I was shouting “the compression plate Michael!”

If you weren't recording for us, you probably wouldn't have forgotten a thing. Thanks for the great videos.

"Arse over Tit" a colloquial term used by the "Squirely Classes" in the North East of England or indeed, just like me and the Misses coming out of Spoons on New Years Eve, must have been the frost. Keep them coming Mike.

Michael, you ought to invest in an assortment of left hand drill bits. Then when you drill out a bolt it might grab and unscrew. Very handy and well worth the investment.

Hi Michael - Happy New Year. Another great project in the making - I'm a 1971 BSA nut if there ever was one - and I'll be restoring a 1971 B50SS myself this year so very timely. FYI if the engine is from the last 1973 batch built at Small Heath, these were detuned with a compression plate at the base of the barrel as standard for the US market.

Love the “warts and all” videos, makes me feel normal. Nice to hear some “engineering” language occasionally when things don’t go to plan. I don’t think I’ve ever worked on an old engine without something giving up (part and parcel of a restoration). Best wishes for the new year.

Good one Michael, your engine work videos are my favourite part of the builds. I like how you don't edit out the small mistakes, or as you rightly said human errors. Helps me feel not so bad when I do similar things.

Speaking of "old age creeping' up on me more than I thought"... I am almost your age and work in a company with 12 others. A few of them are in their late 20's and have university degrees and are very bright and quick (especially with computers). I too have "senior moments" and find myself wondering if I'm getting over the hill. Whenever that happens it is usually guaranteed that one of the bright young guys has a "senior's moment" and does something dumb. I usually tell them that they must be getting senile (with a smile).

Michael, fwiw, I learned in the '60s from working on Japanese machines that a snappy strike of a #3 impact bit into jammed screws like that will loosen them (tiny compression of the screw land underneath) and facilitate their removal with just a plain Phillips driver. I also can't imagine, even on shop production basis, using an electric impact because it won't force the bit into the screw head like a hammer impact does. Anyhow, B50MX has to be one of the most fun scrambles machines I ever had a chance to ride, too bad I couldn't afford one even though I worked for a dealer at the time.

I'm ashamed to say that I've not checked in for a little while, so I've got some catching up to do. I'm looking forward to seeing this one progress 🙂 Happy New Year mate👍

What a can of worms you've opened up there Michael. You would've felt really bad if you did send that motor of to New Zealand. Nick Australia

A good way to hand wrench side covers that are loose is use lapping paste on the allen key. Hard crash to crack that primary wow. Hold layshaft and push off timing pushing in the cam to hold tappets will then come out as a cassette.

Somebody get that man an impact screwdriver. You hit it with a hammer and it turns, works amazingly well. Had a tr25w my first and last British bike, leaked more oil than a Harley.

I like to give sticky countersinks a tap with the ball pein, frees up a fair percentage of them.

Forgetting just help you remember the next time! Good work Sir and thanks for the video's I do enjoy them, very inspiring.

Off to a good start. Despite te tight bits it came apart OK. That crack will test your skills a little, guess you'll be using the oven on that one. Thanks Mike.

All the best for 2022 bonny lad, nice to see a B50 stripped .

More real life workshop drama - Thanks again Michael

I find a hand impact driver is useful for getting screws like those little standards or the one you have to drill on the primary cover. Much less chance to strip a head.

I wouldve had to bag and label everything as it came apart, with a parts book handy to make a note of any scrap part numbers to order, because l know my limitations!

all the time I'm watchin this, I'm thinking CCM....Dave

This modifacation of the breathing is pretty common. My B50 also has this. It´s made to keep the dirt from the clutch out of the engine oil.

great vid Michael thank you, Happy New Year

Curious as it why you went straight for the drill for that stuck bolt and not a screw extractor? Good job

What a complex primary chaincase, parts screwed everywhere. No-wonder British bikes cost so much to build.

Didn’t see you take off the oil pump worm drive Michael., was there any spacer behind it, ?

I was expecting the worse, but that engine doesn't look bad, apart from the crack in the primary case. Good work there Michael, looking forward to the rest. BTW, dose it have a 5 plate clutch in that model?

I haven't been inside BSA C/B series singles for almost 50 years but I'm surprised how much I remember. You mentioned you got it from Florida? Friend of mine (work acquaintance really) was going to build a 680 for road racing but he retired and we fell out of touch. It would be too much of a coincidence for it to be Mr. Kerr? Crack in case was because someone tried to remove clutch hub without puller, just prying on case and sprocket. I've seen complete backs broken off. (pretty sure you have as well?) Was clutch nut 15/16"? was oil pump shaft bent even slightly?

another great video !!!

Hi Michael Is there any chance of you stripping the crank so I can see what it involves as I've got a B50 to rebuild and I've on B25 engines and not a roller bearing big end before ? would be very helpful indeed [watched your videos since you did the B25 love them and always enjoy even when you did a yamaha engine only joking] thanks steve walsh uk

What an oddball! Some of it looks pretty damn scruffy, but the bearings and valves don't seem to have much mileage on them. Makes me go, hmmmm.....

I'm following this with much interest,Michael. What are your thoughts on the perceived unreliability of the con-rods on these B44/B50's and their tendency to snap? I appreciate the honesty in your videos.

How not to treat your screwdrivers, really a guy who’s supposed to be experienced should know better!

Looks like it's going to be another interesting build. Q- Why such a heavy bearing assembly on the primary side.RMM

29:29 Perhaps the word for it is 'fooked' !

Very good Michael, fairly good condition apart from the cracked case. Have you heard from Ade at AG Engineering at all? Best wishes, Dean in Oxfordshire, UK.

thank you

COOL

A tap with a parrelel pin punch on the head of that screw may have been enough to loosen it , drilling into the screw head is a bit further down the list for me I never use power tools to undo screws on an engine especially an old one and the way you laid the engine over onto the cylinder head made me cringe I've just built a b50 engine from parts it took me years to gather them ,the crankcase and head came from America where they are a lot more plentiful than blighty so I'm only jealous!!! It seemed like you were in a hurry with this engine strip ? No offense by any of this it's just an observation I'll be watching with interest I've had BSA unit singles since 1977 best wishes with it

Michael, years ago a BSA collector friend of mine told me that you could modify a B50 to use a Chevy Corvair piston. The Corvair piston is about .130" dia. larger. Is there enough meat in a B50 jug to do this? Have you ever heard of this? Just a courious question. Thank you kindly!

Why don't you use an impact driver on the screws?

I'm doing a "trials conversion" of a 77 2-stroke Mexican bike (Carabela - kind of Bantam-ish) - I'm a rookie for sure and wondered, is there a 5-point (or whatever) list of things needed for a trials bike to make it half decent and not just an exercise in styling. Gearing obviously, footpegs probably, tires for sure - but wondered about head angle, swingarm length, possibly longer shocks etc. - just a place to start learning what the pros would do, if anyone knows. Thanks.

This is not like your normal calm videos! Were you on the happy juice?

👍🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

Crank appears to have excessive runout?

I love red! I love all shades. Looks like a great bike project! Ohhh a crack. Need to heat the crack? Aluminum? Good stuff Michael. 👍🥸

How do i contact u about a B50T motor i need restored

arm pump special

If you are selling engine , why do you skill have it

croydon 1964 how did cope.

Screwdrivers are not drifts or tab washer benders, a man of your experience should know better Sir!