Forum

[jfw]

2003 Indian 500cc Kickstart Bullet

You'd think that the front wheel would be an easy enough assembly to get your head around but I'm struggling. I was on a while back having suffered a loss of mpg. Turns out my front wheel ain't running as free as I'd like. Specifically the front break ain't releasing as it should.



Wheel runs free then apply the break and release and the wheel ain't running totally free inspite of the cable being slack.



On top of that struggling to find a comfort zone with the nut on either side of the front wheel. One nut outside the speedo unit and the other on the brake plate. Tighten these two too much and the wheel won't spin. Leave them too lose and one of them just tighten's anyhow with the motion of the front wheel.


I'll have a look at oiling the brake cable tomorrow but it seems free and that don't seem to be the problem. Any advice and wise words out there?

[PeteF]

You could find that the cams spindles need some lubrication where they go through the backplate.
DO NOT USE OIL or it will get on the shoes.
A smear of brake grease or copperslip will do the job
The fun bit is getting the springs off (and back on)

[Norm]

JFW,
I know your problem, can't help much because all I do is turn up a thin spacer and fit it between the speedo drive and the bearing or the spacer in there, can't remember exactly, but then you can lock the speedo drive up tight and the spindle can rotate freely. These things easy to solve with a lathe not so easy without

[jfw]

Thanks PeeteF that sounds like a plan. I've been there before with the springs and we'll give it another try in the morning and get the copper out. Thanks for your advice.



Norm: Aragh no lathe thanks none the less for that you've certainly pointed me in the right direction I'm sure so now I just have to ponder and perhaps find a chum with a lathe.



Thanks a million both of you.

[Norm]

It usually only requires a thin shim really so you can lock the speedo hub up against the bearing but due to all the Indian components in there with varying degrees of accuracy you often find this problem. You can test it with the wheel off and you can tell when it is right, lock the nut hold the speedo drive and wheel the wheel across the ground. The shim has to fit inside the drive but over the spindle which really makes it a ring than a shim

[John J]

jfw, Your problem is incorrect fitting of the wheel bearings. Your manual will explain this.
If the spindle tightens when the two wheel nuts are tightened then the wheel bearings have a large side- thrust and you will wreck the wheel bearings in no time.

[Gwilly]

jfw try this tool to save skinned knuckles.


supplied by mr H on this site.


BRAKE SHOE EXPANDING TOOL


This is a great tool that we have developed and used in our own workshop. It is simple, effective and allows the easy removal and fitting of your front and rear brake shoes.


note: Suitable for all models fitted with a drum brake.


PART No. DESCRIPTION PRICE


98320 BRAKE SHOE EXPANDER £15.00

[Phil Ashbrook]

Front brake set ups are tricky and many an Enfields were rush assembled for export in the mid 90's with the brake plate tongue and groove only just locking ( extreem danger !), I had to file the L/H fork leg and nutdown so it would go in deeper , at the other end 4 screws from the alloy and brass speedo drive stopped the R/H nut turning which made it hard to shift the shaft over by 2mm with out crushing the bearing too much . The bearing washers must be the right way round after grease packing , I strip and clean and re-grease the shoe cams with high melting point grease , springs are a bastard without the tool and can snap at the hook with fatigue so I change them every couple of years , I drilled out the link rod furrels and get the short arm just touching and mark the possition with a white marker then I do the long lever just touching and mark it , back off the cable ajuster and fit the link rod and get both marks just off by 2mm and use the cable ajuster to pull them in in combination with the handle bar lever ajuster near at the full screwed in possition . as for the L/H shaft nut ..I have a special spanner to tighten the nut or one can spend far to much time getting the brake plate in the correct possition , it's only by doing it so many times over the last 13 years that I am fast doing it .Good luck .