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[mickt]

Well first off i must thank everyone that contributed to my last post 'Electra X problem' especially Adrian who spotted my rookie mistake of not removing all of the Watsonian anti wet sumping kit !. needless to say i have now taken all the kit off & added an extra breather, drained & refilled the oil as instructed by puppa smurf plus others FANTASTIC problem solved. so took it for a run down to Flitwick motorcycles about a 30 mile round trip, well i recon i did 10 miles she was running lovely taking it easy doing no more than 60 then sudden loss of power & a horrendous rattle clutch in motor stopped & coasted to the verg i thought i'd broken a push rod so checked but no all fine even still correctly adjusted ! slowly kicked it over no nasty noises so closed my eyes & pressed the starter doff doff doff doff ! happy as larry !!!! so i carryed on to flitwick it did it twice more on the way but literally switch off & back on re-fire it. Steve Linsdel as im sure you all know knows his way around enfields he kindly put it on a ramp & had a look oil level fine circulation seemed fine but he didnt have time to go any deeper but he couldn't understand it. i have been offered a buttit engine that im consideringbut i dont know how much of a faf it will be to fit as its a points engine how much would i have to change to make it work ?

[Leon Novello]

It might not be an engine problem, have a look at the primary chain, the clutch or anything that might come loose in there.

[Adrian]

Hi Mick,



+1 to Leon's suggestion to check the primary over, it might also be worth a top-end overhaul of the engine to check all is OK if there's nothing obviously wrong with the transmission and sprag clutch mechanism.



As for the engine swap it is do-able but quite a few other things will need to be changed, the exact number will depend on what type of engine you were thinking of fitting. This will need quite a list, which I shall post separately or else the dreaded time-out will stop me.
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A.

[Adrian]

First off the primary chain cases will need changing to suit whatever replacement engine you have in mind, the Electra-X set won't be any use for any other UK model as the alternator mountings are all different.



If your gearbox is still on the original left-foot pattern your replacement engine will need to be from a Sixty-5 model with the tunnel through the oil tank for the left foot shift mechanism, or else you will have to convert the gearbox to right-foot shift, this will also need the rear brake pedal moving over to the left.



The differences in the electrics go beyond the swap from mechnical points driven off the timing gears to crankshaft triggered TCI ignition, the charging system is three phase compared to the classic Bullet's single phase. After 1999 the classic Bullets also had a direct AC feed to the headlamp.



Probably the easiest option is to fit a Lucas RM24 three phase alternator on the replacement engine and hook it up to the Electra's existing three phase reg/rectifier, though you'd still have to modify the ignition side, and I'm not sure that the TCI type coil will be OK with points – if it has been successfully done I am sure someone will mention it.



The exhaust pipes are different, even on the aftermarket high-level pipe you have fitted. The classic Bullet type just has a push-in fit into the exhaust port, the Electra-X has a welded-on collar over which a loose flange fits, this is bolted onto the cylinder head with a couple of M8 nuts and studs.



Looking at what's involved, might it not be easier to get to the bottom of the existing engine's problem?



A.

[stinkwheel]

Could the valve lifter inadvertantly have been pulled in? Either lever or cable fouling soemwhere or a problem with the spring?



That would make a hell of a clatter-up (like a jumped/broken exhaust pushrod), total loss of power and a stall. Would all go back to normal when it returns to the normal position.

[mickt]

the starter sounds like a good place to look, thinking back it has made a noise on starting recently & steve linsdels bikes are all kick start so he wouldnt be familiar with electric start models. i dont think it will be the valve lifter as ive never used it since ive had the bike & the cable has always been slack but i wont rule it out. i think ill scrap the buttit engine idea it sounds more trouble (& expense) than its worth. ill have to wait till the weekend & hope its not raining to get the primery off, are the sprags fixable or just replace ?

[vince]

Hi, if it didn't seize up, it sounds like a sticking exhaust valve, did the engine backfire? Vince.

[mickt]

no didnt back fire

[Adrian]

If that is the problem, a broken sprag clutch (very common on the Electra-X) can't be repaired, it needs to be replaced in its own right, along with any other components in the starter gear train which have been damaged. A.

[mickt]

i cant find any starter parts listed in the catalogue