BSA A65 with noisy bottom end was supposedly rebuilt at great cost. 

I have had a crusader trials for about 3 years and its a great bike apart from leaking oil every where , fix 1 leak and another appears .now i passed my test on a crusader sports back in 1976 and that 1 didnt leak oil at all anyway having watched 1 of your videos i saw there should be 2 little disks in the oil breather ,got and put disks in and what a difference -, a new bike so a big thank you and keep up the good work

The oil feed side of the crank bush was always the Achilles heel on these bikes….. mine broke in the 70s, and I got it converted to oil and feed need a roller and never gave any more problems despite 46,000 miles before I parted with it

In the 1980's I bought up dozens of old Brit Bikes that were neglected (cheap then) The BEST one I got looked horrible. It sat in a metal shed for years and was a rolling rusted basket. I paid 40 USD for it. Like all projects then, I tore them all down and started over. This 40 dollar bike had spanking new top end with zero miles on it. As I tore it down I found the coils were wired backwards!! The owner gave up and shoved it in a shed. These days I question every bike that claims to be 'rebuilt as some of the ones I got, p/o 's didn't know or were lazy and never cleaned the sludge traps. I would like to get an A65 today, but at my age, I can't handle much wrenching, and because of sludge issues, I'll never buy a 'runner'

You would think that the new owner would have heard all that noise ! Pre-purchase Inspection people !!

A65. Oh dear. I had one a 1965 Lightning Rocket. Fortunately the bottom end was rebuilt by Reg Allen and it performed flawlessly. As you know up until ‘66 the transmission side bearing was a ball which locked the crank and there was no sideplay in the crank.

Bloody shame for the owner but your 100% right on buying tatty runner than sparkling crap.

‘‘Twas ever thus imo. My first decade of motorcycling was the 1970s a time when Brit bikes were in serious decline. In those days there were still plenty of spares stockists who sold shite as well as the dodgy workshops. I rode, repaired and maintained Brit bikes then and I still have one now. Parts are much more expensive nowadays and that is understandable, but the quality is generally pretty good. Parts availability for my T150V is better now than it was for the new T160 I bought in March 1976.

I read the video title and my mind went to 'worn timing side main bearing' as a matter of course. Also, when it goes, the oil pressure to the rods goes down as well. Sorry to hear that the fella was taken in.

the prettiest little bike ever built , shame they didn't nail it on the internal design , but you can do an upgrade to make them better ,a norton 270 deg crank , right side bearing/oil feed upgrade , long head studs, & gear up to keep the revs down , the original over square used to rev their heads (literally sometimes) but you can make them good , & they are a good looker

I bet that was making a racket! I've recently bought a fairly tatty non-runner TR7RV Canadian import, and now have a 72 Daytona in bits as well. As Paul says, far better to buy something you know may need engine work than pay top dollar for a smart machine and find out that it will need engine work. As it happens the Daytona has had all the engine work done already, but buy buying in bits you can see what you are buying and get the satisfaction that when it goes back together you know that you can rely on it. I'd not trust a 'restored' bike until I'd had a good look inside the engine. A broken rod and a wrecked crankcase is going to devalue your matching numbers investment significantly.

Good findings

WHEN REBUILDING A HIGH MILEAGE ONE YOU REALLY NEED TO CLEAN THE ''GREASE TRAP'' NOT THE FILTER NEAR THE DRAIN PLUG WHICH MOST PEOPLE THINK YOU MEAN THE ONE IS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE CRANK THROW WHICH PLUGS UP AND WILL PREVENT OIL FLOW TO THE CRANK BEARINGS................

The problem here in the US is knowing a reputable and knowledgeable British bike mechanic so you can be assured the engine will be within specs and last a while. I'm seriously considering a classic twin to enjoy in my reclining (and declining) years, but don't want the bother of anything beyond loving maintenance. I started off at 18 on a British twin (1972 Triumph Daytona T100R) and would like to finish up on one, maybe a Lightning BSA.

As the oldest joke in the world goes… Knock knock ‘Who’s there’ ‘A65’

Sometimes its a bit of swings and roundabouts. All that bling can cost an absolute fortune these days.

Had the same Brother and then thousands to put right

I assume Im gonna pull apart an engine and go through the lot on a classic and price accordingly, as a result I dont buy any bikes now. To many show queens out there. I end up buying bikes that need total rebuilds then I know its been done right. I like to ride my bikes and will use them hard. Was lucky on Honda CB750 K0 14,000 miles probably genuine, motor was superb. Some goon had painted it poop brown with a brush, it needed all the chrome and paint doing plus seat and exhaust but for £3k and £3k to finish its 100% mint and perfect mechanics but sooooo much work, still thats what winters are for.

Are those genuine BSA shrapnel blasted conrods on that one?

That's terrible!!. Poor chap!. Just goes to show the depth people will sink to to make money!!!. Put me right off buying a classic !!. You would never dream looking at the bike the engine was knackered. Normally I would have thought it would be more expensive to get something to look that good in the first place. Many thanks for warning people Paul.

they were always doing bottom ends, they needed roller bearings

i had one of these, good cycle parts but oh my, that engine !!! it was just designed to be made cheaply. I bought a norton dommie 600 and never looked back. Goes to show , chrome dont get you home !

the coulor of the topof rhe pistons should be brown - like ur vids.

thoses con rods tell a story 2:24 those pitted marks should not be there

Is that front hub right? Triumph twin leading shoe, did they fit them to the lighting?

Jeeze the rods look a bit knocked around too

THAT IS SHOCKING, WHO EVER BUILT THIS ENGINE NEEDS TO BE PUT IN A WHOLE, TO LOVELY A BIKE TO DO THIS TO IT👍😎🇳🇿😂👍 KIWI PIP👍😂🇳🇿😎👍

oh man, that;s my worst nightmare

SHIT!! (Sorry for my language) that is just shocking! That is some serious crank bush wear... What about the big ends?

Así estaba la mía. Ahora olé...de..

I have heard quite a few stories like this over the years 0 even supposed good friends have ripped one another off. I always did my own work (- still do but modern Harleys these days) and just do not trust anybody as I have found downright poor workmanship from well respected shops etc. Regarding spares, the state of things I purchased as new parts back in the eighties is what made me give up on Brit bikes - the prices they go for today are silly considering how they are all worn out and nailed together.

SRM engineering in England rebuild and update these engines to a modern standard. They have a very good reputation, they also can work there magic on Norton , and Triumph.

Did you find the oil leak?

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. The A65 was the worst motorcycle ever made. In 1976 my 1972 A65 was motoring along at 80 MPH when the big end seized. Then the right hand conrod snapped at its narrowest point. The conrod, seized on the big end, flailed around and smashed the barrel and crankcases and punched the sump out. It also hit, bent and flattened the right had down tube. To finish off it went through the gearbox. So, I’m going down the road at 80 MPH with a jammed gearbox and matching locked back wheel which is sliding in the engine oil that is by now coating the road surface. As I fishtailed wildly I wondered if the clutch still worked. Miracle of miracles it did! That allowed the back wheel to resume turning and I managed to roll to a stop half a mile up the road and look back to admire the trail of engine bits and fragments gleaming in the morning sun. The bastard had completely destroyed itself, engine, gearbox and frame. Needless to say, I never bought another BSA.

sorry 4 the spellings

Yikes!

I always try to buy a pile of crap then when I find it is a pile of crap I am not disappointed but when I find it isn't a pile of crap I am happy.Colin

OMG what a ripoff.

Had similar problems people Will spent on chrome paint etc @engine. It run s why bother ok now fu,,,off matt

These bikes always made a racket

Why not name and shame the seller of this bike ? And perhaps save some other poor bugger getting conned !!!! 😠😠

Don't tell me bought off ebay