Hitchcocks Forum

ive noticed an r.e for sale on fleabay. anybody had any experience of diesel enfields

.....erm.......I've heard they're very good on MPG!

MPG is amazing but MPH and BHP are pretty feeble.

If you look at the location the one on ebay in India, so although the seller is kindly offering to 'post' it to the UK it would be impossible for you to import it because of The Gestapo (aka HMRC/DVLA). UK based diesels do crop up from time to time, mostly the Charnwood converted ones with a Hatz 350cc direct injection engine with an output of all of . . . oh 9bhp. I have just restored a TS125 MZ which produces 11bhp in a frame half the weight of the Charnwood Enfield and that doesn't exactly set the tarmac alight with its phenomenal acceleration!

It looks like you need to have owned a Panther for several years before trying an Enfield Diesel:-

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p9rCK2aajCE

Here's one ...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kpTIqbr3C5c

You might want to consider the experience of Bernd Schueler the REOC's Webmaster. He rode to last summer's International Rally in Wiltshire on his diesel, 700 miles at an average of 35 mph. He was so exhausted at the end of some of the days riding he had to get passers by to help him off the bike! On the upside he did get the award for Furtherest Travelled!

REgards, Mark

Hey Papasmurf, I must step in and defend the much maligned Panther heavyweights. I have owned four over the last twenty years and the only starting troubles I have had involved magnetos giving up or spark plugs refusing to do the job when starting from hot after a short, say five minutes or so, stop. Pop a cold plug in and away you go. Like most machines, if you keep them in fine fettle they will serve you well. Best, Adam

Adam I am not maligning Panthers. Mere suggesting had the man previously owned a Panther he would not have had as much trouble kick starting a diesel Enfield.
I was at a rally a few years ago admiring a Panther outfit, and it transpired the young man who came to the rally on it did not own it. He was just giving it a long run to keep it in running condition, as the very elderly owner could no longer ride it.
The young man had very obviously had tuition on the starting procedure and lever settings because it started first kick.

Apologies, Papasmurf, I jumped to the wrong conclusion from what you had written. The later machines had a cunning device operated by a wee lever mounted through the timing chest which when deployed kept the exhaust valve open for about half the compression stroke, thus you were only compressing a column of gas of about 53mm instead of the 106mm full stroke. If you forget to engage it you do run the risk of severe physical damage. If you ever find yourself near Swanage in Dorset with a bit of time to spare get in touch and come and have a play if you like, my current machine is a M120 solo mongrel. Best, Adam.