 engined one with the dural frame, Price

Hi Guys. Hi Pat. I have spent half an hour trying to find out if the MP S600 forks were being built before 1965. It looks as though they may have been available before that date, because the larger forks were fitted to Sprite machines in 1964 before Frank Hipkin had his own copy made. I think the guys who scrutineer the bikes for the Pre65 Scottish could perhaps put us right. But I would feel that they were made before this date. If anyone who worked for Metal Profiles or DMW in the early sixties reading this could let us know it would be a great help. Regards, Charlie.

Hi Guys. Hi Graeme. Odgie's right In what he says , and there is a lot more parts than he as mentioned that you will have to find. And here is another problem! time, to find and put together the parts, and the bike. And then half way through the project getting fed up with it and throwing the lot into the back of the shed. But if you are commited to the project you can have many hours of thoughtful fun in overcoming the problems that you will no dout come across in the build. And then have great pride showing off the bike when it is finished, and also the pleasure of riding it. Or you could keep your eyes open and buy one that as already been built and sorted, It's up to you at the end of the day, Good luck anyway. Regards Charlie.

Hi Guys Hi Pocket. If you are intrested in a replica BSA C15 T trials frame still. Check out what I have replied to the guys on subject,(What Qualifies for Pre-65 Trials?) And you will see there may be a chance of getting some made. Regards Charlie .

Hi Guys As stated change all of the bearings while you are at it. they are always in a state. and the more maintenance on these the better. Spray with WD40 every time you wash the bike to displace water. Try your local bearing shop for the bearings, mine came up with them. Regards Charlie.

Hi Guys, Hi Boc. I have just spoke to Paul Jackson, And he says he may build a batch of replica C15/Tiger Cub, frames if we keep pestering him, and come up with the orders for a batch. But we will have to be patient, as he needs a rest after building a batch of TEN.Yes (10). Ariel HT frames. Good for the cause? I think so. Ten C15/Cubs would be just as good, So I'ts up to you. Regards Charlie.

Hi Guys. Hi,BOC. The number I have for Paul Jackson. Is (01422 378100) Ive just tryed the number and it rings so you may be in luck. I will give him another ring later and see what he says. It Is a good debate that wiil be never ending. Regards, Charlie.

Hi Guys, Hi STU. You are probably right about bikes from France, Spain, Germany etc, But to be honest would any of us Brits know what year these bikes were built or could date any of the parts.I don't think so. I must admit that the ones that I saw at the Manx Two Day, did mostly look the part, but without a skripted journal on each bike I would not know. And most seemed to be using brakes that would not be exaptable here (Twin leading shoe) I don't think so. We are still a brilliant back room engineering nation , and this shows with what we put together. But I dare say that this is at this moment being coppied by a company in China. So we can't win? with what ever we do. Just keep building class machinery, I'am sure we can ride them somewhere, ay John. Ps Try Paul Jackson for a C15 frame , he as built replica Triumph Cub frames. Regards Charlie.

Hi Guys, Hi ALT. You could try contacting Mick Whitlock, by phoning Mick Pearce On 01962 864272, or 07810 504404. Hope this helps. Regards Charlie.

Hi Guys, For your quest to find some of the Walwin trials bike's that were built you probably live in the right place, as Ross Winwood used to run a post office/ store just a few miles from Stratford. I can not remember the Village's name off hand but ia'm sure one of the Stratford club lad's will know.(Scorpa 3) perhaps. I do know where a imaculate example with a Bsa C15 engine lives in a village not far from me. and is owned by the son of a very good friend of mine, who helped to teach me how to ride a trials bike many moons a go, Ted Freeman. the sons name is Edd. I have seen this bike at Alan Wright's offroad show at Malvern a couple of times. there also was the bantam engined model with dural plate frame as mentioned by the other Guys , there this year ,and I seem to remember another C15 engined one as well, PS There is a picture of Edd riding his C15 engined Walwin on page 76 of Offroad Review number 43, May 1997. Good luck with your search, and keep us posted. Regards Charlie.

Hi Guys. Hi Howard. Don Morley's Classic British Trials Bikes, is the bible in Pre 65 trials bike circles. but you will have to pay

Hi Guys, Hi Big"j". I know you'r right on every count, but it just seems a shame that to even consider sending for an entry to the pinicle event for Pre65's you have to have a machine specificly built for just this one event. (Or at least a frame,forks.carb,etc). The manx classic two day has the same problem with entry's but the bike rules are a bit more flexible, but then you have got to take in the price of getting there, with the Cost-a-packet company. Going back to the subject, find out your Offroad Review Number (91) Is the bike on the front cover, ( Ex Brian Hyatt) in your veiw elegible for the Scottish Classic two day trial. If you think it is, I might try for an entry on that. I think an Ariel (MST) is too big for me to pick from the floor nowadays. Hope your Bsa is Ok you must send me the spec. Regards Charlie.

Hi Guys, Hi Big "j". I agree with what you say mate, but feel it rather unfair on the "Otter" type frames for the Bsa C and B type enginend bikes when there are New frames that look a bit like a C15 t frame that are given a ride most years. And I don't want to get started on the Triumph "Cub" or Ariel HT5 frames that I see compeat every year. Hope your forks have not got PJ1 oil in them then. Regards Charlie.

Hi Guys. Thank's Woody. This is what I have been saying for years, and I can remember a Guy with a large section spine type frame for a C15 long before 1965. I am still on with The Scott Ellis replica, as well as several other bikes. The frame as been compleated for some time, along with most of the other bits ,like hubs forks etc, but am still missing a few correct engine gear box bits for the "f" type engine. Will try to get a picture of the frame on to the site , if I can, Then you will see the difference with this frame and the Faber type. Is a Faber frame with a Cub engine OK for the Scottish Big"J"? Regards Charlie.

Hi Guys Hi Pete, The good news is that the Suspected Foot and Mouth case in Sollihull as proved NEGATIVE. So there's hope for the not too distant future that thing's will be back to normal. Sorry the Trail bikes has been canceled as I know how much work it envolves. Good luck with the future trials, I am allready looking forward to next May. Regards Charlie.

Hi Guy's. A "Otter" Frame with a oil tank fitted, could be OK, for the Scottish? so Ia'm told, along with frame rails underneath the engine. We Will See. In the new year. Four stud forks? Naa. don't thinks so. Have you seen all the bikes from the EU. Nice engineering though. was looking at a few at the "Manx Classic". Regards Charlie.

Hi Guys , I agree with Scorpa 3, We must respect the country side and help all we can to prevent any more outbreaks. We then will be respected in the future. Good luck with all the build prodjects that are underway. Regards, Charlie.

Hi Guys, Hi " Big J". Was watching the old tape of the scooters in the Scottish a few weeks ago, brings back the Old Days Aye, Been to the Manx Classic at the week end , Its amazing how the boulders seem the same as in Scotland. Will try again to post some pictures of the event, when I have time. Regards Charlie.

Hi Guys. I don't think Nigel could work for the DVLA. as the guys working there can't write, they have to get the woman, running the show at the counter,to fill the forms in for them. ( this is only my way of thinking , after years of suffering). Regards Charlie.

Hi Guys. Hi Marcus. DVLA. Did. Very. Little. Always. I think No GCSEs Or Uni. Only a MTT. ( Made The Tea ). Dont even start me off, Have you ever taken, trucks and Horse Boxes , for yearly Plate, It's an all new world, out side the test station for them. and a damm frustrating one inside one for us. Regards. Charlie.

Hi Guys. I was chatting to a good friend of mine this last weekend. He is an engineer and machinist of some rupute,and also looks after some of the country's historic armoury, IE Field guns,Rifles,and Cannons etc. I asked him if he could machine me a set of "fiddle fork" sliders. I thought it should be easy for him as he dealt with gun barrels on some of the jobs he did I showed him the Marzocchi sliders that i needed machining down to fit inside the "Short Norton Road Holder" ones that I was proudly polishing in my hand. He shook his head, and said it would not be easy, and could turn into a long and expensive Job. He then went on to explain how he would go about it. First he would need to line bore the Roadholders to clean and break the surface hardness of the bore, to get a good bond when the two parts were mated together. This would entail finding a boring head the correct size and machining a solid shaft to fit this to get the depth of cut. A jig would have to be made to hold the fork legs in position for this task. The Marzocchi legs would probably need normalizing to reduce risidual stresses in the structure of the legs and help with the machining process. Then he would need to make a solid expanding mandrel to fit snugly inside the Marzocchi leg to hold and support it during machining on the lathe, Why? Because the grains in cast aluminium are very coarse and do not machine well, the leg would probably break or end up the shape of a banana. Sticking them together was anouther major task, and I will not bore you with the details,but it did mean mixing aircraft quality epoxy resin together and a time and measurment scale that was much to precise for me to grasp.The final task would be to machine up two extention sleeves to lengthen the Roadholder sliders to the same length as the Marzocchi's. So the moral of the tale is Don't Try This At Home, but get someone who as performed this task successfully several times before to do it for you . and Hang the cost, because it could be a lot cheaper than you messing the job up yourself. Regards Charlie.

Hi Guys. Yes its true, but don't panic , we can allways make contingentsey,plans and try and rearange trials into suitable areas. showgrounds etc. But the best thing to help is to stay off of all farm land from NOW. And then we can't be blamed for spreading the disease, and the sooner it's brought under control the better. I'am sure DEFRA will say the same. And think what jobs we can do that we have been putting off for ages. Regards Charlie.

Hi Guys, Know what you mean about "Old Sam" but the guy is a legend and deserves a long and happy retirement. His manner as always been brusque, and his wallet always tightly shut. ( I can well remember Sam and (desperate)"Banbury Dan" bartering over parts for our Ariel not one of them would come up with a final price for the bits and I ended up modifying the yokes my self). I know one of his suppliers is pinned down to the last farthing,and then as a job to get Sam to open the till, But don't forget Pre65 Trials would not be on the map at all if it was not for this man. So good luck to the new owners of Sammy Miller Products, we should give them our support to get the venture rolling again. And good luck to you Sam Im' sure we will see you about. Regards, Charlie.

Hi Guys, Yes you are right about the kickstart, Iv'e done my homework since and they were fitted to customer bikes, it was the shock of seeing one so standard,that thru me, and mine at the time didn't have one like this. As you say all the bits are out there, but just clean and re Chrome the bits you have.The engine may only need new bearings and a grind in of the valves after a clean up,( if miles are correct). All the bits to overhaul the monoblock carb are available, seat can be re covered. and Dunlop pattern tyres can be found. Good Luck Again Regards,Charlie.

Hi Guys, Hi .Ewan Taking a look at the pictures of the Old Bike makes me think that it is a bit more than a customer 1959 C15T. the Kick start like this was only fitted on the works bikes of the time, alloy tank was a replacment for the steel one fitted but it still has the steel hubs fitted to customer bikes, check out it's full history, as there are not many like this left, restore it as it is , if you do fit PVL ignition (Alan Whitton). leave the distributor in place(for show) to keep it original. Fork tubes are available from a Wassel agent, Good Luck with the project. and keep us Old Timer's in touch with the outcome.( a good web site for information about C15's, is www.bsa-c15.org.uk) Good pictures of a C15t in Trials Riding by Max King, book. Would put some pictures on if I could get them to work. Perhaps, "Big John" could put them on I bet he has the book. Regards. Charlie.