Hitchcocks Forum

Hi there! After a new and rather disturbing noise emanating from the cylinder joined the symphony of sounds on my bike, I drained the oil and found what looked like a shard of oil scraper ring in the sump. I am going to buy a new barrel and piston from our hosts, because there will surely be some damage done. Has anyone changed the barrel and piston on the Electra X?, and will I need any of the special tools? Many thanks for any advice!

Robin,
Before buying anything, pull the head and carefully check that the piston it flush with the top of the barrel, mine was 20 thou low on one side. Then pull the barrel, remove the piston and very carefully check the gudgeon circlips and the groves the clips sit in. I have seen a few cases where the rod is pushing sideways and pushing the circlip out. If this is the case you have a dud assembled bottom end

Hi Norm! Thanks for your prompt reply. The bike has done 22000 miles before the piston ring broke, and this may well be due to wear in the bottom end. I will surely check whilst the barrel is off. This is my work bike though, and I don't have the time for a bottom end overhaul, until I can arrange for alternative transport. I'm working on a Norton Navigator at the moment, and have just fixed the gearbox, which showed lateral wear and needed bulking out with strategically placed shim washers. Still a pile of more work to do though before I dare use it as my work bike, which would give me the opportunity to do a bottom end overhaul on the Electra X, if necessary. So I'll just attempt to do the Electra's top end for now, and hope to keep the bike running for the moment. Relying on an Electra X and Navigator to get me to work all year round? Must be mad!