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[Puffafish]

Greetings all!

My father has had in in garage an old RE Clipper, 250cc. For the majority of the past 30 years he has claimed that he cannot work on the bike, as he is missing the speedometer, which is the rare "D" shape. Recently I managed to find a rare "D" type speedometer for sale (SMITHS S630/L), and looked into getting it for him.

After routing through various drawers of bits, he found the bracket for the instrument cluster. And the speedometer cut out is a nice 80mm diameter circle. Can anyone out there confirm, or deny, what the SMITHS number for the circular speedometer is? I feel that the SM1006 from Hitchcocks is the correct one, but I can't find any firm evidence for this. I've based this belief on the vast power of the 250cc engine meaning that it is unlikely to require the 120mph version.

I'm also after the rest of the instrument cluster (the light switch and the ammeter). I'm guessing the ammeter is the the LU/36084F, but I'm not sure about the light switch.

Can anyone cast any light on this lot for me?

[Mark M]

Hi, what year is the bike as there are 2 different versions of the 250 Clipper, one based on the unit construction 250 machines (engine and gearbox all together) and another earlier version with the gearbox separate. This will help answer your question!

REgards, Mark

[Puffafish]

Hi Mark M, it's a 1955 model, or so I'm lead to believe. I'll have a look at see if I can find out about the gearbox and engine set up, but it is quite buried in the garage....


Thanks!

[Mark M]

I've got the 1956 Parts Book here and it shows a D shape speedo, and lists it as SM634/L (the number on the dial,) which is a 75mph unit with a trip meter. Try David Woods for speedos, at http://www.chronometricspeedos.co.uk. I feel safe posting this as our Hosts don't do this speedometer!

REgards, Mark

[Puffafish]

Thanks Mark,

That explains why it was believed to be the old D shape. But does raise the question as to why the cut out on the instrument bracket is round. I assume that the D speedo has a D cut out in the braket?

The question then is: do we try and find/make a new braket with a D shaped cut out, and keep it original. Or do we do the cheaper and easier option of going for the round speedo.

[Mark M]

The correct top yoke, (Enfield called it a Casquette because I'm guessing it looks like a Norman knight's helmet, ahem,) with the D shape hole and no sidelights is easy to find as it is an ugly thing and nobody wanted them back in the day! Our Hosts have a used one for sale, part number USED2829. Whether you use it is up to you but D shape Chronometric speedos are more numerous and cheaper than the round type and of course it would be correct for the bike if that's what your Dad would like?

REgards, Mark

[Adrian]

Did the D-shaped chronometrics for these bikes have flanged bezels in view of their casquette fitting? If so those might be a bit harder to find than the plain bezel type meant for bracket fixing.



As Mark M points out it's all a question of what your father wants to fit. The 80mm circular cut-out you mention will take **any** flanged bezel Smiths magnetic or Chronometric speedo that size, or even (gulp!) the Indian-made replica, just make sure the speedo calibration is correct for the tyre size and speedo drive gearbox.



A.

[Puffafish]

Thanks for the input. You say that the D shaped ones are more numerous? Where have you been looking? I don't seem to be able to find the D shape anywhere! (But recently I did manage to find one very expensive source). I shall have a conversation and see what shall be decided.

By the way, our hosts have a nice exploded diagram of a 1959 Clipper. Is there anywhere I could get hold of a similar thing for a 1955 (or close enough) version?

[Mark M]

I don't think there is an exploded diagram as such, Enfield sometimes had them in the front of the Workshop Manual for the appropriate model but not always. You will need the illustrated Parts Book, a repro copy available from here part number PB3654. I go to a lot of autojumbles and I see more D shape Chronometric speedos than the round type but then, I'm not looking for one and that's how sod's law works!

REgards, Mark

[John L]

Smith's Industries application list (1958) gives part # S.634/L speedo. head (and mtg. bracket part #31-674-144-01 !) for Clipper 250 1954-1957, which verifies Mark's info.