Hitchcocks Forum

Not a plea for help this time but a tip others may find useful for MOST REDDITCH TWINS. I discovered whilst my rear wheel was out,that the four studs securing the gearbox to the crankcase had stripped threads and would not tighten sufficiently so had to be renewed. The top two came out with a stud extractor easily enough, but the bottom two did not have enough clearance round them to use the extractor. Not wanting to strip the primary and clutch I devised a workaround. Firstly support the motor with a jack under to take the weight,then Remove front engine plates, the head steady and exhaust tie bar. Loosen the bottom gearbox bolt so it acts as a pivot, then gently wind down the jack. The engine drops down at the front, and in doing so raises the bottom studs upwards a little giving the clearance needed to use the stud extractor on them. I suggest though you do not remove all four studs together, (as I did!!) but one out, one in is best to preserve alignment of the holes in both components. Hope someone finds this useful. Regards all. Dez

Interesting idea, thanks. i use 2 nuts of the correct size but cut in half (otherwise there's not enough clearance) locked together on the stud and then you can remove the stud. However, although this has always worked for me in the past I had I had to remove the motor from the ebay Bullet recently and one stud was stuck, even heat wouldn't shift it. Fortunately with 3 out I could tilt the cases and saw the offending one off. More on the ongoing Ebay Bullet saga soon folks!

REgards, Mark

Hi Mark. Thanks. Not only were mine all stripped but well seized in. The usual double locknut trick did not budge them, nor did striking the stud to break the bond, or the more desperate mole grip bodge. The extractor I used looks like a drill chuck but works in reverse, and I must say that once I had made the clearance and it was able to grip the studs they did not stand a chance and came out without protest!! REgards. Dez

Cheers Dez, I was filling in for readers who may not have got to the desperate pass of needing an extractor!

REgards, Mark