Hitchcocks Forum

Can some king person help my friend please. He is looking for information about a 350cc Bullet engine number G2/36577. All information will be appreciated.

All I can tell you is from my recogning it should be an early pre 1956 engine with square oil pump, no auto advance and the narrower crankcase without cooling fins on the oil tank I would GUESS that it is around 1955, especially if it has the gear change and kick start on the same shaft.

Thank you John M - very helpful.

Yes, totally agree with '55 date. The 1955 parts book starts at G2/32351, I have G2/358**, which is a '55. In '56 alot changed, like the aforementioned finning. Also, the timing gears/cams got wider teeth.Is your frame number the same as the engine number? The frame is likely to be "luggy" rather than "platey" where the swingarm joins the frame.You might also have the "stub" head, where the exhaust goes over the stub, rather than into the port. Ignition is by M01L magneto/Dynamo - rather than distributor/battery/coil

Hi not sure if this is a help but hopefully of interest at least. I have bullet 350 1957 with an engine number in the 16,000 (1950) and a frame in the 33,000 (1957). At first you might think old engine fitted after damage and new frame but the factory ledger records the match and the assumption is that the engine was a return from a motorcycle shop called Searings (Bishop Stortford) reconditioned by the factory and put in the new frame. Anyway someone did a great job as it is still going well. It is therefore a factory discharged bike per owners club. Don't know if anyone else has the same. Regards and good luck with the trace, Hugh

Thank you zippy and Hugh, my friend is looking to buy this bike so more info if/when he gets it. Thanks again.

Interesting info Hugh, so your engine is the early mag dynamo type in a late frame? from the factory? I had a 1960 350 bullet late matching engine and frame. What was interesting was in the ledger it stated it was sent to Madras Motors in 1960. This is evidence that some later bullets were also sent to India, not just the early type.

Hi Chris

I had not thought about this but the engine runs off the Lucas Magnito which I think is an SR1. Its brilliant at starting and seems to produce a huge spark. You may have seen the later post wondering about this bike's history and someone may be able to offer more information.