Forum

[Adrian]

As for the missing distributor (cough) you an always bore a 41mm (1⅝") hole in the back of the timing chest and fit one. Do it accurately enough to re-instate the idler gears (they're on 2" centres) and you can have it working, allowing you to fit the points or electronic ignition of your choice, and you can adjust the timing as you need.



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[Adrian]

The other way of doing it is to build an Electra-oid engine into a set of post-2001 classic Bullet cases, as with my current (stalled) project.



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[Norm]

Now this idea Adrian I would really have to ask why?, then you have to consider that the barrel spigot would be slopping around in the cases because it is smaller. Nothing I can think of would make me even think about going in that direction

[Wheaters]

My 2004, 350 Electra doesn't have a distributor. Nor does it have any timing gears - there are only the cams in the case. The interior of the timing case itself would also need modification to fit them, where they fit hasn't been machined for the shafts. A lot of work, especially if only for cosmetic reasons. I will eventually get around to fitting an extra breather in the back of the case.

[Adrian]

Ah, I am aware of the extra clearance between between the crankcase mouth and the liner and I have a cunning plan, Norm.



The reason for building the exact opposite hybrid Electra/Classic engine to yours is my love of magnetos - real ones. Putting together a magneto ignition Electra-X is such an unhinged concept that it HAS to be done. The engine Henry Price built for me 10 years ago using a set of modified 350 classic crankcases (crankcase mouth opened out to suit the Electra-X liner, no excess clearance problem there) has worked well and has a BT-H electronic (CDI) mag on there. Now I want to build one with a good Lucas SR1 and auto advance/retard, and yes, I have taken barrel to mag clearance into account.



It is technically possible to machine the crankcases on an Electra-X to take the magneto/points set up and idler gears, as suggested earlier. I think our hosts have even got a used 350 AVL engine for sale where this has been done, but that requires more accurate machining than I am equipped or able to do. Using the classic cases bypasses this issue - it does raise others, but those I **can** cope with, plus I get to run with the classic's tougher tappets.



Have I considered therapy? Er... this IS the therapy!



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[Norm]

Yes in my motor I turned the Bullet tappet guides down externally so they would fit the Electra cases, solved that problem,, I guess you were thinking of using the Electra timing cover on the cast iron cases, I think they would work, gives you the gear pumps. Drive side you could use a Thunderbird inner primary case, this will bolt on, depends on if the cast cases you were using were E/S just tap the new holes. Using the T/Bird inner case means you can leave the drive side Electra shaft intact so it can rum the alternator. Interesting stuff and I just love doing this sort of stuff just to prove it can be done, because there is no other sane reason why you would do it. Just makes it really hard for someone in 50 years time to try and figure it out

[Adrian]

The inner primary cover off a K/S 4 speed 350 home-market Indian Electra was what I fitted when I got rid of the E/S on my Electra-X. The crankcases needed the three extra holes drilling and tapping M8 to relocate the mounting stud holes. If you look at my picture on the previous page the result looks identical to what you did with your modified primary. Current project will be using a set of K/S crankcases so it will bolt straight on, as with my previous hybrid.



As I'm using our of our host's own Electra cranks I will still need the Electra alternator and therefore a set of 10 hole primary covers. I will try and post up a picture of this nonsense up in a while.



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[Adrian]

My old Electra is now being ridden as a diesel conversion by someone! An even more extreme solution the the Electra-X woes?



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[Norm]

Another thing I forgot to mention Adrian is if you decide to use the Electra timing cover, and my preference would be so you don't have to cut the crank feed off a Hitchcocks crank (makes me shudder thinking about that) you then have the issue that one of the feed pump holes,(forget which one it is) doesn't line up from Electra timing cover to the Bullet cases by about 20mm. I did look at it once and I think it could be built up with weld and a new hole drilled on an angle and then the face machined back. Looked ugly to me so I bailed on that idea. The more I think about it is why not just get a set of Electra cases, they can't be too hard to find. I never considered fitting the idler gears in the timing chest to run the dizzy, I just put it there for looks

[Norm]

Hi Adrian I think I did work out a long time ago that if you cut the end off the Electra crank you could fit a Bullet worm nut so you could use a Bullet timing cover and quill bolt, but I would be reluctant to do this mod.