Hitchcocks Forum

Missing engine stud?


Now most of you will probably know about 'Thunderbolt' my EFI woodsman.



If you remember, he aged rather rapidly. From sold as brand new to suddenly being over three years old, complete with J B Weld type stuff under the engine, painted silver, and cunningly hidden by the sump plate!




Sold as brand new!



Anyway, that was several months ago, and apart from a negligible seep from the putty (1 drip per 300 miles), bike has performed well past my expectations. So today, I go for the oil and filter change.
I had some difficulty getting the sump plate out, but it didi eventually come.



Woodsman sump plate


Oil out, gauze out and cleaned, new oil filter soaking, old filter out, replaced drain bolt, gauze and cover, new filter and cover, then filled with oil. No leaks, short test run, small top up, no leaks, YAY!



But then I noticed something unexpected,





This is the rear of the EFI engine, at about the height of the centre stand pivot.







Would I be correct to assume that there should be an engine stud with a couple of washers and nuts in this hole?



And if so, then would it explain the seepage from underneath and also why somebody tried to patch it up with playdoh?

Could some kind soul with an EFI engine please go check and let me know? and SOFIASPIN, if you read this, please go check your Woodsman, let us know if your 'hole' is filled!



I would actually feel relieved, if the mystery could be solved, as the to reason for the putty. If there should have been an engine bolt there, then getting one might be the cure!



Thanks guys!

Hi
I have a classic 500 EFI sorry to scupper your theory but I have just been on my knees in the bike shed and there is no stud or bolt in mine either I can shine light through it with a torch, its purpose is a mystery to me.
Les

My EFI is the same, boltless. God knows what the lug is for.

Oh well, Thanks guys, I had a moment of hope there. Poor old Thunderbolt.

Hi Scaly, I've seen this picture a few times now and i still get the feeling i've seen this work before, seems familiar...



Then it struck me....... The Great HARRY ENFIELD... Is it just coincidence? Does he have a brother working in India??








Speaking of paint, it must be the time of year.. Spring sap rising and women with match pots, Should only be sold under licence i reckon...

Come home to find the little lady has daubed the bloody lounge wall with two foot squares of Ocean Ripple or Desert wind..

Well which one do you like?? she says, "Well i suppose the Sandy Farts ok...."

Judging by the icy stare i received we won't be using that one....

Hey Scaly, why not put a bolt in that vacant spot if it makes you happy, can do no harm

I'd agree with Beezybrian. Can't do any harm and might just nip it up. Be sure before doing it that the two surfaces where it goes together don't have a gap, so there's no risk of cracking anything when tightening the nut. -C

OK, I'll go check it all mates properly and get something ordered up, as the workshop here is set up to French standards (very large screwdrivers, various sizes of hammer, and some cultivating tools that look to be 200 years old with woodworm).



Special thanks to GWILLY for uncovering who actually put my Woodsman together, and to BeezerBrian and Chris, I going to get the stud, nuts washers, then remove the putty, see what happens. (whoosh!)

I would make sure the one drip per 300 miles stops first before removing the putty!

Good point Frank, I will have to wait a while, it is due to snow here tomorrow (bugger)



The photo of the sump plate with the oil on it, is about the total amount that has leaked since I have had the bike, So I am not too fussed, but would be pleased if it were totally dry underneath.

By contrast, my Iron bullet, Tornado, does seep oil, but only to the extent on my needed to clean the engine fins every 500 miles.