BSA · British unit twin (Triumph 350/500/650/750, BSA A50/A65 1957-1983)

A50 / A65 Star / Lightning / Thunderbolt / Firebird

Library entry covers 1962-1972

12 factory 59 guideline

Published source

BSA A50 and A65 Twins Workshop Manual (BSA), Lubrication Section A, Routine Maintenance p.A2

Factory workshop manual. Covers BSA A50 / A65 workshop manual (1962-66 models); intervals in miles and km.

Open the source

71 items for a 1962 model, grouped by interval the way a factory chart is laid out.

How this bike is built (what the schedule is based on)

Engine cycle: Four-stroke
Engine lubrication: Dry sump (separate oil tank)
Oil filtration: Mesh screens / strainers only
Valve gear: Overhead valve, pushrods, adjustable tappets
Ignition: Battery and coil with contact points
Charging: Alternator / stator with rectifier
Battery: Wet cell (flooded lead-acid, needs topping up)
Fuel system: Single carburetor
Cooling: Air / oil cooled
Primary drive: Chain in oil-bath case with its own oil
Gearbox oil: Separate gearbox oil
Clutch control: Hand lever, cable
Final drive: Chain
Front suspension: Telescopic fork
Rear suspension: Swingarm, twin shocks
Front brake: Drum (or band / stirrup)
Rear brake: Drum (or band / belt rim)
Wheels: Spoked, tubed
Sidecar: No sidecar

Maintenance schedule

1962 BSA A50 / A65 Star / Lightning / Thunderbolt / Firebird

On the road: every 200 mi

1 item

Check engine oil level

Pre-ride / on the road

Guideline

Each fuel stop on old machines. Dry sump: check the tank hot, engine idling or just stopped, per your manual.

On the road: every 300 mi

3 items

Check lights, horn, brake light switches

Pre-ride / on the road

Guideline
Check tire pressures

Pre-ride / on the road

Guideline
Lubricate drive chain

Pre-ride / on the road

Guideline

Lube warm, ideally at the end of the riding day so it soaks in overnight. Sooner after rain.

On the road: every 500 mi

1 item

Walk-around: check nuts and bolts for vibration loosening

Pre-ride / on the road

Guideline

Old machines shake things loose: exhaust nuts, mudguard stays, footrests, tank mounts, battery strap.

On the road: every 600 mi

1 item

Check chain slack and rear wheel alignment

Pre-ride / on the road

Guideline

On the road: every 1,000 mi

1 item

Check road kit: plugs, points file, master link, tube patches, wire, tape

Pre-ride / on the road

Guideline

Every 1,000 mi or 1 month

1 item

Check battery electrolyte, top up with distilled water

Ignition and electrics

Guideline

Wet-cell batteries on old machines need regular topping up, more in hot weather.

Every 1,000 mi or 6 months

7 items

Check finned exhaust nuts / pipe clamps tight

Engine

Guideline
Inspect, clean and gap spark plugs

Engine

Guideline
Grease swingarm pivot

Rear suspension and frame

Guideline
Adjust front drum brake

Brakes

Guideline
Adjust rear drum brake and rod / cable linkage

Brakes

Guideline
Check spoke tension and wheel true

Wheels and tires

Guideline
Inspect tire tread, sidewalls and date codes

Wheels and tires

Guideline

Every 1,500 mi or 6 months

2 items

Clean oil strainers / mesh screens

Engine

Guideline

Often done with every oil change on old machines.
Clean / inspect air filter

Fuel and air

Guideline

Mesh or oiled foam: clean and re-oil. Paper: blow out or replace. Some very early machines have no filter at all.

Every 1,500 mi or 12 months

1 item

Adjust clutch free play, lubricate cable and lever pivot

Primary and gearbox

Guideline

Every 2,000 mi or 12 months

1 item

Check / adjust primary chain

Primary and gearbox

Guideline

Every 2,000 mi

6 items

Change engine oil

Engine

Factory

Manual: Oil tank: drain and refill. Factory: Routine maintenance p.A2: oil level in tank checked daily
Check gearbox oil level

Primary and gearbox

Factory

Manual: Gearbox oil level: check. Factory: Routine maintenance p.A2: primary chaincase level checked at the same interval
Clean drive chain thoroughly (remove and soak, re-lube)

Final drive

Factory

Manual: Rear chain: lubricate. Factory: Routine maintenance p.A2
Grease and check center / side stand and springs

Rear suspension and frame

Factory

Manual: Center stand pivot and brake pedal pivot: grease. Factory: Routine maintenance p.A2
Lubricate brake cam spindles, check linings and drums

Brakes

Factory

Manual: Brake cam spindles: grease. Factory: Routine maintenance p.A2
Lubricate control cables and lever pivots

Controls and cables

Factory

Manual: Exposed cables: lubricate. Factory: Routine maintenance p.A2

Every 2,500 mi or 12 months

1 item

Check and adjust valve clearances

Engine

Guideline

Every 3,000 mi or 12 months

13 items

Check engine mounting bolts and plates

Engine

Guideline
Check pushrod tube seals and rocker box joints for leaks

Engine

Guideline
Check throttle cable(s) free play and return

Fuel and air

Guideline
Clean fuel tap filter / sediment bowl

Fuel and air

Guideline
Check / set ignition timing

Ignition and electrics

Guideline
Adjust clutch pushrod / clutch adjuster

Primary and gearbox

Guideline
Check chain guard, chain oiler (if fitted), rear chain case

Final drive

Guideline
Inspect chain and sprockets for wear (measure stretch)

Final drive

Guideline
Check steering damper (friction or hydraulic)

Front end

Guideline
Check steering head bearing adjustment

Front end

Guideline
Inspect fork seals, stanchions and fork boots

Front end

Guideline
Check footrests, pegs, rear brake and gear lever pivots

Rear suspension and frame

Guideline
Check wheel bearings for play

Wheels and tires

Guideline

Every 4,000 mi or 12 months

1 item

Replace spark plugs

Engine

Guideline

Every 5,000 mi or 2 years

1 item

Check cylinder head bolt torque

Engine

Guideline

Air-cooled iron and alloy engines can lose head bolt tension; follow your manual's sequence and whether it is done hot or cold.

Every 6,000 mi or 12 months

5 items

Clean carburetor float bowl(s), check float level and jets

Fuel and air

Guideline

Ethanol fuel varnishes old carbs quickly in storage.
Check charging voltage and regulator / cut-out

Ignition and electrics

Guideline
Check swingarm bushes for play

Rear suspension and frame

Guideline
Inspect rear shocks for leaks and damping

Rear suspension and frame

Guideline
Lubricate speedometer / tachometer cables, check drive

Controls and cables

Guideline

A dry speedo cable whips the needle and eventually kills the instrument.

Every 6,000 mi or 2 years

2 items

Check engine breather and oil return

Engine

Guideline
Lubricate and check automatic advance unit

Ignition and electrics

Guideline

Every 6,000 mi

3 items

Clean and gap contact breaker points, oil cam felt

Ignition and electrics

Factory

Manual: Contact breaker cam and auto-advance: lubricate. Factory: Routine maintenance p.A2
Change gearbox oil

Primary and gearbox

Factory

Manual: Gearbox: drain and refill. Factory: Routine maintenance p.A2
Change primary chaincase oil

Primary and gearbox

Factory

Manual: Primary chaincase: drain and refill. Factory: Routine maintenance p.A2

Every 10,000 mi or 2 years

1 item

Compression test (or leak-down)

Engine

Guideline

Every 10,000 mi

1 item

Replace chain and sprockets (wear based)

Final drive

Guideline

Every 12,000 mi or 3 years

1 item

Replace points and condenser

Ignition and electrics

Guideline

Every 12,000 mi or 4 years

1 item

Decarbonize head, grind / lap valves (top-end decoke)

Engine

Guideline

Period practice. Leaded-era valve seats may need hardened seats for unleaded fuel.

Every 12,000 mi

3 items

Change fork oil

Front end

Factory

Manual: Front forks: drain and refill. Factory: Routine maintenance p.A2
Repack / replace steering head bearings

Front end

Factory

Manual: Steering head bearings: grease. Factory: Routine maintenance p.A2
Repack / replace wheel bearings

Wheels and tires

Factory

Manual: Wheel bearings: grease. Factory: Routine maintenance p.A2

Every 15,000 mi or 5 years

1 item

Inspect clutch plates and springs

Primary and gearbox

Guideline

Every 15,000 mi

1 item

Replace brake linings / skim drums (wear based)

Brakes

Guideline

Every 25,000 mi or 6 years

1 item

Replace swingarm bushes / bearings

Rear suspension and frame

Guideline

Every 25,000 mi

1 item

Clean crankshaft sludge trap (engine apart)

Engine

Guideline

Triumph and BSA twins trap sludge in the crank. Usually done at engine rebuild.

Every 30,000 mi or 6 years

1 item

Rebuild forks: seals, bushes, springs

Front end

Guideline

Every 6 months

1 item

Clean battery terminals, check charge and strap

Ignition and electrics

Guideline

Every 12 months

1 item

Check speedometer / odometer against a known distance

Controls and cables

Guideline

Old speedos drift with tire size and drive wear. Use phone GPS over a measured 10 miles / km.

Every 2 years

3 items

Inspect fuel tank for rust, sealer failure, leaks

Fuel and air

Guideline
Inspect wiring, bullet connectors and ground points

Ignition and electrics

Guideline
Inspect frame, welds and lugs for cracks

Rear suspension and frame

Guideline

Every 4 years

1 item

Replace fuel lines

Fuel and air

Guideline

Old rubber and modern ethanol fuel do not mix well.

Every 6 years

2 items

Replace inner tubes and rim tape with tires

Wheels and tires

Guideline
Replace tires on age (regardless of tread)

Wheels and tires

Guideline

Guideline lines: Intervals here are general guidelines for the machine's era and layout, compiled for this app. They are not factory manual figures. Check your workshop manual, and edit any interval in the bike's Schedule tab.