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[grunda 12]

just thought i,d pick a brain or 2 i filled my 350 bullet up today and i,ve worked out that its doing 62.8 mpg thats both urban & rural speeds i,m currently running a mickard 24mm with 95 main jet 27.5 pilot jet middle notch on needle ,plug b7hs lovely chocolate brown in centre of electrode slight sutty on outer edges of plug this to me seems a good set up oh forgot i,ve got the richer slide ,open silencer and t caddy filter ,electronic ignition everything seems cock on ,am just a little peeved that the mpg is so low when in its standard form it always ran weakish but returned around 78mpg any thoughs bullet guru,s?

[PeteF]

In standard form the engine doesn't breath well because of the restricted exhaust and air filter.


Your modifications have let the engine breath better so you get a bit more performance which I guess you are using even if you don't think you are. More performance = more fuel used I'm afraid.


When comparing fuel consumption with others I find the 350 doesn't do as well as the 500. I think it's 'cos they have to try a bit harder. Well worth it for a lot sweeter engine IMO

[Dennis C]

The plug colour you describe indicates that the bike is running rich, this is not a good thing one for the fuel wastage and two it washes the oil off the bore and increases wear.


I guess most of your running is in the mid range try dropping the needle a bit and see what the plug looks like, you are aiming to get a light brown centre and no or very little soot.


Also check the ignition is set correctly and you have the correct spark plug fitted.

[Craig]

My 98 India std 35o, Tea Cady,Micarb,Short Silencer,(Includeing spell with Mega & Universal) use to regulerly turn out 75mpg No Matter What.When i have Owned and Run 500's along Side it they did do very slightly Better,or again a reguler 10mpg Extra on the Special Un Leaded or Super (But it costs more)


Right My 350 with sooty Plug, do's More MPG on cheap Petrol Than Super.


And a Bit better when I use Castrol Valve master, on all occasions (Over 10 years) its Lightly sooty with out VM (Sooty with) and on origanal Points & Center Main Needle Position on Both Micarbs.


Best performance Boost I got was with the "Universal Exhurst" with No Real MPG Loss..But it was ere Noisy.


All Info gained from Just Running a Log, nothing tech, Keeping a Close Eye on New (Cheap)Mickarb bought Last Year, After Bad spell on Posh Petrol ( 52mpg reguler) its getting Back to a Steady 75 on Cheap unleaded.


Hope Me ramblings Help...


Pluss: I Truly Find the 350 a Loverly Motor (But Nice to have a 500 when you can)


 


Cheers all..Craig

[grunda 12]

cheers for all the replys chaps,the spark plug listed for my 350 is ngk b7 hs thats what i,ve got fitted,even when running weak in origional trim outer edge of plug was sutty although centre electrode was never chocolate brown ,maybe that mad dash 2 junctions on the motorway last week to and from our branch of the reoc did it ? although i,ve been comuting between barnsley and sheffield on urban roads maybe my right hands too big? theres only 1 thing for it take the winter hack off the road as soon as the salts done ,and get the diesel bullet out 52 -56mph all day long at 160mpg

[simon]

My warmed over 350 with a 389 Amal is getting 68 mpg on a trip at 60 to 65 mph. So perhaps there is a bit more tuning to be done. 

[MadMike]

Some onteresting numbers here. As I have said before I do not have an Enfield, my last Enfield ownership was back in the mid 60's.


However I do have, amongst other bikes, a 1958 registered Norton Model 50. For the uninitiated it is a 350 single. It was last rebuilt in 1977 and has since done nearly 84000 full size imperial miles.


This regularly returns 100mpg, and often more than 100mpg. Coil ignition and original Amal Monobloc carb still fitted, with no air filter fitted. No modern stuff on this old bike that I often refer to as The Lady Nortonia of Leicestershire.


I often think that even with bikes like an Enfield, modern manufacturers have lost their way when it comes to building fuel efficient engines. Incidentally my 1951 Ariel 350NH also easily beats 100mpg consumption and my 1967 A65 BSA will do 75mpg.


That's progress I guess.   


 

[Dennis C]

Mr Mad


I agree with you on this, the MPG on new bikes is poor in general.


Unlike you I do have an enfield with two 350s IE a 700 Super Meteor and this bike regularly returns 70-80 good English miles to a gallon of the current gold plated petrol, even when using it as Enfield intended (thrashing it a bit) it never falls below 60 MPG.

[simon]

Now chaps I don't want to cause a kerfuffle or cast any aspersions here but I do think that some some slightly optimistic claims get made when it comes to petrol consumption. As I remember the 350 bullet was claimed to be a 70 mph bike that would do 80 mpg or perhaps the other way around ( I stand to be corrected). I remember a friend of mine swearing on any number of bibles that he could get 50 mpg out of his Triumph 2500 TC, a vehicle I got a reliable but unspectacular 18 to 21 mpg from. with bikes there must be a considerable difference in consumption dependant on the weight and size of the rider and of course the different leadedness of the various wellies. 

[MadMike]

Simon, a kerfuffle is here. 


Just to clarify the details of my Model 50. The 350 model 50 has a Featherbed frame and weighs 382 pounds, that equates to about 170kg. It is a 75-80mph bike and gets well used by this overweight rider.


The 100mpg consumption is based upon the records of every gallon of Sainsburys (and others) cheapest unleaded that goes in the tank. I keep meticulous records of fuel use for all of my bikes. Sad I know but the analyser of details and numbers in this old engineer keeps these kinds of records.