Forum

[Tomshayes]

Hi Mark

Thanks for that!.. I certainly will not be revving the mother's out of the interceptor's granddad )

Out of interest are stronger conrods available?....

If I am to strip it down for leaks etc that would be a good time to install uprated rods!..

Tom

[Mark M]

Tom, no they are not suitable; the journal size increased (not sure what year,) and then the width was increased too in 1958. H's only do the 1958 on dimensioned rods. But, I wouldn't worry about it as the rods are fine for the expected performance of a 1" carb, mild camshaft low compression tourer. It was only as performance expectations increased (probably chasing the Triumphs of the day,) that uprating was required. Despite what may have been said elsewhere I'm not convinced the later rods will fit in the Meteor cases as the journals are much larger round the big end shoulder and the available space in the Meteor cases is tight. If you want to contact me off board I'm at trials59(AT)yahoo(DOT)co(DOT)uk but judging by the number of pages this thread has got to, a lot of folk are enjoying the public debate!

REgards, Mark

[Tomshayes]

Hi Mark

Thanks for that.. I have "upgraded" from a 52 Matchless G9 as I just wanted a little more useable cruising speed for distances etc.. Mainly on A20 or A2 (Kent) with the occasional trip down to the South coast on a sunny day!...

I am not a racer so I won't be trying to keep up with Suzuki (Apologies for swearing) Bandits etc.... More like M21's G2's and B33's Bimblers R Us..

My main concern is keeping the oil in!!

Tom

[Tomshayes]

Hi Mark

From the info I have the original 53 Meteor B.E. Journal Dia was 1.75" and Conrod was 7/8" wide until 1955

The SM B.E. dia was upped to 1.875" and rods were 1" wide....


Tom

[Colin F]

Tom and Mark,from my understanding of the article re fitting the SM crank to the earlier
Meteor cases is they use '58 Meteor minor conrods,they are the same length as the 700's but
crank pin is 1.77,so the big end cap is pulled in for better clearance and also they come fitted with tapered big end bolts.So if you had a set of Meteor cases with no crank you could pick up a
worn out SM crank cheaply and still get a working Meteor motor out of it
cheers
colin

[Norm]

Colin I believe that is the path Sir Fred must have done with his because I was very surprised to see his at Broken Hill with an alternator fitted, just after I had gone through all the effort to fit an alternator to Ants 54 Meteor

[Colin F]

I remember Norm,Ant wanted better lighting on his Meteor,with a SM crank fitted
he could have left the generator on it and also fitted the alternator which the SM
would have accommodated,poor old motor would have had trouble turning both of them
though,cheers colin

[Norm]

Colin with Ants Meteor motor, I'm not pulling that down, it is going to be one ugly thing if that has to come apart, I have done a lot of JB Weld repairs inside the timing cover, just to keep it going. The other problem was when it had the distributor on it he kept turning it while riding along, thinking he could make it run better. I then fitted the alternator and Pazon ignition to stop him fiddling. Problem is he refuses to put a spanner or a rag to the bike, he just wants to ride it, and that doesn't work on a 60 year old Enfield, so it spends most of its life in my shed

[Tomshayes]

Hi Colin

So what year SM crank are we talking about out of curiosity?

Or does it not matter..

Tom

[Tomshayes]

I got to the bottom of it!

The SM crank part No 43350 is a direct replacement for the early Meteor crank.
Pt No 36499

The original crank has 1.75" Dia B.E. Journals at 7/8" wide..
The later "Replacement" SM crank journals has a larger dia at 1.775" and are 1" wide

Use with conrods No 42597 (58/59 500 Twins)

All available if needed.... From our hosts!