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  #1  
Old 05-05-08, 17:45
Niteshade Niteshade is offline
Brad Farmer
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Kingston
Posts: 19
Default Restoring my BSA M20

Hey gang!

I am new here, and am quite pleased to have found your site. More so, I have learned a few interesting restoration tips for my bike.

I am the proud new owner of a 1945 BSA WM20 motorcycle. Absolutely thrilled. I take delivery tomorrow and I can hardly sit still. She runs, and barely leaks oil, so very little engine work is needed (mostly cosmetic!) and I already have a painter lined and ready to go.

My intention is to paint it in Canadian colors and badging, specifically for the PPCLI in Europe. My understanding is the following will be done:

Base Color: #15 Olive Drab (consistent with 1944/1945 bikes in europe)


Markings:
Both side of fuel tank, C number over top of a forward facing Division Mark:
1st Canadian Infantry Division


With the Unit Badge (60) in a light shade of green on the front Fender:


Placement's are based upon:

and


Anyone have any suggestions so I am somewhat historically accurate with my markings, and the correct placement for a PPCLI bike in europe in 1945?

Thanks,

Brad
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  #2  
Old 05-05-08, 17:48
charlie fitton's Avatar
charlie fitton charlie fitton is offline
HLIofC - Normandy Pl
 
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Maryhill Ontario
Posts: 942
Default BSA wm20

What part of the world are you in?
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Charles Fitton
Maryhill On.,
Canada

too many carriers
too many rovers
not enough time.
(and now a BSA...)
(and now a Triumph TRW...)
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  #3  
Old 05-05-08, 18:47
Niteshade Niteshade is offline
Brad Farmer
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Kingston
Posts: 19
Default

Hamilton Ontario. Why?

Nites
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  #4  
Old 05-05-08, 20:22
Alex Blair (RIP) Alex Blair (RIP) is offline
"Mr. Manual", sadly no longer with us
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Ottawa ,Canada
Posts: 2,916
Wink Protocol

Quote:
Originally Posted by Niteshade View Post
Hamilton Ontario. Why?

Nites

Nites...
Charlie wants to know where to go to steal it...
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  #5  
Old 05-05-08, 20:43
Geoff Winnington-Ball (RIP)'s Avatar
Geoff Winnington-Ball (RIP) Geoff Winnington-Ball (RIP) is offline
former OC MLU, AKA 'Jif' - sadly no longer with us
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 5,400
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Alex Blair View Post
Nites...
Charlie wants to know where to go to steal it...
He'd have to figure out how to ride it first.
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  #6  
Old 05-05-08, 21:04
Alex Blair (RIP) Alex Blair (RIP) is offline
"Mr. Manual", sadly no longer with us
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Ottawa ,Canada
Posts: 2,916
Wink Training wheels...

Quote:
Originally Posted by Geoff Winnington-Ball View Post
He'd have to figure out how to ride it first.
Jif.
Charlie would probably have little tracked training wheels on it and roaring around on it in no time..
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  #7  
Old 06-05-08, 03:39
Niteshade Niteshade is offline
Brad Farmer
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Kingston
Posts: 19
Default

Oki Doki. That is all super.

If he can break into my bunker of a garage and get past my dogs - then he can have it. Poor guy won't have any legs to ride it with though....

As for the markings - is this reasonably accurate?

Nites
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  #8  
Old 06-05-08, 11:43
Wayne Henderson Wayne Henderson is offline
Member since 1998
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Western Australia
Posts: 468
Default accurate markings

Hi Barry,
For accurate markings, find an original photograph of WM20 in Canadian service and copy that. Motorbikes fell into a class of their own regarding paint and unit markings. Only experts will tell you the "Correct" colour for
Military Motorbikes and you don't really want to go there unless you want a factory new parade-ground pussy.
I also tried to get close to original markings for my Aussie WM20, I found many photos and spoke to DR's that rode them in service, all correct and all different. Best photo I found was of a bunch of Aussie MCs in Syria with Kangaroos painted on the tank, so wrong but what the hey!
You are correct in that the Brits and Very North Americans painted numbers on their front guards... were it suited them.
Some bikes had a single coloured band to signify a unit, except white which was on the front and back mudguard which signified "Don't run me over" when riding at night.
As for the "C" serial no. on the tank, it appears in a single line or sometimes with the "C" centred over the serial no.
Also, if your WM20 barely leaks oil it must be empty.
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  #9  
Old 06-05-08, 12:16
malcolm erik bogaert malcolm erik bogaert is offline
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Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Berwick on Tweed on the English/Scottish Border.
Posts: 491
Default Bsa M-20

Its a proven fact...every British Bike Ive ever owned leaked oil in large quantities...worst was the Triumph 500...best regards malcolm
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  #10  
Old 08-05-08, 13:53
charlie fitton's Avatar
charlie fitton charlie fitton is offline
HLIofC - Normandy Pl
 
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Maryhill Ontario
Posts: 942
Default Where you live helps-

Hamilton Ontario. Why?

Because I live near Cambridge and most of my wm20 is in the garage there.

We may be able to share notes........

.....and I won't be putting little tracks on anthing
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Charles Fitton
Maryhill On.,
Canada

too many carriers
too many rovers
not enough time.
(and now a BSA...)
(and now a Triumph TRW...)
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  #11  
Old 08-05-08, 13:54
charlie fitton's Avatar
charlie fitton charlie fitton is offline
HLIofC - Normandy Pl
 
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Maryhill Ontario
Posts: 942
Default Bite me Jiff

Quote: Geoff Winnington-Ball: He'd have to figure out how to ride it first.
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Charles Fitton
Maryhill On.,
Canada

too many carriers
too many rovers
not enough time.
(and now a BSA...)
(and now a Triumph TRW...)
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  #12  
Old 19-07-08, 13:03
Darren Witty Darren Witty is offline
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Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Brisbane, Austrailia
Posts: 192
Default WM20 - Correct tyre size and pattern

I have recently bought a WM20 and it has odd tyres on it with 3.25-19 on the front and 4.00-19 on the back. The trend pattern isn't the same either. I have looked at different pictures but can't see a common tread. Does anyone know what the wartime 'issue' tread would have looked like and the size and possibly the maker?
Attached Thumbnails
photos 032 (Medium).jpg   photos 033 (Medium).jpg   photos 035 (Medium).jpg  
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Darren WITTY
Brisbane, Australia

1941 LP2A Carrier
1942 WILLYS Slat grill Jeep
1943 GPW Jeep
1943 No 4 FMC Trailer
1943 WELBIKE
1942 WM20 BSA
1943 F15A Blitz
MK ? Universal Carrier
1953 Mk II Ferret
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  #13  
Old 20-07-08, 03:23
Wayne Henderson Wayne Henderson is offline
Member since 1998
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Western Australia
Posts: 468
Default

Hi Darren,
I had several M20's (ex Australian Army) and two had original, but unusable, tyres. They where from memory Olimpic Patrols and had a cross of squares in the centre of the tyre, kind of looked like flowers, and normal block tread on the edges. Same tyre front and back, 350 x 19.
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  #14  
Old 20-07-08, 22:27
rewdco's Avatar
rewdco rewdco is offline
Jan Vandevelde
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Bruges, Belgium
Posts: 78
Default military tires

Quote:
Originally Posted by Darren Witty View Post
I have recently bought a WM20 and it has odd tyres on it with 3.25-19 on the front and 4.00-19 on the back. The trend pattern isn't the same either. I have looked at different pictures but can't see a common tread. Does anyone know what the wartime 'issue' tread would have looked like and the size and possibly the maker?
Darren,

There's a very interesting section about war time military tires on the Norton 16H website: http://www.wdnorton.nl/Tyres.htm . I'm pretty sure that the tires used by BSA and Norton were more or less the same.

Regards,
Jan
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"And now it's your turn to get up off that couch and go into the deserts, go into the mountains, go under the lakes, rivers, and seas and search for history. You'll never find a more rewarding adventure!" (Clive Cussler)

1940 Royal Enfield WD/C
1942 Royal Enfield WD/CO
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  #15  
Old 05-01-09, 02:25
Geoff Winnington-Ball (RIP)'s Avatar
Geoff Winnington-Ball (RIP) Geoff Winnington-Ball (RIP) is offline
former OC MLU, AKA 'Jif' - sadly no longer with us
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 5,400
Default Another BSA M20

In addition to the BSA M20 I just posted on in the FOR SALE forum, this beauty was on display at the motorcycle show today. I have a hi-res photo of that interesting REME data plate if anyone wants them...
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bsa04.jpg   bsa05.jpg  
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  #16  
Old 05-01-09, 19:47
peter simundson peter simundson is offline
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Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: mississauga, Canada
Posts: 1,182
Default Re motorcycle markings

I have the original "Canadian Corps Vehicle Serial Numbers and Colour

Markings" sheets. If you send me a PM I will copy and mail you the section on motorcycles.

Peter s
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