Forum

[arty70]

Thanks to the advice given in December on my messed about bullet project , I now have tank ( from our hosts) rear mudguard support and old seat ( from e-bay).So lots to be getting on with.

My next problem is to sort out the wheels, I dropped the front wheel to find water draining out of both fork legs , not much about a tea cup full, a wheel with worn brake shoes a scored front hub and the brake plate with a large crack where it locates into the fork leg.

My thoughts were to purchase a complete Indian front wheel with twin leading shoes, but in discussion with our hosts they informed me that I need to have leading forks not the straight forks I have.So I would have to replace the fork legs , has anyone done this are they a straight replacement, they seem to be fitted to most Indian bikes, so any advice appreciated.
Still enjoying the challenge of restoring the bike and painting the sidecar.

Arty

[Adrian]

The standard Indian Bullet forks (with the leading axle fork bottoms) for the drum brake front wheel can be fitted as direct replacements for late fifties and early sixties Redditch-made Bullet and Twin forks.



The top of the forks have a fine external screw thread for about an inch, they simply screw into the casquette casting to fit and unscrew for removal. When the Indians started building Bullets they kept this system, and it is only in the last few years they have been using different forks - on some models. Our hosts sell a tool with a 1/2" hex bar (sort of a large Tee shaped Allen key) that fits inside the fork top, which you will need for fitting and removal, though you can improvise with a length of 1/2" hex bar and a 1/2" AF socket.







What you're after is a set of THESE:





Photo: ebay



I'm sure our hosts can quote for a set, but if you're tempted by ebay make sure you buy the right ones, not the plain topped variety!



A.

[John M]

The parts to rebuild the original forks are available and not massively expensive. New fork stanchions and the bushes in the sliders are replaceable.

[Adrian]

That's fine if the sliders are re-usable, but Arty wants to fit the TLS front brake, which (as our hosts have informed him) needs a set of leading axle fork sliders for the brake plate to be in the right position.



So by the time you have replaced the sliders as well as the stanchions and bushes there's not a lot of the original forks left. Simpler to fit a new set of forks, which can be had cheaply enough, and stick the old ones in the back of the garage or wherever, they can go with the bike if he ever sells it on.



A.

[arty70]

Thanks for all the advice, latest updates. As I need to keep the bike fairly mobile as I expect have the bike bay available at my local restoration club in April, I am storing all the knowledge up for later when I strip the bike.My local bike expert pronounced the wheel savable tightened a few spokes and trued the wheel then I took it to be powder coated and it looks good (9 out of 10) compared with what I started with.
At this point I don't want to throw loads of money at the bike before getting it started and checking out clutch,gearbox and other running gear. To this end I have purchased a cheap Indian seat repaired/rebuilt my rear mudguard made seat brackets and spent time making sure the tank, rear seat carrier and mudguard all line up and fit as they should.By luck I located a good front brake plate locally so just need brakes religned
I have spent many hours researching how the bike should look as well as constant referral to the on line catalogues as the bike has been well messed about with , I take the advice that most parts on the internet dont always fit, so slowly gathering parts I need and resisting temptation of buying bits just because they are cheap.
Also had use of the clubs paint shed for a week so managed to paint the side car a nice red to suit the tank purchased from our hosts, off to The Gambia for two weeks holiday so no further progress will spend the time browsing catalogues and planning the next round of spending.

[Adrian]

Seems a long way to go just to read a few catalogues! ) Bon Voyage and happy holidays.



A.

[arty70]

Internet browsing has identified the sidecar body as Velorex made for or by Jawa or CZ Indeed a new sports windscreen which is available from manufacturers but it seems the chassis is a Watsonian. More reading up on RE history soon be back to reality and greasy hands.

[papasmurf]

This is a Velorex Chassis:-