Hitchcocks Forum

Hi. I've just tried offering up a used but perfecly good timing side drive shaft to a brand new Hitchcocks flywheel. The shaft, which is of course a taper fit, will not go all the way home. I haven't put the woodruff key in yet and I have only applied moderate torque but the thing stops solid at around 3/32nds short of where it should . The part description specifies that the shaft is to be "ground once fitted". I can't quite understand that bit. Is it normal practice to take the two parts to a machine shop and just let them get on with it?

Spech If you are fitting an Indian part don't expect it to fit, nothing they make will fit, everything they make requires machining to some extent and if you can't do it yourself you have to find somebody who can. Otherwise you buy a Japper and everything will fit

The shaft needs to be a very tight interfearance fit, heat the flywheel in an oven to around 180c and put the shaft in a freezer for a few hours before assembling.

It should be pressed in

Thanks fellas. Neither my freezer or oven are strangers to the occasional engine parts - it don't arf piss the missus off! But I don't think any amount of heating cooling or pressing will close such a large gap as this. No, I think I'll just throw the lot in a box and send it off to Alpha. This all started as change of conrod and crank pin to make a strong reliable lump for long distance trips. I then found out that the (2003) flywheels were unusable because of the battering they'd had during assembly in Madras. I never saw the original engine running - but it must have been a complete pig! To sum up, If I'd known then what I know now I'd have been happy to cough up the thousand quid and get the lot, ready assembled from our hosts. Talk about taking the scenic route! We live and learn. Thanks again.

Spech The wheels are often out of round as well how those clowns can turn things out of round amazes me but in typical Indian fashion they think they are good at it

Well Norm, Speaking from experience, the whole of India is slightly "out of round" but they're a charming bunch and you've got to hand it to them; They kept the Bullet alive! The AK47 of two wheelers. Rough but ready. Mine has never let me down in nine years - but my hands are usually dirty. Next time I'll strip the whole thing down and inspect everything before I buy individual parts. I'm still learning

Spech, I spent an hour or so yesterday trying to get an Albion to select gears, I have now spent a couple more hours and still no good. I have tried several inner and outer ratchets some work better than others but they all vary in the gears they will select. Needless to say the Indians are copping an earfull from my end. I am close to the end of dealing with these dodgy parts, just not worth the agro they cause

Hi Norm, I agree that to be correct the shaft shound be pressed in but I did not expect the average home mechanic to be so equipped. the heat and freezing works amazingly well. just dont forget the heat proof gloves.

Hi Dennis, they take every bit my 12 ton press can deliver to press the drive and timing shafts out and when putting them back together I use as much as the press can deliver with my feet off the ground lol