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[Norm]

Leon, that bike you pictured has had a minimum of 10 rebuilds and at the moment it has been parked up for many months again, it is fitted with a Hitchcocks long stroke crank and something is making a horrible noise that sounds like the small end has gone. It has had well in excess of $20,000 spent on it and has done about 160,000ks Gearbox and frame are about all that is left of the original 2006 bike

[zippy]

Norm . So it passes its heat to the caseing, leaving a (relatively) cool race and a hot (expanded) crankcase? Allowing the bearing to drop out...?

[Bullet Whisperer]

Zippy, the weld contracts as it cools, thus SHRINKING the outer race of the bearing. This trick also works on valve seats if they need removing, although I understand that some Enfield valve seats come out automatically ...

[Leon Novello]

Also works when fitting valve guides; put rhe cylinder head in the oven, put the valve guides in the freezer, they will slip in with ease.

[zippy]

Leon - That works with alot of things, Done it with tappet guides, bearings, bushes....etc. It's just this drive side outer race that is a pain in the @*se, - as I cant get any purchase on it, which is where Norms technique comes in. It makes sense to me now he's explained it.However, this is in No2 engine. I'm now concentrating on No1 motor and trying to get that one sorted, as I'm getting impatient after 2 years of work and no thump thump noises out of it yet....

[devon john]

after the bad luck i had a bit of good ,,,, there was a new alloy hitchcocks barrel on on Ebay last week bored to 535 and fully checked i bid on it and won !!!!
i payed £140 inc post.
i have just got home from a weekend rally there was the parcel ,, i opened it with a big smile it was a complete barrel accralite piston and rings!!!!!!

i think i got a bargain less than half price .

[Gwilly]

Way to go John, Bit of much needed luck indeed, Sure you will measure everything carefully and give everything a good clean and wash through before reassembly..

If this is a high comp piston you may need a compression plate under the barrel to keep it within reasonable limits, else you'll be back in again before too long..

Best of luck mate..

[devon john]

split crank today and the alfa big end is OK .
ordered new con rod, valve , pushrod etc
with some luck back together next week,,,,,,,,, try again!!!!

[zippy]

You have an Alpha big end? Is it a double row cageless roller bearing running on the crank pin, with 2x hardeded little walls to control side-float on the rollers? I got a new one like this in a box greased up, - but no makers name... It came with a joblot of engine bits.

[Norm]

Zippy the Alpha has a cage, not sure what you have