After many years of riding my 1959 and allowing her to be ridden in all weathers, I decided late in 2025 to rebuild her. From getting a new rod on her Crank, to getting her cases welded up.
UNDER CONSTRUCTION
My BSA C15 Star has for a long time being called "drippy" I can't recall who named her that. My very good friend Laura, or myself but her name was appropiate. It stuck. So, she had a bad oil leak from her inner gearbox case and overtime this became really really bad.
In 2025 I'd had a really stable period with my 750s and decided to throw untold effort and money at sorting once and for all my 59 BSA. For me, I enjoyed riding this small 250 as much as my 750 classics. She proved herself on many local journeys and I loved her dearly.
November 2025.
11th March 2025
I started to strip her engine out of the frame and take the engine appart. My friend Peter recommended Cambridge rebores, so the Engine cases and her crank barrel all were sent to Cambridge. They had the engine nearly six months, and during this period I started to investigate and catalogue her parts and ordering bushes and parts. Many were sent direct to cambridge rebores.
April
majority of the engine strip
Crank comes out.
insert photo here.
May
Engine strip complete
October 25
Cambridge rebore finish my engine ( ish)
21st November 2025 - I collect my parts.
4th December 2025
Engine cases connected to the engine jig and I start to dry assemble a lot of the engine and gearbox parts.
29th December 2025
Disaster - cases explode.
31st December 2025 photo session of the rolling chassis and prep to strip. Piston is fitted to the crank. She starts to look like an engine.
Insert photo here.
5th Jan 2026
parts go to powder coaters - KDS Whittlesea.
17th Jan 2026
tank and tinware taken to painter. John Sillet Chatteris. Wheels come up lovely after cleaning.
18th Jan 2026
I start to strip the forks.
23rd Jan 2026
Barrel goes on the engine.
31st Jan 2026
ignition and clutch ( new plates ) go onto the engine.
engine is mated to the frame ( in my living room !!!)
4th Feb 2026
lots of replacement parts arriving daily, i find an original throttle.
9th Feb 2025
I start to clean many of the small parts in preperation for paint and assembly.
10th Feb 2025
I manage a rolling restoration
** I am fortunate that I didnt have a budget, or was too worried about what I might find as i undertook the journey. What follows is a photo diary of her rebuild and the challenges I encountered.
I bought my 59 on the same day as my T140 Triumph. Over the years I have ridden her in all weathers, and used her as my goto old machines. What follows is a Chronological timeline of my project. Costs are not given
Start
End