Unofficial Royal Enfield Community Forum

Royal Enfield Motorcycles => Bullet with the UCE engine => Topic started by: exiledcarper on December 01, 2008, 09:59:42 pm

Title: Kickstart or no?
Post by: exiledcarper on December 01, 2008, 09:59:42 pm
I've seen the pictures of the very pretty UCE Classic, with no kickstart.  However, on the U.K.site,there's also pictures of a UCE powered Electra model WITH kickstart.
  So is the new calssic going to have a kickstart or not?  I've a strong hunch that most potential owners of the new bike would like to have a kickstart.
Title: Re: Kickstart or no?
Post by: ace.cafe on December 01, 2008, 10:25:36 pm
Here's a link to a pic on another thread which shows the 2 different UCE engines almost side by side, and you can compare the two.
http://www.enfieldmotorcycles.com/forum/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=2899.0;attach=2427;image (http://www.enfieldmotorcycles.com/forum/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=2899.0;attach=2427;image)


So, who knows?
Eventually it will be known.
Title: Re: Kickstart or no?
Post by: Royal.Oilfield on December 02, 2008, 01:00:33 am
Rcently I questioned Royal Enfield India...

>>Hello,
many of us Bulleteers are wondering whether a kickstart option will be
available for the all new Bullet Classic UCE? It will be essential for
the most of us. This can be read on all Royal Enfield forums around the
world relating to the new classic.
Regards,<<<<

Their answer...
>>>Dear ...,

The Bullet Classic will not be available with a kick start option.

Regards,

Andrew Anantharaj
Senior Manager - International Business.
Phone : +91 44 42230209
Royal Enfield (Unit of Eicher Motors Limited)
Thiruvottiyur High Road, Thiruvottiyur,
Chennai 600 020. India.
<<<<

Initally a kickstart was planned for the Classic-UCE version when comparing the cutaway engine with its series version.
(http://www.postimage.org/Pq2nNU29.jpg) (http://www.postimage.org/image.php?v=Pq2nNU29)

The engine side cover doesn't only have a blanking plug. The engine lacks the whole mechanism, ratchet and kickstart shaft, as shown in here.
(http://www.postimage.org/gx14ANE9.jpg) (http://www.postimage.org/image.php?v=gx14ANE9)
Title: Re: Kickstart or no?
Post by: Blltrdr on December 02, 2008, 01:21:32 am
Rcently I questioned Royal Enfield India...

>>Hello,
many of us Bulleteers are wondering whether a kickstart option will be
available for the all new Bullet Classic UCE? It will be essential for
the most of us. This can be read on all Royal Enfield forums around the
world relating to the new classic.
Regards,<<<<

Their answer...
>>>Dear ...,

The Bullet Classic will not be available with a kick start option.

Regards,

Andrew Anantharaj
Senior Manager - International Business.
Phone : +91 44 42230209
Royal Enfield (Unit of Eicher Motors Limited)
Thiruvottiyur High Road, Thiruvottiyur,
Chennai 600 020. India.
<<<<

Initally a kickstart was planned for the Classic-UCE version when comparing the cutaway engine with its series version.
(http://www.postimage.org/Pq2nNU29.jpg) (http://www.postimage.org/image.php?v=Pq2nNU29)

The engine side cover doesn't only have a blanking plug. The engine lacks the whole mechanism, ratchet and kickstart shaft, as shown in here.
(http://www.postimage.org/gx14ANE9.jpg) (http://www.postimage.org/image.php?v=gx14ANE9)

There does seem to be a boss on the case for a kicker. Maybe the UCE can be set up either way.
Title: Re: Kickstart or no?
Post by: exiledcarper on December 02, 2008, 03:39:44 am
So, why the heck can't the Classic have a kickstart?  seems like a monumental b@lls up to me >:(
Title: Re: Kickstart or no?
Post by: The Garbone on December 02, 2008, 03:47:12 am
Hmm,  the 350 gets one but the 500 does not.

Its either a "Marketing Decision"  or a "Marketing Error".  I personally love my KS.  Even more so as I am the only person of the 6 that ride in my office that has one.  Use it every time.

From the looks of it the side of the KS UCE has a old fashioned rounded look as opposed to the smooth 500 side.   
(http://www.enfieldmotorcycles.com/forum/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=2899.0;attach=2427;image)

(http://www.enfieldmotorcycles.com/forum/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=2680.0;attach=2203;image)
Title: Re: Kickstart or no?
Post by: woodboats on December 02, 2008, 06:47:49 am
Hmmm...
It may sound a bit silly but without a kick start I am not sure if I would have the same interest in getting one of these bikes.
Sure, I like the extra reliability and less maintenance but part of the reason for me to owning an Enfield, is the charm of riding a classic from a more simple era.
My Bullet does have electric start also but it seldom gets used.
I leave pushing buttons for my Honda.
Title: Re: Kickstart or no?
Post by: Royal.Oilfield on December 02, 2008, 11:12:35 am
If all this yellow encircled parts >shaft, pillar, ratchet and bore< as one might guess, will be left out of the Classic motor you even won't be able to retrofit a kickstart! 
Oops.............bad mistake... >:(

(http://www.postimage.org/gx156TUA.jpg) (http://www.postimage.org/image.php?v=gx156TUA)
Title: Re: Kickstart or no?
Post by: ace.cafe on December 03, 2008, 12:57:20 am
It appears to me that they spent a great deal of effort to try to tidy up that right side engine cover area. Looks like they were aiming for the BSA-style oval unit engine case side cover. And the rounded rocker covers definitely soften the look a bit too.

I think they really tried hard to get the look for this bike.
They could have left everything squared-off , lumpy, and hard-edged like the Electra UCE in the picture above.
Too bad about the kickstarter though. That would have been nice to have on there, and would have added to the vintage appeal too.
Title: Re: Kickstart or no?
Post by: doomed1 on December 03, 2008, 03:45:47 am
If all this yellow encircled parts >shaft, pillar, ratchet and bore< as one might guess, will be left out of the Classic motor you even won't be able to retrofit a kickstart! 
Oops.............bad mistake... >:(

(http://www.postimage.org/gx156TUA.jpg) (http://www.postimage.org/image.php?v=gx156TUA)
in that case, wouldn't a retrofit be relatively easy? looks like the ratchet and shaft are already there, all that's left to do is poke a hole in the side plating and attach a kick lever.
Title: Re: Kickstart or no?
Post by: exiledcarper on December 03, 2008, 03:49:13 am
I have to agree, the motor in the new classic looks WAY better than the first version, stillneeds a kickstart for me though. Of the two,I would have to go for the looks of the Classic.  A Black/chrome tank would be nice,or solid blackwith gold lettering too.  I love the look of the blue/white, but not sure if the black/white tank quite works for me. Imight be nitpicking though ::). 
Title: Re: Kickstart or no?
Post by: Royal.Oilfield on December 03, 2008, 11:48:18 am
@doomed

This pic is of the UCE-motor WITH kickstart. Therefore all this yellow encircled stuff is in it.


@ace

The Crusader built in the 60's had also a unit construction engine with this smooth design.

(http://www.postimage.org/Pq2u8Aji.jpg) (http://www.postimage.org/image.php?v=Pq2u8Aji)
Title: Re: Kickstart or no?
Post by: ace.cafe on December 03, 2008, 01:56:12 pm
Yep, how 'bout that?!
Sure looks like they took some styling cues from that Crusader case.

Heck, they probably did about as good as could be done, all things considered.

Title: Re: Kickstart or no?
Post by: PhilJ on December 03, 2008, 03:40:47 pm
The picture with the kick start is the 350. The one without kick start is 500. Or so that is what Kevin said in a posting. If indeed that is true, then it seems, since the Indians prefer the 350, that the design suffers from not knowing the feelings about the kick start.

It still wouldn't stop me from buying one though.
Title: Re: Kickstart or no?
Post by: Royal.Oilfield on December 03, 2008, 05:05:13 pm
@PhilJ

The cutaway motor shown is the UCE 500cc pre series for the Classic.
Compare the smooth form of the Classic 500cc UCE motor to the edgie
UCE for the 500cc EFI Electra.
This is the UCE Classic motor with 500cc.

(http://www.postimage.org/gx17XzPi.jpg) (http://www.postimage.org/image.php?v=gx17XzPi)

The UCE 500cc motor for the Classic was initially designed to have a kickstart
but as Kevin stated earlier the E-start has proven its reliability over several 100,000km
on the test bikes so they decided to not sell it with kickstart.

IMO designing a Retro bike and naming it 'Bullet Classic' but dismissing the kickstart
is kind of schizophrenically.
Title: Re: Kickstart or no?
Post by: bob bezin on December 03, 2008, 05:29:13 pm
well i sure hope they've improved the es. i have to get my engine turning over with the kickstart, then hit the starter button to get the es. to work .a little anoying idiosyncracy, but other than the oil weep at the head this 06 iron delux is a reliable dream bike now at about 8000 miles. well as long as i'm here.... i just measured the thickness of a head gasket i took out last fall it was 20 thousanths when i installed a head gasket last fall i measured the gap between the head and cylinder ( head resting on cylinder no gasket) with a spark plug gauge, 25 thousanths . well i guess thats why i t weeps oil . now do i file down the spigot 8? 10? // thousanths . or get a head gasket  26 or at least over 25 thousanths? 
Title: Re: Kickstart or no?
Post by: The Garbone on December 03, 2008, 05:40:32 pm
just measured the thickness of a head gasket i took out last fall it was 20 thousanths when i installed a head gasket last fall i measured the gap between the head and cylinder ( head resting on cylinder no gasket) with a spark plug gauge, 25 thousanths . well i guess thats why i t weeps oil . now do i file down the spigot 8? 10? // thousanths . or get a head gasket  26 or at least over 25 thousanths? 
I had the same issue on my 07' iron, but was lucky enough that it was under warranty and had my dealer machine the head.   I think others have posted about filing it by hand.
Title: Re: Kickstart or no?
Post by: bob bezin on December 03, 2008, 05:50:44 pm
machining the head would only make the gap bigger would"nt it? it would however smooth out any irregularities. .i put a sheet of 400 grit sandpaper on a sheet of glass and rubbed it a little removing a few nicks. but it was basically smooth and flat.
Title: Re: Kickstart or no?
Post by: The Garbone on December 03, 2008, 06:04:40 pm
I don't know exactly what the shop did other than it was a casting type issue and parts were sent out and machined to spec.   ;D   It does not leak from the head any more, So I am happy.
Title: Re: Kickstart or no?
Post by: fredgold52 on December 03, 2008, 08:19:38 pm
I'm kind of glad the new bike doesn't have a kickstart.  I'll probably pick one of these up in a couple years when I get too old and feeble to kickstart my Sixty-5.  But until then, the UCE machine not having a kicker just makes mine that much more special.

I was talking to a guy at an auto parts store about the Enfield.  He was amazed at it.  But, you should have seen his face when I kicked it over and it started right up and idled ever so slowly!  HAH!  that was great!

 ;)
Title: Re: Kickstart or no?
Post by: ace.cafe on December 03, 2008, 08:50:24 pm
When the head does not seat down far enough on the barrel to compress the head gasket, then the spigot on the barrel is too tall, and is preventing proper seating of the head. This will always cause oil leaks from the head gasket area, at the pushrod tubes.

The proper method is to have the barrel spigot shortened by the necessary amount to let the head gasket be compressed to seal.
Some do this by hand with a file, but care should be taken to keep the top square with the bore, so that it mates evenly all around inside the head for compression sealing.
Obviously this would be best to do with the barrel off the bike, so that no metal filings get into the engine while it's being done.

Whenever possible, it is better to measure the gap with a feeler gauge and measure the head gasket thickness, and have the job done at a machinist, so that it can squeeze the gasket down to half it's original thickness.
Title: Re: Kickstart or no?
Post by: bob bezin on December 04, 2008, 02:38:39 am
half the thickness. ok will do .thanks ace.
Title: Re: Kickstart or no?
Post by: Royal.Oilfield on March 13, 2009, 02:50:08 pm
Moved to the right thread.