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[TonyBax]

Hi all, back again. Sorry not been on here for a while, too many projects, the Enfield got pushed to the back and covered with junk ! I have now dug her out, and intend to try and get this project finished. To recap, it's a '53 (ish) Redditch Bullet, built up as a trials bike. Though somewhat half-hearted as the footpegs are in the standard position. Previous owner apparently died before finishing the bike, lots of new bits, but badly assembled. The front (engine) sprocket if you remember does not fit the primary chain, very weird, so I am ordering a new sprocket and chain from our hosts.
The gearbox sprocket is a 15 tooth (one smaller than standard) and the rear wheel, a 38.
The clutch has 56 teeth.
I am looking to stick with gearing that is not too low for road use, should I go with the 25 tooth engine sprocket that is standard, (bearing in mind the gearbox sprocket is already one tooth smaller than standard), or would the 22 tooth gearbox sprocket be ok ? That's the next smaller size available. It's almost certainly not going to be low enough for serious trials use, but I intend to get the bike running and road registered before I decide if I shall use it for road or off-road. I don't want to end up paying for a sprocket that's neither low enough for off road, and too low for the road.

Cheers, Tony.

ps - Mark, you going to be at Kempton this week ? We shall be in the usual place.

[Alan R]

Hi TONY !!-------- reading through your article I get the impression that maybe a "Green Lane" bike might be the answer ??......Perhaps our "Scaley" can help out here ??

[Mark M]

Tony, I won't be at Kempton, it is our REOC Home Counties Branch rally this weekend so I shall be there. Remind me your stall number for future reference? As to your question, your rear sprocket at 38T sounds like a Crusader one, (the Bullet std is 46T) which complicates things. My Works Replica relies on the Trials ratios in the gearbox (as sold by our Hosts,) to achieve the gearing you want and I think I'd do it that way. Off road you'll only need 1st and 2nd leaving 3rd and 4th for the road. My WR is happy at 55 mph on the road with a little bit more to come which seems about right on knobbly tyres!

REgards, Mark

[TonyBax]

Hi Guys,
thanks for the comments. Hmm, that rear sprocket being wrong doesn't help does it ?
Mark, do I assume then you have 25/56 - 16/46 ?
Mark, stall number is 181, right next to Meriden off-road, enjoy the rally !
I've never tried green laning, so that could be an option.

Cheers.

[Mark M]

Tony, I think that's what I have, it's a while since I was in there! It seems to work well off road but I've only green-laned it so far. Bear in mind my bike has the 500 flywheels with the alloy 350 top end so has more flywheel effect which also helps. Have a good jumble!

REgards, Mark

[TonyBax]

Hi Mark, many thanks, I hope I make a fortune ! Just checked the parts book for '53, and that does have a 38T rear sprocket. I shall perhaps do some calculations for final ratio and see what might work best.
Cheers.

[Mark M]

Tony, that makes sense. The pre-56 350 and 500 had different rear hubs, the 350 being a 6" and the 500 being a 7". My WR is a 1959 so has the 7"/46T but many modified machines use the earlier rear hub for lightness. I think you should be aiming for the same overall ratio? Could you do it in the gearbox, more expensive but possibly more useful in the long run?


REgards, Mark

[Bullet Whisperer]

All the 350's I have seen [and that's a fair few,British and Indian] have 38t on the rear, except for any deliberately altered ones. Some of the later 500's [Redditch] and twins had 46t, as I understand it. Regards, Paul.

[TonyBax]

Hi Paul, as Mark says, later full width hub is 46 as standard, the parts books are all on this site, I've just gone through them. I shall have to work out the ratios, then buy the appropriate engine sprocket, and perhaps do what Mark suggested with the gearbox internals that Hitchcocks sell.
Cheers.

[TonyBax]

Ah, just searching the catalogue and the trials ratio that Hitchcocks offer only apparently fit the '59 to '62 Redditch gearboxes. Anyone know the difference ?