Hitchcocks Forum

Hi all thanks to everyone for the advice on possible cause and items to check where metal bits are coming from,but on the much awaited final strip down the news is not good for my 350 bullet,
the source of the metal is from the main bearings they have been turning in the housing and on the main drive shaft causing wear on the shaft its self,the big/small ends are worn oval,there is a deep gouge in the cylinder wall,you may say well fair wear and tear.But some previous owner who i can only describe as a non lover of REs has had the engine in bits at some stage discoverd the problems and tried to botch the repairs by centre punching the bearing casing and using some sort of liquid metal to try and stick the bearings into the housing,also disreguarding the groove in the cylinder and replacing any worn bushes.Result one knackerd engine requiring etensive replacement parts or replacement engine which ever is the most cost effective,I am not nomally an emotional person but from buying the bie to strip down I have only drove the bike for aprox 40 miles,ever feel like you have been mugged.
All this said any sugestions for an offordable solution.
sorry this is a bit long.

Taper, I am very sorry to hear the result of your stripdown.I was properly stuffed with an Excelsior 50 years ago so I can sympathise. I can't see a cheap way out of it for you. The crankcases can often be bushed to correct an oversize caused by rotation in the housing, obviously a job for an engineer with experience in this field. Unless the score in the barrel is very deep you will likley be able to have it bored and an oversize piston fitted. If I were you I would replace the oil pumps and drive. New mains of course. I think the big expense will be the crank, as you say the big end has gone and the shafts are worn. The big end is replaceable and the shafts can recovered by metal spraying. Perhaps a replacement crank will be cheaper if you can get one. All of this is very expensive (well to me it is) and I think you are likely to find that the cost may exceed the value of the bike. If you can find a replacement engine this could be the best option but you could buy another duffer. I wish you the very best of luck and hope you can resolve your dilema within a budget that is good for you.

Taper.

Sounds like you have been mugged.

Affordable solution, think I would be keeping an eye out at Autojumbles / ebay for some serviceable stuff. Perhaps a breakers.

Ideally a complete 2nd hand motor as yours sounds "Donald ducked"

Good luck.

Thanks gents for your comments ,at the moment I am drowning my sorrows,but to morrow is another day and I am already looking at some engineering firms to see if the engine is repairable within a budget,I will update you as I get info.

Hello TAPER--------- Please PM me on}---[email protected] call }---01952371939---- where I may have some good news for you.

Hello matey & thanks for the call. Sorry it wasn't quite what I'd hoped but do give that Gloucester "contact" a look at. Chins up !! Heave-Ho me hearties !!!!!!!

Alan R just looked on the web site you gave me and it looks promising,will update you at a later time and date.

What a bugger, mugged by a bodger......Apart from the negineering solution for the damaged mainbearing housing all other bits are avaiable from Hitchcock. Speak to them about your crank they may have some good advice........ I do hope you are able to salvage the engine

We had one of those "Special" "rebuilt in India by Indians" (mongrels had the audacity to stamp the rebuild date on the flywheers) heap of junk a couple of years ago and it did about 500ks before it gurgled it's way into despair. Mate had paid good money for it and it had the centre punched bearing bodge done and nothing in the motor was square. The money spent machining the cases so that it could be got working is frightening but once you start you either have to finish it or cut your losses at the start. Picking up engine cases out here, near impossible but hopefully you might have a better chance over there. We had 10 Carberrys built here so that put a few motors on the market and over there you are fitting diesels so that should free up a few sets of cases. Good luck

Hi Taper....don't get too depressed, worn bearing housings and shafts are not a problem nowadays. Many engines have their bearings turn on the shafts or in their housings, so don't worry. There are some excellent extremely tough gap filling/ bearing fitting products made by LOCTITE....see these:...........http://www.loctite.co.uk/uke/content_da ... ......best products for you are 648 and 660. The small end wear requires a new conrod (cheap enough) but you will need the big end done anyway so that can be fitted when that is done.....You might be able to buy a new barrel and piston cheaper than a rebore and piston so check out this option too....head up and get cracking....hope this cheers you some.