Hitchcocks Forum

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Hmm, a bit scary. Generally speaking the primary drive is reliable. I don't recall seeing many threads on things like primary chain replacement, or clutch issues for that matter. More common is the rear brake locking on. I guess all sorts of nasties can affect individual bikes e.g. Teeth stripped from oil pump drive, but it doesn't necessarily mean there's an inherent weakness. Nevertheless, one to watch. Thanks for the heads up.

Manufacturers have used duplex, triplex, hyvo and toothed belt for primary drives to cope with increased power etc., but this is the first time in almost 50years biking that I've ever heard of a broken primary drive chain. Is Mr H. already aware of this issue I wonder and working on a fix?

Go to the indian RE site lots of complaints re primery chains breaking or stretch ing one bloke had the chain tested sideplates way to soft metal tales of busted chains taking out crankcases dealers and re india couldnt give a damm so nothing has changed. A few more like this and they will steal the crap crown from the electra model.
Shiny paint do not a motorcycle make.

There has been LOTS of 'issues' with the primary side in India (where the most of the bikes are) we just dont hear about them.


And not just primary side, one poor bloke down here is now on his second bike and third motor in his GT in under 6 months from two unrelated catastrophic failures.

But if this problem is as big as implied, why has this not come up here in Britain before? I had 3 Enfields until a couple of years ago and never had primary chain problems. This forum is brilliant at reminding me why I only have historic (taxation class)bikes and cars nowdays.

Perhaps it's because we only receive the higher quality export models, which cost twice as much as the home market ones

You mean there are lower quality REs????

Not all of them come with stainless steel spokes

I get the impression that the Indians are far more concerned with getting maximum mpg from their REs and consequently that they plonk them along at low revs in a high gear. This won't do any primary drive much good. On the other hand it surprises me that unlike most fifties big English singles the UCE models don't have a large face cam shock absorber on the crankshaft as well as the clutch cush drive. Like I said, primary drive failure is rare in the U.K., Australia and the US if the relevant fora are representative. I gave up looking at Indian fora when it became apparent that comments on the REs were being given by people who aspire to own one, not actual owners.