Unofficial Royal Enfield Community Forum

Royal Enfield Motorcycles => Vintage Royal Enfield => Topic started by: The Garbone on October 19, 2010, 02:47:13 am

Title: 1957 Crusader 250...Impulse Buying....
Post by: The Garbone on October 19, 2010, 02:47:13 am
Well,  I don't plan to start wrenching on this beast for a year or so after I finish my current project..  Picked this up off of craigslist for a few  100 bucks.  Its pretty small but should be fun once I get it together.

(http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h165/thegarbone/1957%20Royal%20Enfield%20Crusader%20250/102_0926.jpg)

(http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h165/thegarbone/1957%20Royal%20Enfield%20Crusader%20250/102_0933.jpg)

(http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h165/thegarbone/1957%20Royal%20Enfield%20Crusader%20250/102_0936.jpg)

(http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h165/thegarbone/1957%20Royal%20Enfield%20Crusader%20250/102_0938.jpg)
Title: Re: Impulse Buying....1957 Crusader 250
Post by: The Garbone on October 19, 2010, 02:51:13 am
Came with some spare parts also...

This might just be a 5spd..
(http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h165/thegarbone/1957%20Royal%20Enfield%20Crusader%20250/102_0925.jpg)


(http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h165/thegarbone/1957%20Royal%20Enfield%20Crusader%20250/102_0924.jpg)

(http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h165/thegarbone/1957%20Royal%20Enfield%20Crusader%20250/102_0928.jpg)

(http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h165/thegarbone/1957%20Royal%20Enfield%20Crusader%20250/102_0916.jpg)

Japanese speedo...

(http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h165/thegarbone/1957%20Royal%20Enfield%20Crusader%20250/102_0932.jpg)
Title: Re: Impulse Buying....
Post by: Ice on October 19, 2010, 04:33:24 am
CONGRATS !!!!!
Title: Re: 1957 Crusader 250...Impulse Buying....
Post by: chumma7 on October 19, 2010, 06:28:45 pm
Awesome Gary!
For a few hundred bucks... can't beat that for a project.
Some bead blasting, paint and you'll have her looking great and running in no time.
Lucky find.
Chumma
Title: Re: 1957 Crusader 250...Impulse Buying....
Post by: Anon on October 19, 2010, 07:27:31 pm
Cool find!  Is that one of the early unit construction motors, or did that not come until the 60's models?

Eamon
Title: Re: 1957 Crusader 250...Impulse Buying....
Post by: Bullet Whisperer on October 19, 2010, 11:01:12 pm
Hi Garbone,
 I think you may have a unit 250 'Clipper' there [iron head], but it is a bit murky where Clippers / early Crusaders are concearned. Another possible giveaway would be a half width rear hub and 6" front full width hub. I have a few like this in simillar condition, all but one of them run, but are awaiting their turn to be sorted. One that I have has only covered 13,000 miles from new [the non runner] and was only used for a year from new, apparently, before it was traded in at a local bike shop, where it stood in an outbuilding with a Tiger Cub [which I also bought], the building fell down on them and they languished for 30 years or so, before i got them. The Enfield's rotten spokes were collapsing as we wheeled her out, the seat was rotted away and the tank rotted through. the engine turned and had clean, green oil in it, enclosed rear chain is like new and the speedo responds when the rear wheel is spun. VERY RUSTY, but not beyond salvation one day!
 Good luck with yours,
 B.W.
Title: Re: 1957 Crusader 250...Impulse Buying....
Post by: The Garbone on October 20, 2010, 05:50:29 pm
Cool,  thanks for the info.. I will check out the rear hub...   
Title: Re: 1957 Crusader 250...Impulse Buying....
Post by: cyrusb on October 21, 2010, 12:28:12 am
Went through a Crusader 250 motor with a friend of mine a couple of years ago. All I can say is thank god they continued the Bullet and not the Crusader. Poorly made , with chains everywhere and little pipes going here and there. I remember taking the side cover off and wondering "What were they thinking?"Still, it's a cool bike. And a great price. Good luck
Title: Re: 1957 Crusader 250...Impulse Buying....
Post by: rotorwrench on October 21, 2010, 06:45:18 pm
If it's a 57, that's the first year for the unitized contruction Crusader models. The Clipper remained non-unit till 1959. Indian Sales Corp sold them under the Fire Arrow/Hounds Arrow names in 59 just before they sold out. The early Crusaders were an iron head type. They kept the iron head until 59 when the Clipper model was unitized. It wasn't until the 60s when they started building the 5-speed gearboxes
Title: Re: 1957 Crusader 250...Impulse Buying....
Post by: bullethead63 on November 17, 2010, 10:40:29 pm
Well...I like it...it's cool...good snag!
Title: Re: 1957 Crusader 250...Impulse Buying....
Post by: Ice on November 18, 2010, 01:43:37 am
I "double dawg dare ya" to paint it up like the C5's  ;D
Title: Re: 1957 Crusader 250...Impulse Buying....
Post by: Grabof54 on November 14, 2011, 12:10:23 am
Engine no. C12895 is that of a Clipper despatched to Motorcycle Sales during December 1962.
Title: Re: 1957 Crusader 250...Impulse Buying....
Post by: Arizoni on November 14, 2011, 01:07:38 am
For what it's worth, "By Miles the Best- Royal Enfield" shows both the 1957, 250 Clipper and the 250 Crusader.

The Clipper has a separate transmission and the Crusader has a Unit Construction engine/transmission.

The Crusaders specifications are:

248cc single cylinder OHV
Bore = 70mm, Stroke = 64.5mm
HP = 13 BHP @ 5750 rpm
4 speed transmission.  Ratios 5.8, 7.8, 10.4 and 17 to 1
7/8" Amal Monobloc carb
17" wheels
Lucas 6v alternator/ coil ignition
6" front/rear brakes

Painted in surf green enamel with chrome bright parts and tank panels.

The Clipper was deep maroon with chrome.

The photo also shows an enclosed rear chain case and the speedometer drive appears to be off of the rear wheels hub.

Neat bike!  It's frame looks almost like a 2011 Royal Enfields!  :o
Title: Re: 1957 Crusader 250...Impulse Buying....
Post by: The Garbone on November 14, 2011, 04:08:02 am
Thread necromancy..  Good stuff.

I recently cleaned out my garage after 2 years and the Crusader still sits. On a lark I put air in the tires and the tubes held.  I have to get rid of a John Deer rider lawn mower and then I will have enough room for all my bikes and will be able to maybe start on the Crusader next year.  Building my Ace clubman/fireball comes first though..
Title: Re: 1957 Crusader 250...Impulse Buying....
Post by: Lwt Big Cheese on November 14, 2011, 09:37:08 am
What would be really cool would be to get the mechanicals working and ride as is.

But then I love the patina look.

Oh congrats BTW nice find.
Title: Re: 1957 Crusader 250...Impulse Buying....
Post by: The Garbone on January 27, 2012, 06:43:29 pm
Here I am reviving this thread.  

Just because I like to overcommit to things I am now on a quest to get this bike up to daily driver status so I can have Matt buy me a beer in Jville.

Guess the first thing  I need to do is list things that need fixing.

Let me get my thoughts in order.
Known issues.

Need to buy New:
Headlamp and mounting bracket-on order ebay
Ignition switch- On order ebay
Rectifier,voltage reg, battery- Got this thing (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=250977725907&ssPageName=STRK:MESE:IT)
Coil- bosch blue sounds good
wire to rebuild harness
levers- Brake and Clutch
hi/lo beam switch w horn and kill
Speedo (have one off my 95 but want a smiths 80 mph repo)
speedo cable
seat recover
throttle- may be able to reuse existing
grips
tires
tubes
rim liners
Lamps
Fuel filter
Pod air filter (might still have one from before the Ace air can)
Brake and throttle cable
Side stand and spring-  probably gonna rig something non stock
Footpegs-had in spares box
Kick start lever
wheel bearings- can I repack or should I just replace w new
chain-  is it salvagable?
Footpeg, shifter rubber
Tail lamp lense- might be able to reuse one I have?
Oil filter-  hmmmmm
Shift lever-

Order of work:
Replace tires
clean up bars and put new grips etc so I can move the bike around
send seat away to get redone
fix footpeg and kick starter
chang oil- use kicker a bunch and change a few times oil down barrel
Oil chain
rebuild carb and electrics
clean out tank
fuel up
ride it to work
Title: Re: 1957 Crusader 250...Impulse Buying....
Post by: The Garbone on February 08, 2012, 11:42:09 pm
Got my tires in the mail this week.  Had to dig out the chassis and start looking at this thing.

The tires look like they will fit just fine.

Good news,  I have a kick lever in my spares box,  bad news, it does not fit the kick shaft on the 57 motor. That one seems smaller.  My spare crusader motor has a shaft that fits the lever so I may have to try and frog the two around.

I have a kick stand that fits my spare frame but not the 57' frame. 

I have 2 footpegs with no rubbers.

Ehhh,  much work to do...
Title: Re: 1957 Crusader 250...Impulse Buying....
Post by: bullethead63 on February 09, 2012, 01:31:55 am
Alright,Gary...it's ON...got my toolboxes for the Chief,next week I'm ordering parts from Hitchcocks...built some 40" tall workbenches for the shop,so I can work at a comfortable level,instead of on my knees,or bending over...good luck to ya,brother...do keep us posted!
Title: Re: 1957 Crusader 250...Impulse Buying....
Post by: The Garbone on February 11, 2012, 04:10:43 pm
Well took the Crusader out of the garage and started to wrench on it.

(http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h165/thegarbone/1957%20Royal%20Enfield%20Crusader%20250/Photo02110900.jpg)

(http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h165/thegarbone/1957%20Royal%20Enfield%20Crusader%20250/Photo02110901.jpg)

From looking at it the machine is missing the kick start return assembly.   My spare engine has one and a larger diameter kick spline.  Sadly the bolts on the spare are so corroded out that I can not turn them, they literally fell apart when I tried to back them out.  It will need to get a few drill bit and drill off the heads to open up my spare.

Another thing I found was that the ignition wire from the points was obviously pinched at some time in the past.     One can speculate that the kick return spring failed and in the process of fixing it the PO pinched the wire.  
Points and associated bits appear to be trashed,  hopefully I can use some of my spares for this bike also.

(http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h165/thegarbone/1957%20Royal%20Enfield%20Crusader%20250/Photo02110910.jpg)

Opened up the primary side.   Everything looks pretty good.  I will probably get a pan of ATF and pull the clutch apart and use it to soak and clean before reassembly.   I appears that the Primary is not on the common sump with the motor.  I will have to do more research on this.  Of course new gaskets are in order here.
(http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h165/thegarbone/1957%20Royal%20Enfield%20Crusader%20250/Photo02110956.jpg)



The bike has a really nifty dangling dipstick.  

(http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h165/thegarbone/1957%20Royal%20Enfield%20Crusader%20250/Photo02110903.jpg)
Title: Re: 1957 Crusader 250...Impulse Buying....
Post by: The Garbone on February 11, 2012, 04:20:39 pm
In other news..   
The scooter tires I bought appear not to be able to fit under the stock front fender.  I think I can squeeze it in without a fender but its not looking good.   I will have to look for a narrower tire or go sans fender.  Thinking about a mini-cafe look.  I have a spare 500 front and rear fender I can bob and along with a solo seat I might be able to put something together.    Maybe some ace bars...

I will probably just look for a norrower front and try to remain stock.
Title: Re: 1957 Crusader 250...Impulse Buying....
Post by: bullethead63 on February 12, 2012, 01:31:24 pm
Outstanding...it's hard to say "dangling dipstick" without snickering... ;)
Title: Re: 1957 Crusader 250...Impulse Buying....
Post by: The Garbone on February 12, 2012, 03:28:27 pm
 ;D ;D
Printed up a "Crusade Engine Rebuild Guide" I found on Hitchcocks.  Gave me enough information that I went out yesterday afternoon and pulled apart the gearbox on the 57.  Everything looked really nice inside and it appears I can just swap out the kickstart sshaft from my 60's motor and reuse my spare kick levers. I have a 4spd lever they sent with the RH conversion kit and a 5spd lever I swapped for a UCE on my 07. 

I am a bit worried that the Rotor on the alt is tits up.  I will have to see if it still puts out voltage once I get the motor running.  A new one will probably cost me $100 or so from Hitchcocks,  stator ohmed out good so maybe I will get lucky.

Title: Re: 1957 Crusader 250...Impulse Buying....
Post by: GlennF on February 12, 2012, 11:24:05 pm
3.25 x 17 Avon

http://www.feked.com/325-x-17-avon-sm-mkii-tyre.html
Title: Re: 1957 Crusader 250...Impulse Buying....
Post by: The Garbone on February 13, 2012, 01:30:44 am
Thanks for the link on the tire.  That is the same outfit I just bought an entire engine gasket set from.   

Little known fact- they are moving the location of their store and will be delayed in filling orders until probably the 20th or so.
Title: Re: 1957 Crusader 250...Impulse Buying....
Post by: bullethead63 on February 13, 2012, 03:30:29 am
Looks like you got the jump on me,Gary...I'll be ordering some parts from Hitchcock's,on Monday...stay tuned!
Title: Re: 1957 Crusader 250...Impulse Buying....
Post by: The Garbone on February 13, 2012, 02:32:21 pm
I will do doing well to get this thing running by early April.    Need new engine and trans gaskets, rebuild points ,  rebuild the carb,  rebuild the wiring harness from a point of about an inch out of the stator.     So much to do. 

40" bench sounds nice.   I got my lift and stools to sit on.   Had to get the lift to change the tires on the Sportster.  Seems HD shop charges a few $100 just to change tires where as if I pulled them myself and brought them to an independant it cost me $20.  Lift has already paid for itself.
Title: Re: 1957 Crusader 250...Impulse Buying....
Post by: Hughbruder on February 14, 2012, 01:36:50 pm
That is super cool find, will make an interesting daily driver...

I have enjoyed your thread from the beginning, especially where you were not going to touch the bike till well into the year and now your knee deep...

It happens to the best of us, One of my restorations took place when I was stationed in England back in 1980, I found a 1968 Triumph Bonni T120, and  went from thinking I was going to wait till I got back stateside to work on her, but the minute I had the bike in my possession it was game on. You can only imagine the joy of doing a bonnie restoration in the UK with a bunch of cool Brits that I met and assisting in the project.

Cant wait to see the finished product, good luck and keep the posts coming...

 :)
Title: Re: 1957 Crusader 250...Impulse Buying....
Post by: The Garbone on February 14, 2012, 04:31:19 pm
Thanks, I love reading  build threads and I think it helps me noodle stuff out and avoid mistakes when I make them.

In other news,  the motor for my 95 is now in the process of being shipped.   Ace has redone my trashed 99 crank and head as a clubman setup.    I may have to take a break from this build to get my 95 back on the road as a solo.   Might just put the tub on the 07....hmmmm...  I just don't have enough time in the day for all this..

New rubber for the Crusader should be here on Thursday.  Less than $100 for front and rear tires, tubes and rim liners from Dennis Kirk.  Not to shabby.  Not vintage but oh well...
Title: Re: 1957 Crusader 250...Impulse Buying....
Post by: bullethead63 on February 15, 2012, 02:08:54 am
Good news! Go ahead and do that,Gary...I'm still a LONG way from turning a wrench on the Chief...I still have to order tires,and a LOT of parts,and paint,before I can start turning wrenches...I still have to have EVERYTHING media blasted,have the frame powder-coated,and paint ALL of the tins before I start assembly...not to mention the fact that I'm probably going to have to re-build this 700cc mill...and I'm still waiting on the manual...you're way ahead of me,already,and I'm still working on my three running Bullets! :'(
Title: Re: 1957 Crusader 250...Impulse Buying....
Post by: The Garbone on February 20, 2012, 03:16:44 pm
I think I will be going with the Big Cheese patina look myself, it will save time and money that way.

Today I got something done...

(http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h165/thegarbone/1957%20Royal%20Enfield%20Crusader%20250/Photo02200919.jpg)

Put a new tire on the front.    It has been a over a year since I changed a motorcycle tire myself and yes the process still sucks.  The front brake seems not to be corroded and bound up in that I can actuate it with my hand.  This is a good sign.

 I looked at pulling the rear and doing that one but decided against it at the moment.  It holds air so I can move the bike around easily now. I may have to replace the speedo drive when I pull it apart as well as the rear brake.  It does seem to have a cush drive type setup so that may make things easier.

Since I had it out I check on a few more things. 
The head,  it appears to be the stock iron head with a nice patina of rust and a 1/2" section of the lip on one side of the exhaust port missing.  I should have taken a picture.   The Exhaust port on the head seems to be very loose when I try to mate it with the header pipe I got with the bike.  Also the header pipes mounting bracket does not seem to match up with any bolts or holes on the frame.  Probably need a new pipe.   Mehhhhh.... 

So, once I get the trans and kicker straightened out and everything on the bottom back together I will fill her with oil and see if I have flow and valve movement up in the head and rockers.    If everything appears fine I will probably try to get the bike to run with the head that is already there.  If not I do have a spare aluminum head and rockers that  need some valve work done.   

I really need to get some drill bits so I can salvage the kick start shaft and return assemble on the spare motor.   Of course I can't do all that much more than that until I get my gasket kit and parts from over the pond.   
Title: Re: 1957 Crusader 250...Impulse Buying....
Post by: Lwt Big Cheese on February 21, 2012, 07:56:56 am
OOo  Thanks for the mention, but there's a problem here. I can't see any holes in your mudguard where it's corroded right through.

You must try harder for that "used" look. Maybe get it sand blasted until it wears right through?


 ;D
Title: Re: 1957 Crusader 250...Impulse Buying....
Post by: The Garbone on February 21, 2012, 03:34:55 pm
Sadly, The only folks in Florida that ever get perforation rust live beachside and I am just a bit too low rent for waterfront property..    ;)