Hitchcocks Forum

Hi,
Was browsing as one does about the 'old' Cast Iron Bullet, pondering one of the Indian sort....and found some articles about crankshaft weights and how these were heavy and then got lighter and maybe even heavier again. Some posts reckoned heavier was better for 'plonking' and reliability...but all seemed vague.

Anyone know much about this?
What difference does it make to the bike - does it affect running, mpg, 'plonkability'?

I seem to recall Frank Westworth of 'Real Classic' fame and other mags long gone once remarked the 'classic bullets' might be a risky proposition.

What are the last '2008' iron engined ones...do these 'export models' have the heavier or lighter crankshaft...or indeed how these later ones compare with earlier models.

hi i run a 2004 indian market bullet engine in my 1990 indian bullet frame etc ,don,t know much about this crankshaft weight malarky ,i,ve never weighed it,just run it and rode,people tell me it sounds fantastic with its bsa starfire silencer,when i got the engine it had done a grand total of 75 miles in 4 years,up to press the only thing to go wrong was the exhaust valve pitted not sealing in seat at about 1000 mile .new valve fitted £6.00 then the coil went after 5000 miles cost £12.00 ,1 set of tyres ensign trials type cost £99.00 .so not much in way of problems regular servicing great bike infact i like it that much that i have 2 so take the plunge buy a bullet today don,t listen to frank buy 1 the proof of the pudding is in the eating as they say all the best paul.p.s the figures quoted are for the 350 c.c petrol classic type engine not the lean burn electra or efi althogh both the other types are great bikes!!

350 cranks all the same as far as I know and I've never heard this about different production weights before! I could be wrong as I know less about the Indians. Only exception I know of in Redditch models is the 350 Trials model, (Works Replica) I have one of these and the crank is the 500 flywheel and weighs 28lbs for superior "plonking" in Trials sections as they said back in the day! The drawback is that it doesn't rev as well as a standard 350 on the road but even on the low Trials gearing is capable of a sustained 55mph top speed. As to comparison of early and late Indian models I believe the late 350 Classic is pretty good and can be something of a bargain.
REgards, Mark

I came up with some strange readings some years back, I weighed a pair of 350 Redditch wheels but even though they were smaller in diameter, because they were thicker weighed the same as the Indian 500. Indian 350 are definately lighter than the 500 and if you want the info I can weigh 500 and 350 wheels for you. 350 certainly seems the better motor