I have a old 650 Bonneville engine, perfect, just don't know what to do with it...

Recently my father passed away and left me a whole ton of motor bike bits and pieces (and motorbikes!). All of the motorbikes are chained up together so I can take as long as I want with them, but in my flat are some huge boxes that contain two engines. One of them is an old Triumph 750 Bonneville engine, and the other is an old BSA engine, I think I remember him once saying it was a Bantam but I'm not 100%.

My problem is that I never got a chance to learn much about mechanics from my dad so these parts are just taking up space for me as I'll never rebuild either of them. I have taken pictures of everything and checked the condition of things - forgive me for my un-technical explanation - everything is oiled well and i checked the big bearing (Bottom bearing?) with the two shaft things attached and it turns over perfectly with no grittiness or crunching. All parts seem meticulously kept. I just have no idea what to do with it, where to find anyone that would want it, and if I'm completely honest, I'm not 100% about their worth. I know they are both classics and I know that the parts are fairly sought after, but thats about it.

This is my first post anywhere, I thought id start at googles first hit for triumph forum. In an ideal world, I would be able to get them to someone who would document a rebuild project so maybe even someone on this forum would be interested, but really I would just like any advice anyone would be able to give me.

the full album of pictures can be downloaded from my dropbox (I could only upload a few here): https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/4383979/Bike bits.zip

thank you in advance for any help, and sorry for the long first post from a Newbie.

[EDIT] I found the v5c for it and its a 750cc 1977 Triumph Bonneville. Google bring up the Triumph T140. I have no idea about the BSA engine though.

 

Hi and welcome to the forum.

There are some members here who should be able to help with regards to these bikes.

Another suggestion is making contact with you local Triumph and BSA motorcycle owners club and see if they can be of help.

Cheers

Steve

 

the bsa looks like either an a50 or A65 so a 500 or 650,

 

Thank you Steve.

I have emailed both local owners club, hopefully get a reply in the next few days.

thanks,
T

 

Now that you mention it, A-something does ring a bell. Thanks a lot, at least I have a base to start from now!

 

I do believe, TM, that the engine number stamped on the BSA crankcase (about the same place as on the Triumph engine) will show the model no., A50/A65, in the same way as on the Triumph - assuming you have the bottom half of the engine. I'm pretty certain that this is the case, but I have been wrong before!! :frown:

 

I have managed to collect enough information about the Triumph that I think I am ready to sell it on. The only thing I'm not 100% about is the worth but someone has told me I should attempt to sell it all with frame for around 1200, does this seem reasonable?
Also, if I were to make a advert on here would I post it into the bike for sale sub-forum as a whole project bike or the parts sub-forum? I'm really unsure whether to list it on eBay too..

I don't seem to half the bottom half of the BSA so am definitely unsure about what to do with it now.

Have emailed both my local BSA owners club and the Triumph owners club but have received no reply for weeks now.. Very strange, I thought people would want this stuff!

The new pictures are here if anyone would like to view them: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/4383979/Alan - Engine parts.zip