Hitchcocks Forum

Ok so  it's my cumuppence! Doris my 96 bullet who I lovingly refreshed is sick, possibly terminal. She kicks back and spits the carb off regularly. I think she has stripped her worm drive and she is sounding very clattery all of a sudden. She got me to work this morning but......... Now I really wanted to keep her for life but in truth, thrasher that I am, I need more power and day to day stability (passengers and distance). It's hard to find a bike I fancy more, coz she is well fit innit bruv. I already have a 350 in need of a gearbox rebuild and an 80's Ducati Pantah that's not been run for at least 20 years. I have no workspace and do everything in the street. I suppose I could have the engine out and drag it up to my flat and rebuild her in me kitchen. I need transport though. Im public transport a phobic. Question. What's a rebuild likely to involve and cost? Big end, mains, rebore, valve job etc? Can I do it at home and turn it around in a few days?
Or divorce? Sell all my Enfields on eBay as is and take the credit card their so eager to give me and buy an old Triumph twin 650 or 750. I'd love an interceptor but that way lies madness and poverty I fear. A ménage a trois? Buy a c90 or some other cheap jap to get me by while I rebuild Doris? As is no doubt obvious I ain't got a lot of cash so ploughing a grand or more into Doris seems a bit silly. Any fellow London bulleteers with workspace to rent/share? I do have the bullet blues........and the sun is out at last

Sorry to hear your tale of woe. The carb blowing off/spitting back is a good indicator that the ignition timing is too advanced. The engine tries to run backwards (briefly!) combustion gases exit via the inlet valve and the worm drive takes a pounding. If you've kept running it after it got more clattery, you're probably going to need a new big end.....Have you removed the return pump cover to check that there is no operation of the oil pump as you turn the engine over slowly on the kickstart?..... This is definitely an easy on-the-street job to do and then you'll know part of what's in store!

What is required here is what used to be know as "vehicle sympathy". You thrash a bullet then it going to break, alongside the strong and weak forces, gravity and electromagnetism it is one of the fundamental laws of physics.
As you suggest yourself, perhaps a little Honda c90 is called for, cos lets face it, you'll hardly notice the difference in performance or economy and gain a whole load of reliability.
As for an old Trumpet twin, a halfway decent T140 will cost you about 5 grand and a really nice late T120 nearer 10!
If I might make a suggestion you could buy my beautifully kept, indeed pristine, silver 2007 E/S classic - a real one, not a uce - for only 2K including some spares and a single seat. That would cover half the cost of the fully restored 1963 Tiger 90 I've just aquired and save me the trouble of advertising it.

I've not had a chance to take a look at anything yet. I also wasn't sure if it was sounding different because I had a guitar case on my back. You know how all sorts of things effect what you hear but today, no guitar and not a good sound. I can hear the engine above the exhaust. I fear the worst. I will whip the pump cover off once I've nursed her home. I though I'd cured kickback after sorting my charging/battery etc. I have mk3 Boyer. The problem returned even with decent voltage in the battery.

I've seen a few bonnies for not such silly money I certainly don't need another bullet and I don't want a bike with electric start or If I do I might as well get 750 jap four of something. I think you might have your own agenda Eddie. Don't forget it would seem my calamity was not actually caused by my extremely supple right wrist but by other technical issues that could just as easily befall the more sensible of us so don't be too hard on me.

Thrasher - where are you in London? There is a place in Kennington that has workshop facilities you can rent, plus I'm also in South East London if you wanna pop by, if for nothing else to say hello?
It seems like most folk on here are oop North...

Ok so I've popped the front oil pump cover off and there still is rotation so I'm assuming my worm ain't stripped. The clatter remains and sounds terminal to me. I am not without mechanical sympathy believe me, thrasher I may be but I don't rev her past usable power, I just ride fast. In fact if I can hear my machine grinding, I actually feel it myself. So what can I deduce? It sounds bad. Doesn't seem to be overheating, starts, runs ok just that awful sound! What next? Thanks Peter were my bike ok I'd pop by for a cuppa, in fact any fellow bulleteers are welcome for a cuppa anytime their Sw18 ish or W11 some days. My email is
[email protected]

Bullet Thrasher,
Don't spend any more money on your Bullet, it is a waste of time and effort in your situation, trying to rebuild it without facilities is much too difficult, costly and time consuming. Get a small Japper and get on with your life.

Ok, so the pump turns. Now, have you checked the valve clearances? Another easy job whilst sitting in the gutter(!) and which may solve the problem or at least rule-out one possibility.

Sadly Norm you may be right. I'm fairly skilled (first job I ever had was with Dresda) and a kitchen rebuild is whithin my capabilities and as for facilities I do have a big hammer but yes. The need for more power that I'm never gonna get from a bullet and my day to day needs??? Also complete tart that I am, I need something sexy and Doris is a well sexy beast. It's a conundrum! I can rebuild her but it will take more do ray me than makes sense and more time and space than I have at my disposal. I don't want some piece of shit modern bike. I love my Doris. ???? Another glass and sleep on it I suppose.......