Hitchcocks Forum

Hi all. I'm fitting our hosts 'softer' fork springs and notice that my forks (Bullet 65) do not have the short spring fitted, item 26 in the parts book. This appears to be the same as the Electra x with all other part numbers being the same. My delemma is, do I fit the small springs or not, without them there's sligthly less preload on the main springs and no pressure on the valve plates item 4 & 5. This may be an Enfield attempt at softening the front end but I'm not sure how it might react with the softer Hitchcock springs. Thanks for your help.

Sould have read small springs item 26 and valve plates item 4 & 8. Doooh!

Hi BobW--------- Sounds like someone's been in there before you..I had a 65 a few years back and changed to softer springs....The forks are no different to the Classic 500 and those short springs should be in there....Re-assemble as per the diagramme with your softer springs AND those missing ones fitted....Take this opportunity to dump the old plastic gaiters and fit our hosts rubber ones...and fill with ATF oil for a much smoother ride.....You should also find that your arms no longer ache after a days' riding ( Enfield put 20/50 oil in as standard !!!).......... Have a look at this>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

-------------sorry matey, I was a bit slow back there...Just a thought but you just might have a pair of Electra forks ( or just the bottom sliders) fitted by a Previous Owner ?? How is the wheel spindle fitted ?? ie}-- clamped up from underneath by a pair of Aluminium blocks ( Classic 500) OR...... is it a QD type that is bolted across the wheel hub (Electra X ) and has a disc brake fitted ??.............. If they ARE Electra X forks then that assy.. is correct as per the diagram, but the soft spring is still the same one.......................................

Hi Alan,I've had it from new. If you look at the Electra X fork internals and the sixty-5 they're identicle except for the small spring. I recon its enfields attempt at softening the front end. Without the small spring pre-load, the valve plates will simply 'flap' back and forth giving less resistance the fork oil. That might be ok with the old hard springs but not so sure with the new softer springs, that said Mr H recommends SAE 20 which again may firm things up. I'm tempted to rebuild as it left the factory with the thicker oil and see.

------------- or it could be that someone in the factory just forgot to fit them in the first place ?.. I'm not aware of Enfield doing any trials of the nature you suggest in those days.....I would be inclined to obtain and fit the missing springs along with your recently obtained softer ones---- re-fill with ATF and take it from there........As my own forks are at that stage I can tell you with some degree of certainty that you'll not be disappointed with the ride..........

If you just want a softer action try changing to SAE 5 fork oil (or ATF - does me fine)

Hi again Alan. Enfield left the springs out deliberately on the Electra (have a look at the parts book)all the other internal part numbers are the same, I wonder why? Seems a bit strange that our hosts are recommending SAE 20 when you guys are recommending ATF or similar light oil. The joys of Bullet ownership and too much over-thinking. Thanks again for your help.

Hello BOB------OK, so your Bullet 65 has the same forks as a Classic 500 (including the TLS drum brakes etc ?? ) but when you dismantled you found the lower, rebound springs were missing ?? And upon looking at our hosts diagrammes you noticed that's the same set-up as the Electra X ?? But are the drillings the same diameter in the hydraulic damping ??... ---------- As I mentioned I also had a Bullet '65, and my forks, as fitted, were ROCK HARD !! with little or no give in them at all.......... Might I suggest you phone our hosts and have a chat with those more "in the know" as it were, and do please come back and let us know the results ?? -------- Cheers !!

Hi once again Alan. As I said in my previous posting the part numbers are the same, 65 to Electra so the port drillings must be the same???. Just looking for an engineering explanation. I can see the merits of both systems. Sorry to be a bore. Bye.