Before you buy a project, ask the question that matters most: can I get the parts? A common bike with a strong club and a good supply is a pleasure. A rare bike with unique parts can stop a project for years. Plan your search before you start.
Start with the owners' club
Most makes and models have an owners' club, and many have a spares scheme that sells reproduction parts at fair prices, or a register that knows who has what. Club magazines and forums are the best source for part numbers, known problems and trusted suppliers. See clubs and federations.
Marque specialists
Many makes have specialist firms that stock new, used and reproduction parts and that know the model. They are the first call for common wear parts: gaskets, seals, bearings, cables, brake parts and electrics. Ask the club which suppliers have a good name.
Autojumbles and swap meets
An autojumble is a market where traders and private sellers sell parts, usually from vehicles. It is the traditional place to find used and NOS parts at fair prices, and to meet people who know your model. Bring your part numbers, photographs, measurements and a list. Go early for the best choice, or late for bargains.
Online
- Marketplaces and auction sites list used and new-old-stock parts. Check the description and the photos, and ask for dimensions.
- Forums and social media groups for your make often have members who sell or swap parts.
- Be careful about prices that look too good, sellers who will not send more photos and parts that appear in several sales at once.
Used, NOS and reproduction
- Used. Original, with wear. Check for cracks, wear and repairs. Cheap and period-correct.
- NOS (new old stock). Original parts that were never fitted. Often best for trim, decals and wear items, though old rubber and seals may have perished in storage.
- Reproduction. New parts made to the original design. Quality varies. Ask the club for reports, and check the fit and the finish before you commit.
- Re-manufactured or upgraded. Parts made to improve on the original. Good for reliability, but they are not original.
Check before you buy
- Match the part number, the model and the year range. Many parts changed in the middle of a year.
- Ask for photographs of the front and back, and the part number on the part.
- Measure critical dimensions. A bearing, a bush or a fastener is easy to compare with a caliper.
- Keep your receipts. A stolen part with no history can cause trouble later.
Cross-fitting
Many bikes of one maker share parts between models, and many British bikes used the same Lucas, Amal, Smiths and Girling parts. Bearings, seals, chains and fasteners are standard sizes, so a bearing supplier can often match them by size. Ask the club which cross-fits are known to work.
When the part does not exist
- Have it made. Engineering firms can make bushes, shafts, brackets and simple castings from a drawing or a sample.
- 3D printing and scanning can reproduce plastic parts, covers and brackets, though not stressed parts.
- Repair the original. A cracked casting can often be welded and a worn shaft rebuilt.
- Join a register or forum. The one person who has the part is usually already a member.
Keep a parts list
Keep a list of what you need, what you have and what you have ordered, with part numbers and prices. It keeps the budget honest. See planning a restoration.
