Hitchcocks Forum

Hi, out of interest what's the difference between a classic engined kick start cylinder head and an electric start head? The copper banjo washers are even called "for electric start" I!m at a loss as to why the head would be different.

Might be wrong, but aren't the classic cylinders cast iron and most of the electric start Bullets aluminium alloy?

The oil delivery pipe for the rockers is different because the starter motor gets in the way of the normal, non E/S route. For some reason the banjos are a different size as well. Apart from that, I think they are the same.

Robin, it's a long time since REs had iron heads. Iron barrels but alloy heads.

Hi guys----------- the actual head is the same but as PETE F says the Banjo unions might be different---- however you'll notice that the smaller Banjo bolt screws into a steel adapter which has a hexagonal shape.. If you unscrew this steel adapter you'll find that the threaded hole within the head is the same as for the larger banjo bolt.. At least it is on the heads that I am currently working on.....PS}---- You can remove the silver paint on the oil pipe and give the resultant copper a good polishing....Gives the bike a nice "Classic" look !!!

In the late 1990's the banjo thread changed to a much larger size, before the electric start though. Around that time some metric fastenings appeared. My 1999 500 has a right old mix of metric, whitworth and cycle threads.

You will need washers on the connections, copper washers are good, "Dowty"washers better