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[1950s Bulleteer]

The girder fork in the earlier link looks like one of those brittle cast ones from India that are known to fail in use.

It's certainly worth using the TLS brake, if they are set up properly you can do stoppies with them, also when laced into a 17" rim they are even better, with the improved mechanical advantage.

Not sure if it is relevent, but the headstock bearings on a 1954 Redditch Bullet frame mate perfectly with Indian fork components.

[Adrian]

Maybe not relevant to the original post, but highly useful for any of us taking on Redditch-framed projects with missing front ends!



A note of caution, though - for those of us playing Redditch/Chennai mix 'n' match - because the Indian factory changed the steering lock and steering stops on the bottom yoke around 2003. So while the later bottom yokes will still fit the headstock, you can't just use them out of the box.




Modified to fit:







Redditch yoke, older Indian are similar though may have an additional lug for a steering lock





If anyone is tempted by our Hosts' Thunderbird/Lightning fork yoke sets, just check with them first to make sure you have the right sort for your frame. hope this is helpful.



A.

[Adrian]

Sorry, some







were omitted in error while rushing to beat the time out, resulting in a messy post!



A.

[mustaphapint]

Very useful Adrian. This kind of knowledge could save the rest of us a lot of wasted time and effort.
I've now got my 2LS brake fitted and what a difference. I've only got a rusty old front wheel in at the moment but I'll put a few miles on it to make sure all is OK before I have it rebuilt with a new rim.

[Adrian]

Glad you've got a a working front brake, the only problem with that is that it CAN sometimes highlight any problems with the forks, headstock bearings and tyres which might have been less obvious with poor brakes. Don't ask me how I know, but the words Blackwall Tunnel approach road, BSA C15, 7" TLS conversion, Avon 17" ribbed tyre, rain and ouch all come into the story. I'm sure the rest of your Bullet's front end is in exemplary condition.



A.

[simon]

There is a Dutch guy who I believe has made a lovely job of 2LS ing a 6" brake plate. It surprises me somewhat that nobody has come up with a after-market brake plate for the 6" drums as there are stacks of them around not only on the original Bullets but also the older Indian ones. Not so surprising though as the fact that Royal Enfield who famously made brakes for Brough and other top end machines put these tiny and largely useless brakes on their own machines.

[Adrian]

Simon, there's a French guy who bought my old '57 500 Bullet who has not only done this but managed a double-sided version to come up with a 6" Four Leading Shoe brake! A.

[simon]

On second thoughts I think the guy I was thinking of was French. Lovely job but not a small amount of work!

[Tim NZ]

Withe exception of the series 11 Interceptors, all post war Enfield Bullet and Twin front wheels are interchangeable.


The Indian 2ls front wheel is a straight swap.


You could even fit the disc wheel if you wanted to?


Why not leave the speedo drive in place, then you dont have to make a spacer?

[mustaphapint]

Sorry Tim. I beg to differ. The Indian 2LS brake is not a straightforward fit into the 1952 forks and similar. The lug on the earlier forks is much deeper nearer the axle with a corresponding deeper machined slot in the original brake plate. So the lug has to be reduced in size or the 2LS brake plate needs a deeper slot. I chose to modify the brake plate rather than butcher a pair of original forks.
I have kept the front wheel speedo drive in place for the time being, but it looks untidy. I'm going to have an aluminium cover machined for it as a permanent fitting.
I've used the lower mudguard mount to support the cable stop instead of the much beefier upper mudguard mount fitted on the later forks. It has the advantage of being able to use the same cable as the 6" brake but isn't as strong as the normal 2LS support.
Paul