BSA Rocket Three (A75R) Mk 1 - Solving Erratic Running for Mark and Nigel - Part 1

There's an interloper in the Power Set garage and it needs help. A gentleman by the name of Mark Deakin approached the BSAOC enclosure at Founder's Day in July 2022 and asked if we could assist with diagnosing problems with a Mk. 1 BSA Rocket Three that used to belong to his brother Nigel. How could we refuse. In this Part 1, let's take up the tale with Mark and begin investigating the issues.
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[@g.g.6362]

Beautiful example. Very surprised that junking the horrible Lucas points wasn't priority on this rebuild/restoration.... A must,in my opinion. Great choice of paint and the X75 pipes. Look forward to the next episode.

[@BSAPowerSet]

Thanks for the interest and comment. It’s just a personal trait that I stick with original points as long as they’re in good condition and gapped/timed properly. Agree the bike looks good with that colour and the hurricane exhaust.

[@54macdog]

Beautiful machine. The three on the side pipes look amazing. I wish the new BSA could have given us something to really get excited about like a big retro triple instead of what they served up.

[@BSAPowerSet]

Thanks Mac. Yea I know what you mean - the new BSA is OK but you’ve hit the nail on the head - not very exciting. I for one will not buy a new retro simply because I think it would be too easy to use that instead of getting the old girls out and about.

[@DaveFiggley]

Clive? Top bloke. He told me where I could take a piss after driving from London to Coventry to collect my powder-coated frame and hardware. "Down there behind the shed", he said. He admitted that most of his latter days at Meriden were spent "on strike, lying in the sun." Choke slides on Concentrics or, indeed, Monoblocs are just an added complication. Flooding the carbs on start up via the ticklers is all you need to get the bike fired up, even with a triple where the centre Concentric is fairly inaccessible. Ditch the slides, plug the holes in the carb top, flood the two outer carbs and she'll fire up. Sooner rather than later the centre pot will join in.

[@BSAPowerSet]

Hi Dave thanks for the comment and interest. Yes entirely agree about Clive 👍 but not that triples don’t need choke - mine does but then it depends upon many other variables.

[@clive1860]

Thanks for helping me find the concluding Part " a really interesting thought provoking video, where persiverence and patience paid dividends

[@BSAPowerSet]

Many thanks for the interest and kind comment Clive.

[@kens.213]

A buddy of mine had the Triump version of the BSA, the Trident III. He could never stop the oil leaking around the vavle covers. Got so pissed one time he broke one of the cover bolts trying to stop the leak. Didn't set well with him, he got it fixed and traded it in for a Harley Sportster XLCH. I had a Kawasaki 500 Mach III at the time. We found an open stretch of highway one time and decided to see who had more top end, ended up a tie! But the Mach III would leave him quickly at drag racing from a standing start, or fast roll on at 30-50-70mph. I'm still amazed that we both managed to not get killed.

[@BSAPowerSet]

Cheers Ken for the comment, interest and anecdote. In my youth I was also involved in Brit versus Jap “comparisons”. Purely for research purposes of course.

[@cyclebuster]

I remember you from the Rocket 3 boards.

[@BSAPowerSet]

Cheers - thanks for the interest.

[@mikeymike3240]

Hi guys, i say this most respectfully and I can’t really help meself, so here goes, “we’re only making plans for Nigel “, it’s also my mates name from the late 80s , we worked together,and a favourite song and title of mine… The Hurricane is my all time favourite bike, those colours, the beautiful chrome and those exhaust pipes, like freaking WOW 🤩 guys. I have to say that purple is a favourite colour of mine so needless to say that BSA is beautiful and i wouldn’t turn my nose up if I could afford to buy it, she really is gorgeous. Great video guys and looking forward to seeing the next instalment lol 😂 Ps……if I had an old brit bike I’d have to have an electric rear wheel starter for ease of starting. Pps….it’s also great that you guys can work/mec on the engine.

[@BSAPowerSet]

Cheers Mikey thanks for the interest and kind comment and glad it brought back some memories for you - I remember that song well myself.

[@stewy62]

Looking forward to part 2, what a fantastic looking bike. !

[@BSAPowerSet]

Thanks Stew.

[@philmuskett265]

If you can get it running as well as it looks that will be one fantastic bike. Good luck, sure you'll prevail.

[@BSAPowerSet]

Many thanks Phil for the interest and kind comment. We’ll do our best.

[@a65builder67]

sounds like you've sorted it Angus as per normal well done.

[@mickducati1947]

Great vlog Angus Nice looking bike 👍😎

[@BSAPowerSet]

Thanks as always Mick and more to come 👍

[@Cobra427Veight]

My T160 takes a count of 6 seconds to tickle all three at the same time .cheers

[@BSAPowerSet]

Cheers Cobra thanks for the interest and comment.

[@motuekarewaka5145]

Lucas the prince of darkness😂

[@BSAPowerSet]

Thanks for the interest and comment. Indeed the prince of darkness although the main issue was the carb in this case which we can’t blame Joe Lucas for.

[@russturner1570]

The ticklers are obviously not depressing the float........remedy ..1/. check float level settings when carbs are off the bike. 2/. fit tickler extender kits on the outer 2 carbs.Also 1st things 1st.....check cylinder compressions / valve clearances.When running check for vacuum leaks especially at those rubber manifolds & carb base.Finally get rid of those bloody contact sets & fit a Boyer, Trispark or similar system.

[@BSAPowerSet]

Hi Russ and thanks for the interest and comment. I think we covered most of the correct points you’ve made across the two videos although the main issue was something we didn’t expect as you might see. Cheers.

[@grateberk6435]

Seems like its starved of fuel. Sorry , its easy commenting from the sofa but is the tank vent clear?

[@BSAPowerSet]

Thanks for the comment and interest. No probs and valid suggestion but we did check vent and fuel flow from tank which I think we did mention in an early clip.

[@nigeljohnson505]

I hate it when its nothing obvious. Changing the condenser should make a difference, I hope. Also, as the engine has been stood are the valves seating properly and perhaps, the rings are sticking a bit. Just thoughts Angus. I'm looking forward to the next episode because, when its sorted, that will be a cracking Rocket Three.

[@BSAPowerSet]

Thanks Nigel and for the suggestions. Further investigations already well underway as will be revealed.

[@brucegeange8991]

She ran perfect and had an even 500 rpm tickover have since fitted TRI spark

[@BSAPowerSet]

Fantastic Bruce I hope we achieve the same result with this bike.

[@joecampbell786]

My uneducated guess would be dirt in at least 1 of the pilot jets. Good luck 👍

[@BSAPowerSet]

Cheers Joe thanks.

[@matthewharmer1656]

interesting... you can buy adjustable floats,,also you can convert the carbs to longer tickler. don't forget to clean and prove the pilot air jets, I have the jet drills if you want, oh and junk the points lol...

[@BSAPowerSet]

Thank you Matt - you’re suggestions may have already been implemented in part 2 to be published hopefully next week.

[@matthewharmer1656]

don't forget fresh super unleaded petrol and correct valve clearances....

[@BSAPowerSet]

Yep yep thanks Matt

[@retired3067]

I would love to find one here in Canada to build or ride.

[@BSAPowerSet]

Thanks for the interest and comment. There's plenty in North America somewhere but perhaps in the US rather than Canada?

[@a65builder67]

hi Angus thanks for your Quick response, well there's something definitely stopping fuel from getting to the float bowls either float hight or sticking float needles but hightly unlikely as you would at least one of the bowls to flood as normal but for some strange thing they are not

[@BSAPowerSet]

All will be revealed in part 2 👍

[@jcreek3889]

Gold to see that you’re still uploading videos of these fantastic bikes. I only wish the two of you would stand closer to each other when recording with only one microphone.

[@BSAPowerSet]

Thanks JC. I was thinking of the lack of mic issue when filming but wanted the wide shot. I need to invest in more tech and Christmas is coming.

[@monzajunior7337]

@@BSAPowerSet Ask Santa for a couple of wireless lavalier mics :) Or something like Rode Wireless Go perhaps? with windshields

[@brucegeange8991]

Love the colour and hurricane pipes produce the best triple sound. 6 years ago I bought a t160 with 375 original miles. The float levels were all over the place. I set up an external fuel level line and adjusted the float needle bush so each carb was set by fuel not float level. Cleaned and cleared pilots make Cleaned points adjusted tappets and she started and ran like a

[@BSAPowerSet]

Thanks for the anecdote Bruce. I hope the truncated comment was to end “like a dream” …

[@mikeymike3240]

@@BSAPowerSet I was thinking train 🚂 lol 😝

[@brucegeange8991]

@@BSAPowerSet thanks Angus, it was my fat fingers. I finished the comment with another. I also have a tr5t and only ride the 🔱 sparingly. Both my bikes have never seen pump fuel and are treated to 100 octane leaded avgas. And they run cooler and sweeter. I just add Morey's upper cylinder lubricant to help look after the valve stems which triples and triumph 500s tend to be hard on

[@BSAPowerSet]

Thanks Bruce yes I suffer from fat finger syndrome too. I definitely agree that the higher the octane the better. I can get 99 so happy with that and the mower benefits too! I also concur regarding the hard life of valve stems and guides.

[@ericmowrey6872]

Love the pipes on the R3...beyond gorgeous. I hope you'll do a full vid on the Fury. I wanted to buy one back in the day. I'm an old fart now but I remember the adverts in various cycle mags for both the Fury and the Bandit. I was fairly gagging to have one. I think that was in 1972 but they pulled the plug before they made more than a handful. Would it have saved Triumph/BSA? We'll never know.

[@BSAPowerSet]

Thanks for the interest, comment and anecdote Eric. Yea we’ll never know if the Fury and Bandit would have made a difference but the company was in a big mess by then. There’s a whole playlist on the two Furys with more to come once I receive the gearbox replacements parts currently being manufactured.

[@howardosborne8647]

I have just read elsewhere that the lime green bikes were originally intended for the Italian market. I believe only 40 or so lime green bikes were ever produced.

[@BSAPowerSet]

Agree Howard - apparently the Italian distributor requested a different colour to red to distinguish from MVs! I’ve read a few different accounts of how many were produced but 40ish seems to be the consensus. Cheers.

[@clive1860]

Where is part 2 of this interesting video

[@BSAPowerSet]

Hello Clive and thanks for the interest. It's at this link and was uploaded after Part 1. kzbin.info/www/bejne/naSWfKCpbpV9Y6s hope that helps.

[@davidhailstone1519]

Angus, change the banjo filters as they can look good but wont let the fuel flow.

[@BSAPowerSet]

Thanks for the suggestion David. We have thoroughly checked them and indeed they are new filters but all will be revealed in part 2.

[@ianhalton4795]

Hello, I've just watched your video and my instinct draws me to those fuel supply lines and those jubilee clips, may I suggest removing those pipes and checking each connection for possible restrictions caused by poor clip position and over tightening. Best wishes. Ian.

[@BSAPowerSet]

Hi Ian and thanks for the comment, interest and suggestion. Indeed the jubilee clips are not ideal but they do work and are placed over the banjo arms. From memory the centre carb did tickle better than the other two when we first looked over the bike so that showed that fuel was travelling across the three carbs.

[@davidparsons4625]

LOL Now if you could do something about the oil leaks

[@BSAPowerSet]

I don’t remember seeing any. Thanks for the interest.

[@a65builder67]

hi Angus, the float hights should of been checked as a mater of course before rebuild especially when its showing no fuel at the ticklers, or at least the lenght of the tickler buttons also them amal carbs are well none for the pilot jets to block if lefts for any lenght of time. but if its responding to air screw you as you said it was you might be in luck and they are clear. but my bet is float hights petrol should appear within 10 seconds or there abouts of tickling. good luck Angus i know you'll sort it great vids keep them coming. Ady.

[@BSAPowerSet]

Hi Ady and thanks for the comment and interest. In fairness, Mark did a lot of work on the float heights when trying to address the running issues but if you research on the net there’s some conflicting information. Agree pilot jets always a consideration. Thanks again.