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[Bikerterje]

Hi
I'm running a restorating project on my Bullet 500 and came accross a tiny problem with the gearbox top plates. The new ones does not fit on my frame and I started wonder what frame or model do I actually have?

As you can see from the pics the new and the old plates are totally different.

The frame tube is longer, it reaches farther down towards the gearbox than on later models.

When I bougt it from Madaan Motors they told me it was a 62 mod Bullet 500. If it is not its ok by me, but I want to know what it realy is.

Can anybody identify the model or tell me anything about this frame. If more pics are needed I will fix that.

Pics here
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bikerterje/

Terje

[Norm]

Without looking at the pics you probably have an early English frame so you will have to cut the plates down so they are smaller triangles, no big deal I had to make a set just before Christmas, but be aware the uppper hole is not quite central of the 2 lower gearbox holes. Fit the motor and then make the plates to suit

[Chris Tindal]

Looking at the picture, yes its a Redditch frame, no doubt sent to India in kit form back in 62

[Chris Tindal]

Forgot to mention, the engine has either been modified or a replacement fitted as 500's weren't assembled/made in India til the 90's

[Mark M]

I'm rather worried that it came from Madaan Motors. An internet search throws up some worrying stories and they certainly have supplied some dodgy bikes to people who have come for help onto this board in the past. REgards, Mark

[Norm]

Mark,
I found something a bit strange with the upper gearbox triangles, I pulled one off the 700 Meteor for a pattern, made the new ones up but when I went to fit them to the Indian motor/box I fitted into the 53 frame the plates I had copied were 10mm to short in height so I had to make a new set. Can't imagine why they wouldn't have been the same.

[Robin]

On my Electra X there are felt washers on the top two gearbox mounting studs. They act as spacers between the engine and gearbox, tilting the gearbox and pushing the top out so that the holes in the mounting triangles line up with those in the frame. Presumably you can space out the top two mounting studs, and/or the bottom two as much as you like, until the triangular plates line up properly?

[Norm]

Robin,
Box bolts hard up to the back of the motor, the washers go under the nuts on the back of the box and the early English frames aren't the same as the Indian frames. These are the triangles we are talking about, much shorter that the Indian ones

[John L]

As hinted in Mark M's posting, I think the '62 500 description is bogus and the bike is a "bitsa". I'm no expert, but everything I see in the pic(s). looks Indian to me. A '62 Redditch frame wouldn't have had a downtube, and therefore no triangle plates, either.....If the engine is Indian Enfield 500, they were not made before 1989.......

[Mark M]

Norm, I just checked my bikes and the rear triangle plates are the same on my 1953 500 Bullet, 53 700 Meteor and the current project, a 1955 350 Bullet. As you say, I can't imagine why the Indian ones are different! REgards, Mark