BSA Bantam D7 - FREE BIKE Resto - Piston down.

[grizz]

I will use this thread as build thread for the bike.

Loads of pics to be added later.

Please add any information, and if you know where parts are going cheap, or free, please let me know.

There are a few bits missing and some bits knackered.

What you see in the photos is what I was given today.

This will be 100% learning for me.

The head is seized, and I could not get the plug out with modderate force earlier.

Got to meet up with Kev today, and have to say, what a thoroughly decent and knowlegable chap.

I had my mate Kevin use his wife's car to tow my lightweight bike trailer to fetch the Bantam Kev gave me ( he had rescued it from the crusher recently), a lovely 200 mile return road trip.

Look in Kev's signature for the other bikes he has, including a stonking Kawasaki Z1000 MkII and a BSA with a neat story.

The other bike that took my fancy was a little Yellow gem of a Honda (a bike I had incidentally had on my Ebay watch list a few weeks ago)

I can now say that I have FREE BSA Bantam D7 with a seized head to restore.
Thanks to England-Kev.

My wife is not convinced, but hopefully she will allow me to get it back to running, and much later do a cosmetic resto or clean up.

In the mean time I will start looking for bits and pieces that are missing off it.

[AtomicRooster]

This is a bike i'd love if i could afford it, looking forward to this.

[retrowagen1234]

OH wow!!! Thats brilliant. I grew up with storys of my uncle doing schoolboy scrambling on Bantams

Allways wanted one but never had the funds to back it up.

Know any of the history of it?

[grizz]

Jan 23, 2011 18:35:11 GMT @retrowagen1234 said:

OH wow!!! Thats brilliant. I grew up with storys of my uncle doing schoolboy scrambling on Bantams

Allways wanted one but never had the funds to back it up.

Know any of the history of it?

Have texted Kev, the rescuer of this bike who offered it to me free, other than collecting it 100 miles from here without a company car.... ultimately cost me £30 in diesel and a mates car to fetch it today.

I believe it was a true barn find, but am trying to find out how long it was stood.

Kev also has a BSA which has less than 2000 miles on, first owner fell off it, and parked it up for 42 years untill Kev found and bought it a couple of years ago.

Will try to find out more.

[93fxdl]

looks like there is a strong racing following for bantams
www.bsabantamracing.com/
since yours is in trials guise have a look here
www.trialscentral.com/forums/forum/14-pre-65-bikes/
or how about an owners club
www.mistgreen.com/index.htm
a suggestion for getting a seized plug out would be to give it a good roasting with a blowlamp
but if the worst happens and it takes the thread out a helicoil is an easy fix
ttfn glenn

[retrowagen1234]

Jan 23, 2011 21:35:32 GMT 93fxdl said:

looks like there is a strong racing following for bantams
www.bsabantamracing.com/
since yours is in trials guise have a look here
www.trialscentral.com/forums/forum/14-pre-65-bikes/
a suggestion for getting a seized plug out would be to give it a good roasting with a blowlamp
but if the worst happens and it takes the thread out a helicoil is an easy fix
ttfn glenn

Or a new head

cgi.ebay.co.uk/BSA-BANTAM-CENTRE-PLUG-CYLINDER-HEAD-/370475211978?pt=UK_Motorcycle_Parts&hash=item56420b1cca#ht_500wt_715
;D

[93fxdl]

someone else has restored a bantam d7
www.freewebs.com/bsarestoration/
ttfn glenn

[grizz]

Thanks guys , I do need all the help I can get.

Will start reading and learning about these bikes when I get some time.

[grizz]

Have a few pics taken when we collected the bike.

Kev's very Rare in the UK, Honda 90 , it is a USA import that I had been watching on Ebay too.
Having seen some of his other bikes, I know this one will be a good one too.

Kevin and Kevin discussing what a bike with two rear sprockets can get up to with a postal delivery guy on it, or out hunting on the farm.



Note the two sprockets at the rear, one bolts over the other, and then you splice a section of chain in to lengthen the chain, and hey presto...... low range.





Loaded Bantam.



Just what have I let myself in for ??




The long road home.......




Parked up at home in the garage..... it will stay here for a bit till I know what to do and what I need.

More detailed pics later.

[pedalcarjoe]

has Kev just bought the Honda , is it a CT90 model


well done on the BSA

[grizz]

Jan 24, 2011 10:29:37 GMT pedalcarjoe said:

has Kev just bought the Honda , is it a CT90 model


well done on the BSA

Thats right, he wanted it, and bought it.

All the parts still pretty much available new, depending on where you look.

[DutyFreeSaviour]

Most Excellent! Free can never be overpriced and that is a real stonker... I do like the frame on this - looks really good.

You'll be kept busy with this then.........

good luck

John

[grizz]

Jan 24, 2011 11:27:51 GMT DutyFreeSaviour said:

Most Excellent! Free can never be overpriced and that is a real stonker... I do like the frame on this - looks really good.

You'll be kept busy with this then.........

good luck

John

Thanks John, for the first time ever, I will have to do this outside of regular hours, as I have quite a lot left to do around the house, also had an interview today, will hear if I make the assessment day late tomorrow.... and going to London tomorrow for some other stuff, so I do have quite a lot to keep me busy.

I am looking forward to getting dirty though.

[dungbug]

I'd have happily travelled 100 miles to pick that up, she's a cracker. Well done sir, that's the sort of 'project' I'm after to fettle with now that I have some space, I'll be keeping an eye on this thread.

BTW, hope you get some good news with the interview Rian.

[grizz]

Jan 24, 2011 18:01:43 GMT dungbug said:

I'd have happily travelled 100 miles to pick that up, she's a cracker. Well done sir, that's the sort of 'project' I'm after to fettle with now that I have some space, I'll be keeping an eye on this thread.

BTW, hope you get some good news with the interview Rian.

Thanks Mate, diesel cost me £30 for my mates wifes car, though he is in the dogbox now as he left her the whole day.

Interview felt good, guy has 5 more tomorrow, then a few get invited to a whole day's assessment centre, and if you pass that, they may offer you a job.

[alecw35]

whats the story with the frame rails that are under the seat? they were straight on my dads D10 and D14 Bantams. have they been bent to get the shock top mounts a bit further forward?

[grizz]

Right, now for some detail pics.

What you see is what I have , no spares, and the missing or rotten bits are the bits I will be needing to see this bike back together.

Keeping in mind I want..... no NEED to do it on a shoestring, being unemployed etc, buying brand new parts or trading vital organs for bits aint gonna happen.



Side engine cover missing, and probably everything inside there rotten.



Chain will get a diesel bath and soak, then a decent wash (maybe in the wife's dishwasher indoors)



OK, who knows Sammy Miller ?

Original number board hints at history of this bike, which I do not know yet.



Home made footpegs, corrosion, and exhaust tell part of the story.



I want to flip the exhaust up to be high level, and will make up a heatshield for it from some ally I have here, or modify something else.




Rear subframe was "modded" with a 10 pound hammer or something similar.
Ideally it needs replacing.
The seat also needs significant editing I would say.
Rear shocks will probably get replaced if I can get a decent set.



Rear view, needs a bit of magic.



Front view.



Handlebars and throttle assembly have probably seen their best days.



Front and rear wheels are both 19" items, surely not correct.
I plan to sand them down and paint, either black or silver Hammerite, spokes are only in need of a clean up.
Hobs need to be checked.



Loads of little dents on the tank, rusted inside, and sticker stating " Bantam Super " was painted over at some point.
Happy to clean up the tank and repaint it, and clean the inside with modern rust agents and seal it, unless I find a really decent replacement tank.





Seat has a large rip that could be micro sewed up, or replaced.



Lastly for tonight, I am led to believe this is a competition head on there, enough reason to fix it all up.




There you go then, that is the story to date.

Tomorrow I am in London for most of the day, but hope to find the engine and frame numbers by the weekend.

In the mean time, keep fingers crossed that mirracles happen around this lovely little bike.

[93fxdl]

sammy miller is a name that is akin to god in the trials world
www.sammymiller.co.uk/
ttfn glenn

[grizz]

Jan 24, 2011 20:45:28 GMT 93fxdl said:

sammy miller is a name that is akin to god in the trials world
www.sammymiller.co.uk/
ttfn glenn

LOL... Yes Glen, he is one of the few people I would put up there.

[93fxdl]

as for cleaning the chain the correct term would be "ex wifes" if you put it in the dishwasher!!!
for repairing the subframe I would suggest cutting off the "adjusted" sections and weld in straight tube with the ends flattened for the bolt mountings.
regarding the seat, its a shame you arnt local to me as I have access to the cushions from a few office chairs that were scrapped (black vinyl cover and 3" thick foam)
couple of suggestions for the points cover,
the bottom of a saucepan (if you can get away with chain in dishwasher the theft of a pan wont matter) or an old style hubcap cut down.
unless the dampers are leaking just pull the springs off then clean and paint
ttfn glenn
you probably have this but if not here is a bantam club for you
bsabantamclub.11.forumer.com/index.php?sid=16f80dcf73d5d5ff115a0b08dcf251b2