BirminghamtoBerlin.com

REME workshop

Here we will put hints, tips and pitfalls of restoring a WM20
And believe you me, we've learn't the hard way!

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We hope what we have learned from our trials and tribulations will become an invaluable source of information for anyone else embarking on restoring a WW2 military M/C.
We will also list useful addresses and suppliers we have found helpful including weblinks where known:
 
Top of the list is Henk Joore's Two sites. The first his own personal one relating to all things BSA WM20, it is quite simply the best place on the net for finding out anything about the WM20
 
the second is Henks most informative WM20 Forum, we would have been lost in the wilderness without the freely given help from some of the guys that frequent the forum.
 
Then we come to one of my favourite parts suppliers Draganfly, they are very helpful and supper speedy, their prices are for the most part very reasonable.
 
Heres a site that caters for the BSA WM20 of particular note is their new made gearbox clutch lever rubber boots, but scroll down they also have lots of other stuff: http://bsam20.come2me.nl/index.php?id=245304 I thought it was Italian but may be Dutch judging from the nl in the URL, site in the link is in English.
 
For the annual July 5 day War and Peace show at Whitbread hop farm. Near Paddock Wood in Kent UK - The largest gathering of Military vehicles on the planet go to www.warandpeaceshow.co.uk They also have a tent city of Militaria and Spare parts dealers which in itself would take a whole day just to get round. In 2009 it from the 22nd to the 26th of July. Tickets can be prebooked online.
 

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Not technically part of the project but Richards Matchless worthy of a quick photo

Heres a few more links to websites we have found helpful in our restorations:-
 
For all those decals for your WM20 - you can do no better than go to http://www.classictransfers.co.uk.
 
For replica tax discs made out for the year, and office of issue you want can be found here:- http://www.poplargreg.com/taxdiscs/discsforebay.htm
 
For replica british army uniform at reasonable prices which include delivery worldwide http://www.replicaters.com/ww2britarmy.html
 
For replica and replacement parts for Classic bike electrical systems this guy knows his stuff - Paul Goff on Http://www.norbsa02.freeuk.com/index.htm
 
An untried czech supplier in all manner of rubber and replica parts for British bikes, interesting stuff http://www.vintage-replica.cz/english/engl.htm run by Jiri Horice
 
A forum I only recently discovered - the Gentlemans Military Interest Club, has an excellent thread on an enthusiast in Iceland's Military WM20 restoration including some nice close up pics http://gmic.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=3758
 
For those interested in British WW2 bikes but perhaps not the BSA marque - I must recommend the excellent site for Norton 16H & Big 4 in military service http://www.wdnorton.nl/index.htm
 
Another non BSA link but a goodie nevertheless is Lex Schmit's site devoted to several british WWII Motorcycle types, the Welbike is well covered (no pun intended) and theres a magnificent photo archive on the Norton big4 sidecar combination - including pics of a 3" mortar carrying version - serious firepower! www.welbike.net
 
I hope to add more useful links soon

Line drawing of BSA WM20 Mid/late war
BSA_WM20_Clip_Art.jpg
Right click and save then colour it in in your scheme

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Chris's 1939 WM20 with fluted headlamp glass fitted

My 1939 WM20 came to me with only a headlamp shell and a few of the internals, Henk Joore helped me out supplying a replacement original reflector and rim, the rim was quite rusty but restored nicely, the reflector retaining clips and fluted glass were both purchased very reasonably from eBay UK vendors.
Its amazing what typing BSA M20 into the search engine will pull up!

A few back end assembly tips I learned the hard way:-
 
Tip number 1 - Always mount upper and lower chain guards before you put the rear mudguard and its associated stays in place.
 
Tip number 2 which is sort of related to tip number one, Fit rear wheel before mounting rear mudguard - it is recommended mudguard stays be connected to the mudguard before lowering it into position,
 
Tip number 3 Space between tyre and mudguard is very restricted and the rear mudguard is best mounted before the oil tank  for easier access to the forward mounting points.

The official lube chart
Lubechart.JPG
click on the pic to enlarge

Click here for Pdf of lube equivalents dated 1/4/43

Advert for BSA from 1940
BSAbright.JPG
click on pic for larger version

Below are some downloadable PDF documents featuring Lucas equipment relevant to the BSA WM20 :-

PDF of Lucas M01L Magneto

PDF of Lucas E3LM Dynamo

PDF of remagnitising magnetos

PDF of Lucas MCR2 regulator

PDF of Lucas Batteries

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