Hitchcocks Forum

I have an HDA and an HDE gearbox, they were sold to me some years ago as twin gearboxes. I have used the HDA with a Constellation engine and the HDE is being fitted with a Meteor Minor engine. They have the longer mainshaft so they should be from twins. However when I enquired their origin with REOC I was told that they had no record of these gearboxes fitted in twins or indeed anything else though they said their records for singles gearboxes were not complete. Does anyone have any information about them?

Code HDA is listed as 1954 500 Twin. Is it the type with the kickstart and gear lever on the same shaft? I ask because 1954 was (the first year for this 'flat front' type gearbox. HDE would be a 1955-56 500 Twin.or Super Meteor. These boxes were also fitted to Indian badged machines sent to the States but the same models.

REgards, Mark

Is there a list of gearbox codes available?

My Bullet gearbox has the code HDH, it doesn't seem to have the huge step between 3rd and 4th that my Indian Bullet has and I have always wondered if it has standard ratios.

My bullet has the code AGE and also doesn't seem to have the huge jump. Mark might correct me, but the gearbox codes appear to be largely a mystery.

Chris, AGE is stated as 1959-60 in this list: http://www.ozemate.com/interceptor/k_baseIndian1.htm. However, this list refers to bikes exported as Indians to the USA and although these codes appear to be the same as for UK built bikes there seems to be no definitive proof! Also, the list refers only to Twins and it would be odd if the codes were the same for singles? Graham Scarth of the REOC is trying to compile a list of known gearbox codes in order to try and resolve some of these questions and identify internal specifications at the same time.

Chris, I just checked the gearbox that came with my Bighead engine/gearbox unit and the code on it is AGE 636. By the way, yesterday Ed brought round the Bighead frame that you found for me and I spent a happy afternoon cutting and grinding off all the excess bits that had been welded on it followed by a session with the gas torch straightening out the rear shock absorber hanger and the pillion footrest loops! Just a small spigot for the pillion footrest to make up and weld on and then it's off to the blasters.

REgards, Mark

That's great Mark, glad its in the right hands!