[hutch]

I was about 30 miles from home, putting along on a country road at 55-60mph. Just stopped to have a smoke at a small creek. Fired the bike up and road about 6 miles to the main drag. When I pulled up to the corner, I was engulfed in a cloud of smoke. The hose from the catch can has never been hooked up to the aircleaner from day one. The hose was pouring oil out on the back of the bike and was dripping down on the exhaust. Can you say BLOW BY realy bad. 2 things came to mind. Ist get the bike home on the backraods at about 30mph. It didn't blow oil out at that speed. I used 1/2 quart of oil from the time it started leaking and getting it home. I cleaned the mess up first. The pipe had to be cleaned with gas and polish to get the burned oil off. Wiped everything else off for now. Pulled the catch can and it wasn't that full. Put everything back, and fired it up. No leak out the tube. Reved it at a rpm equal to about 50mph. No oil at first and then it started pouring out again. I do believe that I have a broken oil ring. The bike never lost power at all, but developed a lot of blow by. That tells me the compression ring is fine. It smokes steadily out the exhaust, like a 2 stroke. Bummer!!! Just under 4000 miles on an 05 Classic. I have been wrenching on all types of bikes since the 60's, so no biggie. I just hope when I put it back together it doesn't leak anywhere. That bike has never leaked a drop of oil. Depending on the condition of the bore, I might have to go with a blue printed 535cc jug, and a stage 2 head.......since it is going to be apart anyway. Although It is a bummer, it will be fun making the Classic a little hotter. If everything is good, I will just re-ring her. I love the bike in the stock bore, but if need be it will get a little hotter. The only bad part is the $1400 for the head and 535cc jug with piston and rings. It might be on hold until next year. Good thing I owns several other bikes.   Hutch

[Foggy_Auggie]

One side of your oil pump may have went out.  I'd check that out real close before buying any new topside parts.

Good luck.

[cochi]

Hutch, Foggie has a good point the scavenging side of your pump may have stopped working. Good luck. cochi

[ace.cafe]

If it does turn out to be the oil ring, and there's really not much scratching to the bore, you can just hone out a couple thou to .0055" wall clearance and use the new CMW replacement forged piston in the same bore, because the forged needs extra large wall clearance, and you could slide by with that because of the added clearance needed with a forged piston, and not have to buy a jug or even bore oversize. Just hone it open a little to suit the new piston clearances.
It's a JE forged piston and it has a good set of rings on it, which are alot better than the piston and rings that come standard in a Bullet.
6.5 or 8.5 compression selection.

Stock cast pistons are fit with .003" clearance, so if the scratching is only a thou deep or so, you can get away without boring, and just hone out the extra couple thou.
Sometimes using a forged piston can come in handy to save the day like that.

Good luck.

[hutch]

One side of your oil pump may have went out.  I'd check that out real close before buying any new topside parts.

Good luck.

Foggie, That was the first thing I was going to check out before buying any top end parts. I had that happen on a Harley, and a Triumph. It is easy to check on them by looking in the oil tank while the bike is running. You can see the oil squirting back in the tank  from the return line. It was almost dark when I got home last night, and I figured I would just wait until this morning to see if I can do the same on the Bullet Classic.  I have a lot faster bikes, and that is why I like the Classic. It seems good to just putt around on the back roads while taking in the scenery. That is why I love the Bullet in it's original form.
Ace.cafe, Thanks for the info on the forged piston. I must have missed that in the 2008 catalog. It would be great if it is just the oil pump, if not, and the bore isn't real bad, that would be a great fix. I always liked forged pistons the best anyway. I guess I will find out soon enough. I hope I can fix it this year, but if it is real bad, it will have to wait until next year and go the expensive 535cc route. Thanks for all the best wishes everyone.   Hutch

[ace.cafe]

Hutch,
This forged 6.5 piston is a brand new item that they just got in last week, and I just happened to find out about it when I was contacting them about something else.
The 8.5 piston has been around awhile though, but 8.5 is pretty high for US pump gas, and I'd be more inclined to use it with some compression spacers to knock it down a bit lower, if I was going to use the 8.5 piston.

Good luck.

[t120rbullet]

Hutch,
This forged 6.5 piston is a brand new item that they just got in last week, and I just happened to find out about it when I was contacting them about something else.
The 8.5 piston has been around awhile though, but 8.5 is pretty high for US pump gas, and I'd be more inclined to use it with some compression spacers to knock it down a bit lower, if I was going to use the 8.5 piston.
Good luck.

I'd like to see a 7.5 to 1 piston like the one JP sells sold here.
Why 7.5?  cuz 6.5 ain't enough and 8.5 is too much!

[ace.cafe]

Hutch,
This forged 6.5 piston is a brand new item that they just got in last week, and I just happened to find out about it when I was contacting them about something else.
The 8.5 piston has been around awhile though, but 8.5 is pretty high for US pump gas, and I'd be more inclined to use it with some compression spacers to knock it down a bit lower, if I was going to use the 8.5 piston.
Good luck.

I'd like to see a 7.5 to 1 piston like the one JP sells sold here.
Why 7.5?  cuz 6.5 ain't enough and 8.5 is too much!

7.5 would be real nice!

[t120rbullet]

                          Frankly it doesnt supprise me.....   I have a 2005 and it has spent 90% of its time on the back of my trailer. Or has got me stuck and stranded on the side of the road.  Had it in the shop at Sun Valley in Nevada also for problems.  A Total waste of Time!!!!   I can wait to sell it..................  A total piece of crap!!!!

On the flip side I have a 99 with 21,000 miles on it and has never let me down once.
Never been in a trailer and has never seen a dealer.

[ace.cafe]

                          Frankly it doesnt supprise me.....   I have a 2005 and it has spent 90% of its time on the back of my trailer. Or has got me stuck and stranded on the side of the road.  Had it in the shop at Sun Valley in Nevada also for problems.  A Total waste of Time!!!!   I can wait to sell it..................  A total piece of crap!!!!

Sorry to hear that.
My 2000 Bullet is a dream to own and ride..

[LJRead]

I'm sure you will get it sorted out, Hutch, and for the better.  Puzzles me as to why an oil ring would go like that, if it turns out that is the problem.

My bike is running so well and is such pleasure to ride that I hold my breath hoping it can stay that way. Never made a better purchase.

[Foggy_Auggie]

                          Frankly it doesnt supprise me.....   I have a 2005 and it has spent 90% of its time on the back of my trailer. Or has got me stuck and stranded on the side of the road.  Had it in the shop at Sun Valley in Nevada also for problems.  A Total waste of Time!!!!   I can wait to sell it..................  A total piece of crap!!!!

Probably never owned a Harley in the 60's, 70's and 80's?  But the biggest piece of crap I ever owned was a new Honda CB350.     The later Honda's were a better roll of the dice - except all the alloy engine hole plugs were as tough as hot butter.

[hutch]

                          Frankly it doesnt supprise me.....   I have a 2005 and it has spent 90% of its time on the back of my trailer. Or has got me stuck and stranded on the side of the road.  Had it in the shop at Sun Valley in Nevada also for problems.  A Total waste of Time!!!!   I can wait to sell it..................  A total piece of crap!!!!

I love the Bullet Classic!. This is the first problem I have had. Of course I started out on English bikes in the 60's. Then I got the torture treatment once I bought Harleys. 13 of them to be exact The last was a 90th anniversary Evo that was a pig. It cost a fortune to make any Harley run with old British twins. I Iike the styling and the performance of the 500 Bullet. It feels good to get on a bike that has no pretense of being fast and just enjoy the back road scenery.  I have been stranded on Harleys more than I ever was on an English bike. I have a 120 horsepower custom that I built if I want to go fast, and several other bikes in between.  I had a lot to do today and just now checked the oil return pump. I figured it would be fine since the tappets never got louder. I pulled the feed line to the rocker boxes and she is pumping oil like it should. The bottom end is not over filling with oil, so that pretty much narrows it down to the busted oil ring. I would like to build it back to stock, if the cyclinder wall isn't gouged real bad. It will give me something to do this winter, along with rebuilding the top end on a 68 BSA 441 Shootingstar, with over 27000 miles on it. I like Brit bikes. Modeler, I am sorry to here you had such a bad experience with your Royal Enfield, but I feel the same way about Harleys. That is why I bought a RevTech 100 cubic inch v-twin motor and built  it up the way I wanted it. Then I built the rest of the bike. It smokes the new 96 and 103 Harleys, without fuel injection on my bike. I just hope I don't have to build the Bullet up, although it would be fun. I like it just the way it is with my mods. I tried to post a pic of my Bullet but it gives me no option to paste or insert image, just undo or delete. I tried it from the Bikepics website and I can't get it to post from the members rides on this site either. Just not my week I guess. I tried to copy it but got no option to paste here. Then I tried it using properties and still a no go.  Hutch

[LJRead]

Each of us has such different requirements and backgrounds that there can be no single perfect bike for all of us.  I highly respect your thoughts, Hutch, and I too am sorry when I hear people having their difficulties.   When one gets to be so enthusiastic about a bike as I am about mine, it colors judgment, and certainly I would be the last to be able to judge, having so little experience.  Even if/when I do have difficulties, I hope I will be able to just work through them as required. 

We have a new bike on the island, a 19,000 km, year 2000, 800 cc Kawa Vulcan.  It is very nice looking and I guess rides like a dream.  People here think it is the greatest, and the guy will probably ride it for many thousands more miles without a hitch.  Still prefer mine - is that what is considered having blinders on?

I smile every time I look at or ride mine - good enough!

 Like your attitude, Hutch.

Larry

[Bankerdanny]

Modeler,

Pick any brand or model of bike or car and you will find someone who had a negative experience with one that just never ran or drove right.

Like others here, my bike was very reliable. It was down for repairs for a while this Spring, but the repairs and the time it took were pretty much all my fault, and didn't have anything to do with the overall quality of the bike.

I would be interested to hear about the kinds of issues that you experienced.

[PhilJ]

Hutch when you post or reply at the bottom of the box your typing in is an "Additional Options"
button. Click there and select "Choose File". You'll be given options to select the picture off your computer. Click the picture and choose select.

I think that is very close to how it goes.  You won't have any trouble figuring it out if I missed a step.

Phil

[josepharra48]

Before you do anything else remove both hoses from the catch can and the engine. check to see if they are stopped up with white goo. This same thing has happened to me on 2 occasions and both time I imagined the worse ( blown engine ) and both times it was a blocked hose from the center of the engine to the crankcase. It is hard to believe that such a simple thing can cause such rapid oil blowby but it can. On one occasion the catch can had goo in it but the second time there was very little goo in it. I replaced both of my hoses with clear hose so I can see if there is a build up of goo.

good luck
josepharra

[hutch]

Before you do anything else remove both hoses from the catch can and the engine. check to see if they are stopped up with white goo. This same thing has happened to me on 2 occasions and both time I imagined the worse ( blown engine ) and both times it was a blocked hose from the center of the engine to the crankcase. It is hard to believe that such a simple thing can cause such rapid oil blowby but it can. On one occasion the catch can had goo in it but the second time there was very little goo in it. I replaced both of my hoses with clear hose so I can see if there is a build up of goo.

good luck
josepharra

Thanks, I will try that this afternoon. The catch can had very little goo or oil in it at all. It seems like if the hose was plugged, no oil would be able to shoot out of it all over the bike. The hose from the catch can was never hooked up to the air cleaner and just layed on the top of the air cleaner box. It never even left an oil smudge on the top of the air cleaner box. It now shoots oil out about a foot onto the garage floor at anything over an idle. I will try that though. It wouldn't be the first time something worked, and I didn't see how. Wrenching on bikes for 43 years doesn't mean I know everything. I learn something new every day.  PhilJ, I just tried what you said about posting pictures, and all I get after getting it from my personal file and try to insert it is the 2 image marks and nothing in between them. I have to go get my weekly blood test, so I will try later. Hutch

[PhilJ]

I took another look at posting the pic.
The above is correct but after the last thing I said you'll notice to the right of choose file some info describing your pic. At that point you select the choose file again and the up loading of your picture will begin. It may take awhile to up load as up loading is always slower than down loading. It will also depend on your connection speed.

Phil

[DaveG]

There's another tread on this site discussing the breather system.

http://www.enfieldmotorcycles.com/forum/index.php/topic,2308.msg22915.html#msg22915

FYI

73 de dave G7NCB with Mac Pro and 05 Electra X from the Isle of Axholme UK

[hutch]

I took another look at posting the pic.
The above is correct but after the last thing I said you'll notice to the right of choose file some info describing your pic. At that point you select the choose file again and the up loading of your picture will begin. It may take awhile to up load as up loading is always slower than down loading. It will also depend on your connection speed.

Phil

It sure sounds easier than the way you do it on other sites. You have to use a web host (Bike Pics)and find the picture, right click and select properties, highlight the URL, click ok, then go back to your post and right click inserting the URL, highlight the URL then hit insert image. I could never post it right from my own personal files on my computer. I will try again. With my slow 53.2 Dial up it might take a while, but it sure sounds easier. Thanks again Phil J. Here goes nothing.  

  Like I said.......nothing. I browse my pictures, select the picture, hit open file, waited 15 minutes and all I get is the above image symbols. No picture. I never have been able to post a picture to this site. Only put 3 in the members rides from the BikePics
web host. I just tried "searching" for my pictures in the members rides and can't find them. The only way I can find them is to go to "my images". I have tried the long way with cut and paste, it won't give me the paste option when I right click, only undo, delete, and select all, no paste option. I ried the long way taking the properties of the picture as described above and got the same options when right clicking. I have now tried it 4 times your way and nothing. If you want to see my bike it is in the "members rides" section. I can't find it by searching, only by choosing "my images". I give up. I have no problem posting the long way to other sites. I can even post multiple pictures to other sites. I can't post any pictures here unless it is to my members rides section and brought from BikePics the long way. Sorry!, Just not meant to be I guess. My computer is only 3 years old. A Dell B120 Inspiron laptop with WindowsXP. It has all the spyware and virus protection updated by me every week. No problems ever......just this site.   Hutch
  

  

    

 

[hutch]

Sorry I got side tracked with the picture thing. Not meant to be for me on this site. I checked the crankcase breather hoses and they are not plugged. I pulled my compression gauge out and I only have 52 pounds instead of the 110psi. It looks like I have to rebuild the 68 BSA top end and do the same to the Bullet Classic this winter. I just hope I didn't scar up the cyclinder wall to bad driving 30 miles at 30mph to get home. It ran perfect with all kinds of power for only having 52psi in the motor. Good old Brit bikes for you, they run no matter what. I do have one other option that I was considering since I bought the bike. I have a Triumph upswept fishtail exhaust pipe on the bike and always thought it would look good with 2 of them. I know for a fact that a early(1953-1963) 700cc twin motor out of a RE Meteor, RE Indian, or RE Constellation or Galaxy will fit in the frame. They range from 35HP to 52HP depending on what one you get. The 1953 Meteor(35hp)was using the exact frame the Bullet  Classic uses. If I have to spend a lot of money to rebuild the Classic motor, I might just go with an early 700cc motor Instead. It would be kickstart only, right shift 4 speed(like Brit bikes are suppose to be), newer models with more HP had 12 volt electrics. It is almost a direct bolt in from what an expert who raced them told me. A 2005 Bullet Classic, with a 50's-60's 700cc twin in it sounds like a conversation piece to me. I know I love my 1967 Royal Enfield Interceptor MK1A(750cc). If it would run half as good as the Interceptor does, I would be very happy. Decisions, decisions, I guess the teardown will tell it all.   Hutch

[cochi]

Hutch, it's good to hear that you found the problem. The possible future project with the 700cc twin sounds great.. I think that the Enfield twins were some of the most beautiful motors ever made. My first great  motorcycle love ,(actually it was pure lust), was a Mark I Interceptor. Please keep us posted and good luck. cochi

[Leonard]

I pulled my compression gauge out and I only have 52 pounds instead of the 110psi. It looks like I have to rebuild the 68 BSA top end and do the same to the Bullet Classic this winter.  Hutch

I have heard of cases of sudden compression loss and with spewing and it turns out to be a chunk of carbon stuck in the de-comp valve.  Sometimes it would work its way out and on others the de-comp would have to be pulled and cleaned up.  For what it's worth.

[scoTTy]

i've never had a piece of crap when it came to 2 wheels..  nor 4 wheels either for that matter.  just different times..   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5KyYv2UXDoQ  memories yaLL, elvis

[LJRead]

I know for a fact that a early(1953-1963) 700cc twin motor out of a RE Meteor, RE Indian, or RE Constellation or Galaxy will fit in the frame. They range from 35HP to 52HP depending on what one you get. The 1953 Meteor(35hp)was using the exact frame the Bullet  Classic uses. If I have to spend a lot of money to rebuild the Classic motor, I might just go with an early 700cc motor Instead. It would be kickstart only, right shift 4 speed(like Brit bikes are suppose to be), newer models with more HP had 12 volt electrics. It is almost a direct bolt in from what an expert who raced them told me. A 2005 Bullet Classic, with a 50's-60's 700cc twin in it sounds like a conversation piece to me. I know I love my 1967 Royal Enfield Interceptor MK1A(750cc). If it would run half as good as the Interceptor does, I would be very happy. Decisions, decisions, I guess the teardown will tell it all.   Hutch

Naw - by my addition you have at least three or four twins now - better keep it as it is to offset all the others.  Still....

[hutch]

Thanks for all the replies, and encouragement. I think I will try checking out the decomp first before tearing down the motor. It seems if that were the problem I would hear the leak and it wouldn't cause too much pressure in the crank, only less if the 3 rings were solid on the piston, but you never know. The plug was oil soaked also. I do love NGK plugs, it never missed a beat for the whole 30 miles and still started up several times after getting home. I put a new plug in and it got oil soaked in no time. I won't be able to tear the bike down and fix it until next year, but will let you know what was wrong and let you know what I decided to do as far as fixing it. LJ, You are correct. I only have the 68 BSA 441 and the Bullet as far as 1 cyclinders go. Both are now down for repairs. I do like my singles, and the different sound and feel. Cochi, I know what you mean about the look of the RE twins. I didn't care for the newer look of the the 68-70 Interceptor motor. That is why I bought the 67MK1A Interceptor with the old style motor. I saw that bike when I was 16 years old and wanted one from then on. 39 years later I found one and just love it. If everything would just quit going wrong, I might get the Interceptor looking as good as I have got it running. Thanks again everyone.    Hutch

[ace.cafe]

You also could just have a small hole in the crown of the piston that burned thru, and that would pump the oil out real bad, but the bore/barrel could be fine.
That would only require a good clean-out, and a new std. piston.

[hutch]

You also could just have a small hole in the crown of the piston that burned thru, and that would pump the oil out real bad, but the bore/barrel could be fine.
That would only require a good clean-out, and a new std. piston.

I should be so lucky, but that would be nice. The bike has been rejetted and piped a long time ago. It doesn't run lean. The pipe is just a gold color at the first bend with no blue anywhere. It sure would be great if that is all that is wrong. Thanks for giving me hope Ace. I love the bike with stock bore and performance mods. I have built motorcycle and hot rod motors for years, and they always were fun, but needed a lot more attention. I never built just the top end without beefing up the bottom, and that is more money yet. I am leaning towards a stock 1960 something 700cc twin, more than a 536cc with beefed bottom end. Riding a retro 700 Meteor would be cool. I like being different. This winter I will find out what is up, and which way I go. I hope you are right Ace, I will miss the single thump since I plan on selling the 68 441 BSA after a topend job this winter.    Hutch

[ace.cafe]

You also could just have a small hole in the crown of the piston that burned thru, and that would pump the oil out real bad, but the bore/barrel could be fine.
That would only require a good clean-out, and a new std. piston.

I should be so lucky, but that would be nice. The bike has been rejetted and piped a long time ago. It doesn't run lean. The pipe is just a gold color at the first bend with no blue anywhere. It sure would be great if that is all that is wrong. Thanks for giving me hope Ace. I love the bike with stock bore and performance mods. I have built motorcycle and hot rod motors for years, and they always were fun, but needed a lot more attention. I never built just the top end without beefing up the bottom, and that is more money yet. I am leaning towards a stock 1960 something 700cc twin, more than a 536cc with beefed bottom end. Riding a retro 700 Meteor would be cool. I like being different. This winter I will find out what is up, and which way I go. I hope you are right Ace, I will miss the single thump since I plan on selling the 68 441 BSA after a topend job this winter.    Hutch

Okay, well if you decide to go that route, and you decide to sell the engine parts and gearbox, please let me know, because I may be in a position to buy them from you. I'm getting a little supply of the major parts together, so that I can have spares if something big happens to my engine. That's why I have a want-ad up here for buying blown or dead engines and parts.

[LJRead]

Hutch,

Do you happen to know whether the Meteor frame was the same as yours?  In other words, if you put a Meteor twin in your Bullet frame, will you have, essentially, a Meteor?

Just curious!

[ace.cafe]

Not identical, but very very close to the pre-55 Meteor.
The India Bullet is not even identical to the early Bullet either, but about the same level of sameness as it is to the Meteor.
The Meteor engine and gearbox will go right in.

The original Redditch frames were Reynolds chrome-moly tubing with brazed lugs, very much like a bicycle frame construction, and much lighter than the India-made Bullet frames.
The India Bullets have mild steel tubes, all welded now. Heavier.

It would essentially be a Meteor when it's done.
You could do the same with an Interceptor engine, or Constellation, or Super Meteor, except that they originally had the later frames, so it would look like a frame swap..
But, they'd go right in too.
You have to use a gearbox from a twin too, because there are some differences, notably in the length of the output shaft.

[hutch]

LJ, What Ace said is correct.  Essentialy it would be a 53 Meteor look, with a heavier old style, original looking frame and a newer 700cc motor, if I didn't use a 53 motor. It would be very cool, but I hope I can just fix the 500 Motor with a cylinder clean and maybe just a new piston and rings. Ace I will let you know what I will be doing this spring, and if you need the 500 motor, we can work something out.   Hutch