1923 BSA Model F V-Twin help

[41Chief]

Hello,

I recently purchased a BSA Model F, circa 1923. i am importing it from the EU and should have it in the next week or two. It is a nominal 1 liter bike.

Anyway, if am looking for an owners and service manual. If anyone has one that they can make a copy of I would be willing to purchase it from you.

Also, an recommendations for a source for parts.

Any recommendations are far as oil and tips on starting procedure.

Thanks

[HDSmitty]

Please post a picture of this bike when you get it! Thanks, Smitty

[Steve Slocombe]

Check the VMCC library for literature. I'm in the UK and can collect parts for forwarding to you if needed.

[JoJo357]

Here's one that sold at auction around 7-2023. *Click on it.

1923 989cc BSA 8hp Model F MOTORCYCLE Reg. No. DS 6975 Frame No. L126 Engine No. G1878 BSA's first V-twin, the 770cc (6/7hp) Model E, debuted late in 1919 and was the forerunner of a long line of rugged and dependable 'sidecar tugs'. A larger, 986cc 8hp version debuted as the Model F in 1922 and would continue in production as the Model G, regularly revised and updated, until 1940. This example was apparently purchased in the early 1990s as a running and riding machine and stood for some while Vintage sale - Sale 2 - Motorcycles, Selected Vehicles, Automobilia and Automotive Spares (Lots 420 - 810) etc to be held at The Machinery Saleground, Sutton, Ely, Cambs, CB6 2QT - COMMENCES AT 9.00AM | Machinery and Vintage Auct


*M.A.D.*

[41Chief]

Pic of the 1923 BSA Model F

[Steve Slocombe]

Nice period London registration number on that bike. The XN series was used only February through May 1923.

[41Chief]

An update. I finally got the bike late last week. It took a bit of time to get it uncrated but it was time well spent.

Anyway, I put some 50W oil in the right tank and squirted a bit of starting fluid into the carb intake and she fired up on the second kick and ran for about 5 seconds as I had no gas in the left tank. that was a good sign. The bike actually sounded for good, not too loud, not very mechanical. Nice idle.

Work has kept me busy but I worked on it a bit this morning. There are bunch of levers on the bike that I have not quite figured out:

Two levers to the carb. One seems to work the throttle, not sure what the other one does yet. There is no 'traditional' twist grip for the throttle.
Advance / retard lever to the magneto. haven't quite figured out which direction is advance yet.
Another lever that goes to the engine on the left handlebar just to the right of the clutch lever. Could this be some sort of dump valve to purge out excess oil from the crankcase?

Anyway, I put about 1/2 gallon of fuel in the left tank and I opened up the oil line valve. When I did that some fuel starting dripping out of the bottom right side of the crankcase. there is a round removable plug there. When I removed it a *BUNCH* of fuel / oil mixture came pouring out and when I looked in the left tank, all the fuel that I put in there was gone. So, i *guess* the carb float is sticking and dumping fuel into the cylinders? or ?????

When I removed the fill cap from the tranny, it was full to the top with what looks like light grease. Certainly not 50-60W oil and it was thicker than high pressure gear oil. What oil is supposed to go into the tranny?

there are several things on the right tank that I *think* are for the oil flow. One is a push / pull type lever which I guess can be used to forcibly push more lube oil to the engine. The other is a twisting thing which I do not know what it is for and then there is a glass bubble which I think shows oil actually getting to the engine.

Anyway, I got some work to do on the bike, but at least it started for me. No clue how long it has been sitting before I got it.

I could *really* use an owners / drivers and service manual for this bike. If anyone has one, please let me know.