[SOC] British terminology

[Sandy]

I donno if it was a "single jug" engine or not, but used to ride a 400 cc old BSA.
Damned thing would 'climb a wall' with no trouble if you kept the bike upright!
Woe to they that didn't retard the spark to start up!  It would make you feel
like it broke your leg!  OOOOOuch!
73,
Sandy W5TVW
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Art - W6KY" <w6ky at sbcglobal.net>
To: <kevinrock at earthlink.net>; "Second Class Operators' Club" <soc at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Friday, January 14, 2005 9:10 PM
Subject: Re: [SOC] British terminology


| That 500cc BSA was lovingly known as a 'Thumper' due to the sound it 
| made while at idle.
| "Thump, Thump, Thump,......." I used to ride one out in the Mojave 
| desert. Steve McQueen
| had one and we rode together several times. You haven't lived till you 
| have walked into a
| liquor store on a Sunday out in Mojave with Steve McQueen.....The 
| Thumper was fun. You
| could pull stumps out of the ground with that cycle. I was tearing out 
| across the desert one
| day abt 60mph and the handlebars came loose from the bike and I was just 
| holding them and
| the cables. Can't remember much past that point!     Great bike but 2 
| cycle bikes did a lot
| better in the dirt.....
| 73,  Art   W6KY
| 
| Kevin Rock wrote:
| 
| > While working on my BSA (Birmingham Small Arms not Boy Scouts of 
| > America) Goldstar in the late 60s I had to deal with British words for 
| > the parts.  I also had to use Witworth wrenches to take things apart.  
| > Journals?  Gudgeon pins?  Spanners?  It all became clear once I looked 
| > at the drawings.  But lighting by Lucas was the most interesting part 
| > of the whole affair.  Or the engine, transmission, and ignition system 
| > all in separate pieces held together by obscure fasteners.  Made 
| > riding the bike a pleasure.  But a 500cc singly cylinder motorcycle 
| > with spark advance (retard), a compression release, and a rider who 
| > weighed 120 pounds soaking wet was the most interesting part.  My 
| > father got his jollies by watching me try to start the beast.  Open 
| > the compression release, kick the engine around until just before top 
| > dead center, tickle the Amal carb until just the proper amount of 
| > gasoline dribbles out, and then kick for all you were worth.  If the 
| > stars were just right it started.  The fun part (for my dad that is) 
| > was when it kicked back and I was raised into the air.  Repeat the 
| > entire procedure until either it starts or the rider becomes weary 
| > enough to start polishing the cases again.  The ignition system would 
| > also make the TV and every radio within a few miles have some very 
| > interesting crackling sounds.  But then the sound of a single cylinder 
| > 500cc motorcycle is unique.  After riding for 30 minutes or so you 
| > would get off and try to see straight.  Multiple images of everything 
| > filled your eyes.  Then wheel the bike into the garage.  Place the 
| > newest piece of cardboard under the bike to catch the inevitable drips 
| > from the various leaking areas.
| >
| > Nothing like a British bike from the 50s or 60s!  I loved that beast 
| > and its quirks.
| >    73,
| >        Kevin.
| >
| >
| 
| 
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