Hitchcocks Forum

I've just fitted an original tank to my old bullet. It has gone on ok but I've noticed two of the rocker cover bolts are touching the underside of the tank on the right side. Could I leave it or am I likely to end my days in a huge fireball? I was thinking of skimming the bolts with a dremmel.

Chris you really need to do something about that before you ride the bike. It happened to me, just one nut was touching and it rubbed through the tank, then all of a sudden as I was riding along there was suddenly a large amount of vapour as petrol came gushing out of the tank, you have never seen anyone stop, get off a bike and leg it so fast! Luckily I had the presence of mind to switch the ignition off as I dismounted or there could have been really big problems. I was on a quiet country road so it was cope-with-able but imagine if that had happened in a busy city road!.


 Either dremmel the nut as you suggest, or it can be replaced with a regular nut, not sure the thread but the ones that hold down the rocker bearing caps are just right. This does not cause an oil leak as it was exactly what I did once the tank had been repaired.

Thank's for that Dan, I will certainly get it sorted before I go anywhere, cheers.

Chris, if this is the early 500 Bullet (pre-56) there are different rocker cover nuts for this model! They are sleeve nuts slotted on top for a screwdriver and do not protrude above the rocker cover. The extended type with a hex head are for later 500s and all 350s. These parts are available from Hitchcock's!


REgards, Mark 

Hello Dan Ford (Susex)------------------Are you Apparently Lucky Eddie in disguise ??  Was it at Christmas time--- you know, roasted nuts etc ?? As the French might say }----- Enfield( Onfeeled) Flambe', M'sr ??   Nice one, son. Glad you're still with us ,eh ??

So that explains it Mark. It's your old polychromatic copper beech tank on my 53 bullet with Indian (post 55) 500 engine. The two bolts on the right side protruded half a mile.  I didn't know the earlier ones were shallower. On Dans advice I've put straight 11mm nuts on for now but I'll get some earlier nuts ordered. Thanks chaps.

Chris, chop the nut down to clear the tank or you'll get the problem that Dan had and me during our US road trip.


Tank repaired with JB Weld at Switchback Creek Campground, Shady Valley, TN


http://i896.photobucket.com/albums/ac16 ... 170089.jpg


And the offending cap nut being adjusted with an angle grinder


http://i896.photobucket.com/albums/ac16 ... 170091.jpg

hi chris ,you could always stove the underside of the tank in with a lump hammer like you have to do to fit a big head style cylinder head that would stop it rubbing ,is your carb still leaking?

Grunda, did consider creating clearence with a hammer but that old tank is around 60 years old so needs tlc. Carb has a slight weep at the bottom but bikes now running better than it ever has. Should be there tommorow.

hi chris,you,l have to show me your leak,maybe you could use ptfe tape to cure it?