Octathorpe
'Lil Knee Scuffer
Like a lot of people during the pandemic I'm taking some old projects down from the high shelves and getting them in order. Now it's time to reassemble my BSA Paratrooper (Airborne) bicycle, SN R6599.
I bought this in 1997 and rode it a couple times, then stowed it away until 1999 when I began stripping it for refurbishment. The bike had been slathered in red house paint so I sand blasted a lot of it.
Every once in a while as the internet became popular I would do a bit of research trying to find a source for 'correct' paint. Ultimately it became clear that these bikes were painted whatever color the regiment that used them could come up with, and that the British 'standards' for color were "more what you'd call guidelines than actual rules". I'm going to leave it up to the next owner to decide a paint formula and color.
Anyway, I'm taking zillions of photos as I go. I even have hard copies of the photos from 1999 when I disassembled it. The handlebars aren't military spec but seem to be the civilian equivalent. Everything else is right out of war surplus; mis-matched war grade tires, BSA saddle, tool kit. A lot of it is still wrapped up right now, I've put the fork back on and am getting the axles back together with the wheels.
I loved finding a 35mm film canister with 48 carefully preserved ball bearings in it, labelled "BSA steering head bearings". I've never dealt with loose ball bearings before. I assembled the lower bits and then zip-tied the fork to the frame while I got the upper bits in. There was, of course, one ball bearing left over. I put it in the film canister for the next owner.
The crank hanger is brazed in some places, welded in others. Here the braze has formed verdegris, cleverly trying to look like green paint.
I have no idea where or when I got those brake pads, or if they fit. I know there's a BSA owner on this forum who was having brake pad problems. I'll figure that out when the calipers come out in the light again.
More as I go!
I bought this in 1997 and rode it a couple times, then stowed it away until 1999 when I began stripping it for refurbishment. The bike had been slathered in red house paint so I sand blasted a lot of it.
Every once in a while as the internet became popular I would do a bit of research trying to find a source for 'correct' paint. Ultimately it became clear that these bikes were painted whatever color the regiment that used them could come up with, and that the British 'standards' for color were "more what you'd call guidelines than actual rules". I'm going to leave it up to the next owner to decide a paint formula and color.
Anyway, I'm taking zillions of photos as I go. I even have hard copies of the photos from 1999 when I disassembled it. The handlebars aren't military spec but seem to be the civilian equivalent. Everything else is right out of war surplus; mis-matched war grade tires, BSA saddle, tool kit. A lot of it is still wrapped up right now, I've put the fork back on and am getting the axles back together with the wheels.
I loved finding a 35mm film canister with 48 carefully preserved ball bearings in it, labelled "BSA steering head bearings". I've never dealt with loose ball bearings before. I assembled the lower bits and then zip-tied the fork to the frame while I got the upper bits in. There was, of course, one ball bearing left over. I put it in the film canister for the next owner.
The crank hanger is brazed in some places, welded in others. Here the braze has formed verdegris, cleverly trying to look like green paint.
I have no idea where or when I got those brake pads, or if they fit. I know there's a BSA owner on this forum who was having brake pad problems. I'll figure that out when the calipers come out in the light again.
More as I go!