Forum

[TimG]

Hi all - thought I'd update anyone interested (as many people kindly supplied advice when I had problems) as to the outcome of the top-end rebuild on my 2006 iron barrel Classic. I haven't been able to get any opinions (either from this Forum or anywhere else) as to why the bore should be worn to +20 after just 21,000 miles and 6 years, so at present I'm just accepting it as "one of those Enfield things". However, I was VERY glad the top end was taken apart, as the (original, Indian) piston appeared not to be in too bad condition UNTIL you looked more closely....yup, the dreaded hairline cracks, leading from the ring lands, had appeared. A standard European piston and ring kit from our hosts is now in there and performing well. Bike smoked quite a lot after the rebore, but the rings are now bedding in nicely and smoke is vastly reduced to just a wisp occasionally at start-up. Most smoke was when the pump had to deliver oil when pulling away after idling, so I checked the oil tank and the oil had been filled to just under the "max" mark on the dipstick. Hmm, a bit fuller than I like to keep it, I have had the odd smoke problem when I fill it up more than two-thirds between "min" and "max", so that may well have had something to do with it. Hope I haven't spoken too soon, bike is running like new, hadn't realised how noisy it had got! Thanks again to all who helped, too many to name individually, but Alan "Old Bird" R helped maintain my morale in adversity (as always)...

Cheers

TimG

[Les H]

Well done Tim, but don't get too paranoid about oil levels, it will make not one jot of difference to the oil consumption or the rate of circulation. This is a common misunderstanding with the Bullet engine. Think of the oil tank as a separate item bolted to the frame if you like, as nearly all other British dry sumped engines have, it is just that the Bullet engine has the oil tank bolted to the back of the engine in effect which allows quicker warm up and the oil to be returned by gravity from the timing case after being put there by the scavenge pump via the push rod tunnels. It will not matter if the oil tank is only a quarter full or even overfilled, the amount circulated is strictly governed by the capacity and the rotation speed of the oil pump. The only aspect to change is that with less oil in the tank, the oil will warm up faster and will probably rise to a slightly higher temperature on a long run but not dramatically so. The oil viscocity will have quite an influence on the amount of oil being burned, and much of that will be down the inlet valve guide.

[Alan R]

Hello there, TIM G ------"Old Bird" Alan calling. Glad to see that you are of a "Chirpy" disposition and now have something to "Crow" about !!..It seems that my particular style might have "Ruffled a few feathers" on occasion but nothing to get in a "Flap" about ?? ---- Also I'm not one to stick his head in the sand ( like an ostrich) so Good luck to you as you take "flight" on your revamped Classic Bullet ( so it's a Black Bird then ??) ----- For the first 1,000 miles "Beak"-ind to it, and "Owl" be thinking of you !! ---- God, I'm certainly "Robin" the English language here....That's enough of this malarky, I've "Chickened" out !!----------------I'm feeling "Peckish" so time for me to migrate to the Bird table. By now some of you will be thinking that it's time for Alan to "flock" off, eh ?? ( Don't you just hate these "cheap" jokes ?? )..... What's that you say ?? I'm under arrest ??------------ guess who that must be then...................(Answers on a postcard to........)

[TimG]

Les H - thank you for that clarification, you are of course right. I put things most inaccurately (a common failing of mine when I am in a hurry). Alan R - are you a Private Eye reader by any chance??? I think MadMike might have a contender for his crown - and here was me thinking that I was mad (I am a musician after all...) - but much appreciated comrade!
Cheers
TimG