Hitchcocks Forum

Can anyone provide me with a list of the most important torque settings on a 1955 500 twin? I'm re-building it and the manual is very quiet on the subject. Many thanks

Rod

I think you need to be somewhat more specific as to which model.

I think he means a 1955 500 Twin?

Ahem...



It could be that torque wrenches weren't in widespread use amongst home (or even the average motorcycle dealer) mechanics in the UK back in 1955, even though they were invented as far back as 1918. I suspect a seasoned mechanic/assembly line worker would know when a nut or screw FELT tight enough.



https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Torque_wrench



A.

Andrian, I have had to, many times, deal with the aftermath of "mechanics" who "felt" something was "tight enough." I have the S shaped spanners that resulted from undoing such "mechanics" handiwork and a three feet long socket bar that I only ever need to undo nuts done up by them.

I often wonder about torque settings. I can understand the need for a precision tightening of certain vital bolts on engines but I can remember from my mechanical fitter apprenticeship, many moons ago, that a good grip on the spanner and tightening until it felt 'right' was always the way to go. I don't hang myself too much up on torque settings any more. Chances are, that a simple tightening is about right.
That said, I do go round the machine every now and then and just check the various nuts and bolts that are critical..

I wonder, for the purists out there, what are the torque settings for the mudguard screws?

Rodders, there have never been any published torque settings for Redditch built Enfields. However, we have found by trial and error that the two that really need some accuracy, big end bolts and cylinder head nuts, are both best set to 22-23 ft/lbs.

REgards, Mark

As a student back in the 60's I took 2 month summer job "back tender"in a local foundry. Hard, hard graft. Suddenly I started breaking bolts and stripping studs on my Gold Flash. Increased muscle, decreased "feel!"

Thanks Mark