DUNLOP tyre spoons

Private Lugnutz · Nov 4, 2017

For Farmer J and all my other UK mates, a pair of MADE IN ENGLAND tools, for a change.

I picked these up at a flea market. At first I thought they might be brake spoons. When I saw the 'DUNLOP' and the 'MADE IN ENGLAND' markings, I knew they were for motorcycle tyres.

They are both 7" long. Not sure what the "273" signifies, when they obviously have different size spoons (or levers, if you prefer) on the ends. I am guessing that the other numbers, worn down and very hard to read, are for a specific tyre size.

I am running 3.75 x 19" on my BSA WDM20. I'll have to do a little test.

In the meantime, I am hoping one of our UK friends can chime in.

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d42jeep · Nov 5, 2017

Something tells me that BSA will soon be rolling around on a new set of Dunlop tyres!
-Don

DadsTools · Nov 5, 2017

I like 'em! I can think of many other uses around the shop for a tool like this.

bluebolt · Nov 5, 2017

I have 3 of those, the Dunlop is easy to read but the other lettering is hard to read because of the black coating (Japanning?) on them.

humber2 · Nov 5, 2017

These were supplied for car balloon tyres from the late 1920's to WW2, after WW2 the flatter version was supplied for a decade.

Most were black painted (japanned), plated ones perhaps for upmarket marques.

For spoked cycle tyres a smaller lever was the norm, one end cranked at 45* with a slot to hook onto a spoke.

The Dunlop TL/7 is an example amongst many styles and sizes.

Private Lugnutz · Nov 5, 2017

Thanks, Humber.

humber2 · Nov 5, 2017

Lugs, I've just looked up the BSA Replacement Parts book for 1938 and it shows the double spoon style was supplied, just one though.

29-9252 is the BSA part #

Sorry for the confusion created.

Private Lugnutz · Nov 5, 2017

No prob. Thanks for reconfirming.

Farmer J. · Nov 6, 2017

Private Lugnutz said:
For Farmer J and all my other UK mates, a pair of MADE IN ENGLAND tools, for a change.

Thanks Lugz, I don't recall seeing any tyre levers like that but will now keep an eye open for them.
I do have one of the big old Dunlop flat bar ones about a foot long.

Private Lugnutz · Nov 6, 2017

bluebolt said:
I have 3 of those, the Dunlop is easy to read but the other lettering is hard to read because of the black coating (Japanning?) on them.

I'd be interested in your best guess, Bb. And if they're 7" long.

Farmer J. said:
Thanks Lugz, I don't recall seeing any tyre levers like that but will now keep an eye open for them. I do have one of the big old Dunlop flat bar ones about a foot long.

I've got some big ones like that for car rims, too, Farmer J. Herbrand, Thorsen, and Blue-Point if I recall correctly. As I said, I was thinking brake spoons. When I saw the DUNLOP I immediately thought motorcycle tires.

humber2 said:
Lugs, I've just looked up the BSA Replacement Parts book for 1938 and it shows the double spoon style was supplied, just one though.
29-9252 is the BSA part #

I was playing it a little coy, humber, because I didn't really know what I had for sure, I was hoping someone with more knowledge than me would help me out. So thanks.

Honestly, I'm just trying to get this gnarly beast (1940 War Department M20) running...

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... and haven't paid too much attention to the accessories!

Here is the BSA WDM20 toolkit diagram. As you can see, it shows one (1) tyre lever.

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But the authorized checklist (in April 1942) shows a quantity of 2 Tyre Levers (Spoon Type), BSA # 66-9168.

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I've got a few queries out to some expert WD beezer thumper guys.

d42jeep said:
Something tells me that BSA will soon be rolling around on a new set of Dunlop tyres!

Haha! Actually, it had an original set of Michelin 3.25 x 19 "W.D.-51." (War Department, 1951) marked knobbies on it, no doubt put on the wheels by REME when my bike was reconditioned for use by the British Army on the Rhine. Dry rotted, of course.

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Intent on preserving this bike in its last duty position (retired in 1973), honoring its second life of service in the BAOR fighting the Cold War, including the coverall paint job (see the seat and the fins on the cylinder!), rather than stripping and restoring it back to a 1940 WWII appearance, I've already bought reproduction Michelins to match, going up to 3.75 x 19 to enhance the enduro look.

humber2 · Nov 6, 2017

Mmmmmm, have a look at the item two above the tyre iron.

Private Lugnutz · Nov 6, 2017

Not sure if you're referring to the list or the diagram. What's your observation?

2oolhound · Nov 6, 2017

Good call humber2

You clearly need 2 tire irons to mount/dismount a tire. I'm guessing one end of the spoke wrench double functioned as the other tire iron (the bent bar with the notch in the short side because of space constraints on motorcycles)

Private Lugnutz · Nov 6, 2017

In case you missed this...

Private Lugnutz said:
But the authorized checklist (in April 1942) shows a quantity of 2 Tyre Levers (Spoon Type), BSA # 66-9168.

EDIT: Looks like each kit came with a pair of spoon levers and the crank type lever. Note that the kit also includes two (2) tie-down straps. Like the two spoon-type levers, only one (1) is shown in the diagram, for identification purposes.

Private Lugnutz · Nov 6, 2017

Here is a WDM20 DR’s toolkit checklist showing qty "3" levers (implying both spoons and the crank type)

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And a different WDM20 diagram showing all three levers (the pair of spoons making up 66-9168, and the 66-9170)

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bluebolt · Nov 6, 2017

Wait what the heck? Private Lugnutz DO YOU HAVE THE TOOL KIT FOR THE BSA!

bluebolt · Nov 6, 2017

Private Lugnutz said:
I'd be interested in your best guess, Bb. And if they're 7" long.

All 3 are 7" long
One appears identical to the one above with Dunlop 7 UF markings on one side and Made In England on the other and what is probably the 273 number as well.

The other 2 only say Dunlop on the one side. On the back is lettering but I just can't make it out.
These 2 the area for the lettering is smaller than the other one.

Private Lugnutz · Nov 6, 2017

bluebolt said:
Wait what the heck? Private Lugnutz DO YOU HAVE THE TOOL KIT FOR THE BSA!

No. The toolbox was empty, unfortunately. (The rest of the bike is complete and 100% original. See that long field/"kick" stand? I've been offered more for that than what I paid for the bike! Apparently they are often missing.) I've managed to find a couple magneto wrenches and the oiler. Compared to Willys MB's, however, research is lacking on the toolkits. The contents are well known (as you can see from the original documents I posted above). Not so much the suppliers of the tools. Nobody has unearthed any BSA factory documents, and no unmolested original toolkit has ever been recovered. Lots of inference and close is good enough guesswork going on there. It's ironic, because what that community does have is an amazing detailed history on individual bikes in the form of what they call REME "key cards". Based on those BAOR registration numbers you see on the fenders, the frame number, and the engine number, I know the entire history of my bike, from the time it left the factory to the time it was surplussed. That is extremely rare in the jeep world.

Private Lugnutz · Nov 6, 2017

bluebolt said:
The other 2 only say Dunlop on the one side. On the back is lettering but I just can't make it out. These 2 the area for the lettering is smaller than the other one.

Hold onto them. They may have some value. There is a very fine BSA WDM20 website, link here (the source for documents above), and the spoons they show as examples in the toolkit section are like the spoons you're describing above.

bluebolt · Nov 7, 2017

Well Private Lugnutz the tools I posted above are a Whitworth tool set I picked up a while back. The BSA tools in it using the link you provided are the following.

EB259 double ended spanner 2 each

65-9133 Tappet adjusting spanner

29-9251 Magneto Spanner ( even has the 12 stamped on it)

65-9132 Tappet Adjusting spanner

Maybe the 66-9036 Cylinder Base Nut spanner

bluebolt · Nov 7, 2017

Here's the tire spoons, they are different than the ones pictured in the BSA tool kit.

Private Lugnutz · Nov 7, 2017

Ricky Joe said:
I also have the BSA four way wrench, which you can have for postage.

That's very kind of you, Ricky Joe. I'll PM you.

bluebolt said:
Well Private Lugnutz the tools I posted above are a Whitworth tool set I picked up a while back. The BSA tools in it using the link you provided are the following.

EB259 double ended spanner 2 each

65-9133 Tappet adjusting spanner

29-9251 Magneto Spanner ( even has the 12 stamped on it)

65-9132 Tappet Adjusting spanner

Maybe the 66-9036 Cylinder Base Nut spanner

That's really neat, BB!

I must've missed that British tool haul from you before, and it didn't register with me when you posted the photos here on this thread that they were yours. Looks like you've got a decent start to a BSA WDM20 toolkit going there. Now all you need is the box to store them in. It's the heart-shaped compartment with the toggle lock just behind the oil tank in this photo. Unfortunately, it's attached to the large ungainly mass of steel! :lol:

bluebolt · Nov 7, 2017

I got that Whitworth set back in 2014. Snap On and King **** sockets, Super Slim and Britool wrenches, BSA and Triumph marked tool kit tools and a bunch of unmarked tool kit tools. Now I know that some are BSA!

twertsy · Nov 7, 2017

I noticed the other day that I have a WW Snappy stubby DBE too if you need it.

bluebolt · Nov 15, 2017

Here's a pic before I ship. I wasn't sure which spark plug wrench you wanted let me know. I added that large double ended socket it looks close to one in the kit.

Private Lugnutz · Nov 15, 2017

Thanks for the extra toss-in, bb. I think you may be right!

The spark plug wrench with the shorter socket, please.

Oh, and you can take the two carburetter spanners out. A guy in the UK is sending me the correct single-end jobbie. Those probably go to different Brit bikes and may help you move what's left of the lot!

Leviton · Aug 30, 2025

I found a similar spoon. 6.9-inches long. The end sections are 3/4" wide and in the center of the shank the diameter is 0.4-inch.

The readable stampings are:

DUNLOP
ADE IN ENGLAN

Unlike the spoons in the first post, it does not look like it ever had a number stamped on it.

tombell572 · Aug 30, 2025

Lugz--glad to see some attention given to your BSA. I've found that three tire irons make life easier when removing hardened old tires from their rims as the third one functions as a place holder to keep the tire from dropping back into the groove as you work around the rim. Your bike is a sweet one--those big single 500's are rare birds. Glad you've made the rescue.

You may recall I've got a few BSA's and in restoring them I replaced a lot of fasteners and small parts but kept the old ones. Let me know if you need any BSC nuts, bolts or other stuff I don't need or if you'd like to borrow any specialized tools. Also, there are some good Brit parts vendors both here and in the UK that I've found over the years if you'd like any contact info.

Tom B.

Private Lugnutz · Aug 30, 2025

tombell572 said:
Lugz--glad to see some attention given to your BSA.

Not nearly enough. I will PM you.

Milton Shaw · Sep 9, 2025

Ken Tool made what was called a wrinkle spoon. It had a ridge the width of the spoon which helped keep the spoon from slipping off the when wheel when prying the tire off. My dad sold them up until they quit selling and ended up with some dead stock and I have them still. Have not used them for tire changing ever but they are occasionally for some other prying job. I ended up with several Ken tool hammers and tire changing tools. He had trucks with split rims and we had to change tires as most places would not touch them. I saw one guy at a tire store inflating the tire (tire sitting on the floor) from inside the safety cage as he was told he had to use it.

Farmer J. · Sep 9, 2025

Milton Shaw said:
I saw one guy at a tire store inflating the tire (tire sitting on the floor) from inside the safety cage as he was told he had to use it.

bonneyman · Sep 10, 2025

I found one at one time. Gifted it to a forum member some years ago.

DUNLOP tyre spoons

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