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[simon]

Oh and I do remember my old 51 Bullet had a few oil ways in the cover that seemed to go nowhere and be of little purpose.

[Scalyback]

[center]

I refuse to scupper Zippy's post, so with a massive scaly effort...





Feed pump inner face, note single port.






Feed Pump recess, Holes,clockwise from low left 1 - to timing cover gasket mating surface/ 2 to filter-quillbolt-crank - /3 incoming oil feed- / 4 - joined to 3






Right hand Crankcase, lower left of timing chest. Top hole screw. Lower hole oil feed. matches feed on timing cover. gasket has 3 holes like the cover





Timing cover inner side - note 3 hole group . Top = screw .low left = oil feed. Low right = No1 hole at feed pump






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[zippy]

Thanks Guys! - Feeling decidedly less "Blue" today. I've figured it out. It is due to a change between '52 and '53. the oilways on the crankcase changed. But the timing case was left unaltered as it was common to half a dozen other models. So rather than change the timing cover and create another part number - they carried on until '56. The clues were 1, all the spare gaskets up to '56 have the extra hole. 2/ All the parts books for the bullet show a 3 hole case in the drawing until '53. 3 my crank case has a "Fresh" looking spot originating from the hole site , due to a continuous oil mist through the thinned gasket. -So it's getting a removable blanker made...

[zippy]

Just checked all 4 pcs here... I can get onto my photobucket pics no probs, Whether I'm logged in as the poster or logged off as a viewer. So it seems likely the malware is with the viewer rather than the poster or the website......?
MarkM - The pics do show a crank case with it's covers off and an oilpump in various states of undress - So maybe bike porn :p . How is your '50s Bullet project coming on?

[Scalyback]

Yeah, I mean it only happened the one time, that malware thing, and I did check my mac, but all ok.



I am glad you sussed it out in the end, good bit of detective work too!



"A bullet is not just for Christmas."

[Mark M]

Zippy, I just found my reference material in a copy of Motorcycle Sport dated 1978! It's an article by Don Morley on the Royal Enfield "Works" trials motorcycles. It has a pic of the various timing covers as fitted to Works and roadster machines. It agrees with your findings, that is, the oil ways changed but the cover didn't and the gaskets had all the various holes fitted presumably for safety! However, if you had a timing cover with a subtly different shape and only 2 holes you'd have an ex-Works rarity!
REgards, Mark

[zippy]

Hi Mark, thanks for all that. I'm just finishing up restoring the timing cover area. When it's finished I'll put up a better picture of it.The cover looks like it has spent it's working life on that engine. The engine had had a life that could only be described as brutal. missing fins, chips and breaks, plus many sharp dings all over the underside and timing cover. - little wonder if it has been used in competition. There are various numbers and letters stamped and cast into the timing cover,inside and out. Also something in white paint on the web between the cam spindle end holes ( a number or letter , - too far gone to read, now removed in the refurbishment. inside top gasket face above 1st idler on the thick bit stamped 12222 .Cavity above the cams is cast in raised characters P.4705. On the exterior feed pump housing is marked with a large 4. Scavenge pump housing is marked with a half sized T36, sideways on. Royal enfield is cast into the side in large letters above the quillbolt hole. Appearance is as part number 33571, but really well finished, ie -non of the normal raised seam lines and creases (like where the pump housings start) are present - it just "flows" from 1 detail to the next.

[Mark M]

Zippy, all the numbers seem to be the usual Factory markings, raised letters being the usual casting numbers and stamped ones being the marks applied by the various workers who did the machining operations. "Works" engines were so special (often using magnesium castings and different patterns for instance,) that paradoxically they usually don't have any numbers on at all! They would have an engine number but that's it. Remember that the Works bikes should be distinguished from Trials bikes sold to the general public which weren't nearly as special! The REOC records are very good on this kind of detail so it's always worth running the engine and frame numbers past the Machine Dating Officer unless you already have?
REgards, Mark

[zippy]

Thanks Mark, I would feel a little less guilty thrashing a normal production engine than I would a rare works special, either way I still think the earlier stuff is far better built and more mechanically interesting than the later / Indian stuff.... How is your '50s Bullet doing?

[Mark M]

Sorry Zippy, I forgot to reply to that the other day. The Ebay Bullet (as I call it!) is on hold for the time being. It is now at a point to start re-assembly and my wife is getting a bit *fed up* with the frame cluttering the spare room! I will re-start on it in the autumn, for the meantime I'm concentrating on riding my other Enfields in this great weather. The articles in The Royal Enfield Magazine ended because Paul (the Editor) became too busy with other projects to keep the mag going. I will post updates on the Ebay 350 here or maybe see if the team at RealClassic are interested? REgards, Mark