Forum

[Chris Tindal]

As everyone else, no clearence when cold on an old iron engine. Even with no clearence there's a rattle, although sometimes I can get it fairly quiet for a while, its a fidly three handed job. Must be really noisy with clearence!

[Leon Novello]

JTL: It sounds like something tightening up, it could be the piston or a bearing; Indian bearings around that model year were prone to seizing and disintergrating from overheating, although this was a manufacturing flaw not an ambient temperature problem. These engines run cool even on the hottest days in Australia my engine never sees oil temperature over 60c. I threw out the Samrat rockers because they were making strange noises and refitted the original ones.

[Nettshubby]

JTL, if the ambient temp is high, that would richen the mixture due to the air being thinner. Not the same as less air at higher altitudes. An illustration of this is that my bike will start without choke on hot days, but needs a little choke on colder days as we are now getting.

Ray.

[JTL]

Hi all ... it's good to read all the comments on riders personal experience. Thanks for all inputs. Ray, thanks for straightning out the air/fuel mix thing. A thing more to eliminate on the long list of things that can cause troubles... The piston didn't show any signs of seizure and when moving around with the con rod it had only very little sideward movement (no up-and-down movement at all). The entire crank with piston cycle was very smooth. Oil temp was close to 80 degrees (air 30 degrees). By the way the bike has HC oil pumps from our host. The bike is running fine right now, but of course noisy in the valve train with a slight clearence between pushrods and rockers. Now when it's getting colder I might as well set the clearence to zero again... Leon, how to tell if/when bearings go bad? Is it a noise or a feeling to riding the bike? Jacob

[Leon Novello]

JTL: I my case, it was the engine stalling at first when I stopped at intersections, then on the highway at 100kmph (by the speedo, but GPS says 90) it started making clacking noises. This was just still under warranty by a few weeks. The main bearing had turned blue with heat and collapsed, chewing out its aluminium housing. This happened at about 6000kms.
So, listen for any change in noise from the engine. Sometimes there is nowhere to pull over and stop in time; by then anyway it will be too late to save it.

[JTL]

Leon, it is very helpful to all of us to know these symptoms. Luckily I have never experienced any of the mentioned. After just 2600 km on the clock I installed the HC oil pumps from our host. Somehow I believe they have saved me from a lot of troubles. The bike has now 24000 km on the clock with only minor issues. The same issues debated on this forum; not all of them only a few... Time to ride out with open ears and eyes. Jacob

[Norm]

Jacob, with 24000ks on the clock treat every day as a bonus

[Martin C]

It is possible you actually had a sticking valve (probably exhaust), due to carbon bulid-up on the valve stem.

[Alan R]

Hi guys--------nobody has mentioned the split iron pivot blocks that the rocker shaft sits in........They tend to wear-out across the width giving a sort of wriggling motion and a slackness when hot..........Test them by drying the assy. then gripping the two blocks and the fitted shaft in a bench vice.........You'll soon see AND FEEL the slack !!.........Unlike other Brit. bikes the Enfields return ALL of their oil via the rockers so it's a good idea to open out the oil passageways and fit an HC pump unit......This is to increase the oil FLOW RATE ( not the pressure) and help remove cyl. head temperature...

[JTL]

Norm, every kilometer is a bonus. I really enjoy riding my Bullet. Little improvements here and there; small alterations and personalizations here and there. Every day with the bike is a treat... Martin, the valve stem was clean; very smooth movements in the guide, but heat in both and carbon build up at the valve seat could have caused a sticking exhuast valve. The valves has only 7600 km on the clock. I run the tuned head from out host, so valves, guides ands springs should be of a good quality... Alan, the tuned head is fitted with Samrat rockers. The oil ways from scavenge pump to rockers has been enlarged where nescesary (smallest diameter is 3,5 mm), and for nearly 18000 km the bike have been fitted the HC oil pumps. I believe the HC pumps have saved me from a lot of troubles with the bike. But of course there is room for improvements, so all tips are most welcome... Jacob