Forum

[bikerhifinut]

Hi Guys.
I have been pondering the Hitchcocks tune up kit for a while.
The full set of bits with power commander, cams etc etc etc.
Now my Outfit is nicely run in at nearly 3000 miles, and I have noticed it seems to run smoother and a bit more get up and go.
But.. I really could do with just a little bit more grunt, I dont want to go any faster with the sidecar on, just be able to hold 50 in top against a headwind. I also figured if it does give 30% more I could maybe run another tooth on the front sprocket and get the vibes back into the comfort zone as I tend to use the bike for long runs with camping kit.
So the tune up kit looked like the answer. Its still cheaper than getting a bigger bike and fittings for the Watsonian Grand prix, and anyway I like the enfield with chair.
has anyone here any experience with it and is it easy to fit? I know I'll need a better exhaust too.
I notice its not available just now but I am hoping its just Hitchcocks sourcing the parts?
thanks folks.

Andy.

[vince]

Hi,
50mph seems very slow for a 500 pulling a chair, are you still on solo gearing? Vince

[RayBeech]

Must admit I have just removed a power commander, injector and associated gubbins and replaced them with the Hitchcock carb kit. After suffering fuel starvation initially I realised that the breather in the fuel tank cap was a lot smaller than on any of my other british bikes I stuck a drill through them both and it runs a lot smoother than it ever did with all the electronics on and is possibly a cheaper option.
Ray

[bikerhifinut]

Vince,
Well I reckon 50 mph cruising isn't bad for an enfield 500 with a watsonian Grand prix, fully loaded with gear and/or passenger, and anyway after 55 the vibes put you off. Hell it's only got 27 claimed horses at full revs and the Chairs not exactly the lightest thing around. Add the aerodynamics of a sideways elephant and I think the bike does well.
It'll eventually see 65 to 70 on the clock on the flat but it don't sound happy.
Its bog standard on gearing and everything else except for a Sidecar front tyre. If I dropped the gearing all I reckon I'll get is more vibes and anyway whats 4th gear for? Bottom gear is already low enough for the bike to plod over Wrynose pass with no dramas, (done it a couple of times already), So I feel no need to lower the gearing and simply use more fuel and risk Raynauds in my fingers and toes.
I dont get the breather question, the EFI wouldnt work properly if the fuel pump couldnt deliver, and with an average fuel consumption in the low 50's I reckon its getting through allright. Anyway I will have a look but the flimsy filler cap doesnt even look fuel tight.
I dont want to fiddle about with carburettors etc, it wouldnt be any cheaper after modding the tank and purchasing a new ignition system, assuming its easy to retrofit one.
So no body's tried the Hitchcocks tune up conversion for EFI's? I just wanted to know if anyone had and what they'd found with using it?

Andy

[RayBeech]

didn't explain myself very well - had the fuel starvation with the carb on, you could hear the cap hissing as the air crept back in - I assume the pump had a fair "suck" wheras the carb is only gravity fed. But hey ho each to their own as they say.
Ray

[Adrian]

Watch out for larger tank cap breather holes in our Hosts' next accessory catalogue! Fitting guide included. A.

[RayBeech]

Oh, and you don't need any ignition kit, it uses the original, and the kit comes with a tank plate and tap to replace the pump. I did have to query the price difference as the catalogue price was far higher than the actual price and our hosts explained that they had improved the kit and it no longer needed any ignition alterations (other that a small plug in item very similar to the one in the power commander kit - just fits on a different connector in the loom). I would think the new holes should be out soon Adrian - sold in pairs!

[PeteF]

Ray, you weren't using a metric hole were you? It needs to be imperial, nothing else will work (I speak from bitter experience)

[papasmurf]

bikerhifinut what you need is more pulling power in the mid range, which tuning the bike could make worse not better.

Increasing the volume of the exhaust pipe between the cylinder head and the silencer is one far cheaper way of increasing mid range grunt and lugging power on a sidecar outfit.
How you achieve that is personal choice.
I did that on one of our sidecar outfits (Neither are Enfields) which I suspect at the max revs I use of 5000rpm out of a max (in theory) 9500 rpm is only using around 25-30 bhp anyway. Since I made the exhaust pipe volume bigger it pulls like a steam engine.

[RayBeech]

Haha, 3/32" Pete, I have metric but only for stirring Tea.