Hitchcocks Forum

Again thanks everyone for the comments and advice,I am now at the stage where a replacement engine seems to be the sensible option,I have contacted the hosts of this web site and they can supply the parts but not a complete unit,the net has therefore been cast wider so as to speak,and with some tips from fellow members I have located an engine complete,the down side is that is an all Indian made engine and not as original as the deceased engine,this is all cost driven as the parts alone would exeed the value of the bike,any tips on what the pitfalls with Indian built engine?

On the whole, there's nothing wrong with the Indian engine. However, they appear to fall into two main catagories. long lived and lemons. My own Lightning engine was a lemon. The main bearings gave out after 1500 miles from new. If you get an engine with a lot of miles on it, it's a good-un.

My only suggestion is that you keep the original engine as provenance and also because any repair is only a matter of money and time. Whilst it may not be financially viable or desirable at the moment in the future it maybe that you or the next owner may want to return it back to original.

If you fix the original engine you will know that it is right.

Might be easier to try finding a good pair of cases unless you know somebody with a mill

Sorry to hear about the extent of the damage to your engine. However a rebore, new big end/crank plus uther bearings etc plus some loving attention to the cleaning and rebuild must surely be the most economical solution. Unless of course the cases are completely broken, etc. If not then welding and milling is not that difficult to get done. Somebody on here possibly has a milling machine.....mine doesn't arrive until September when I get back from my holidays unfortunately. Taper the next bit is not aimed at you so please DO NOT get offended. I have repeatedly banged on about the evils of having metal in suspension in a bikes lubrication system, and here you have the consequences. No amount of trust in gauze or cloth filters alters the fact that metal in the oil means mechanical failure. Those who think/believe otherwise frankly do not understand the engineering principles of the lubrication system in an IC engine.....rant over. Taper I hope you manage to resolve the problem of rebuild/replacement engine quickly and that you are able to get back to riding your bike.

Is the big end the same as an Indian one? is the conrod the same, if so fit indian ones, same go for the barrel, my self I would look into this as I would want to keep the orginal cases

i had the same problems last year,and finally took my own advice , i think the only thing to do is rebuild the origanal,the problem is you can spend quite a lot of the hard earnt on another motor not really knowing the history even if someone tells you it was rebuilt 12 minuites ago using brand new spares,but having said that there are a few honest people about who would beable to prove whats been done! havent read your other posts yet and dont know the damage done but if it is to bad you could possible put the hole project on the back burner ,hold out for some redditch cases,i,m sure there will be some lurking in a shed somewhere with your name on,and in the mean time buy yourself an indian bullet to see you through

hi just read your other posts i cant see how long you,ve had the bike or if you know any history of it ,and im not telling you how to suck eggs but are you 100% sure it is a redditch engine theres been a few on fleabay that arn,t and if it is check that it,s not an indian crank i know there different to the british ones but someone could of cobbled one in (IF IT IS POSSIBLE) which could mean your cases arn,t as bad as they seem

What doesn't appear in this post is the fact that the bearings in this motor have been centre punched into the cases to stop them spinning. Machining to fit O/S bearings or fitting sleves and remachining gets very costly unless you have a mate with a mill and he knows exactly what he is doing. Otherwise new cases are in order