Unofficial Royal Enfield Community Forum

Royal Enfield Motorcycles => Bullet Iron Barrel => Topic started by: BanditRE on November 06, 2007, 12:52:46 pm

Title: Upsize the Counter Sprocket?
Post by: BanditRE on November 06, 2007, 12:52:46 pm
Hi All,

I've been a lurker for a while, both here and on the yahoo forum. I'm getting ready for winter projects, and I'm trying to figure out (from reading past posts) how large a counter sprocket I can use on my 2007 Military without causing any problems. I have the stock 17 tooth on it right, and I was looking to go to a 19 tooth. Will that work? Can I go larger than that, or do I start hitting the rear brake arm or the cases?

Thanks for your help
Paul
Title: Re: Upsize the Counter Sprocket?
Post by: t120rbullet on November 06, 2007, 01:11:08 pm
A friend of mine bought a 05 standard and it came with a 18 tooth sprocket. I have heard of both 17 and 18 coming on them.
The best thing to do is put a dab of paint on one tooth and count them.
I don't know how big you can go on the 5 speed but they sell them all the way up to 21.
I ran a 20 on my 4 speed for years and switched to a 19 this season.
I think that when this one wears out I'll go back to a 20.
Title: Re: Upsize the Counter Sprocket?
Post by: BanditRE on November 06, 2007, 04:36:17 pm
Yeah, I checked the original sprocket already and its a 17 tooth. I saw that they went up to 21 tooth on CMW, but I got to say, it doesn't look like there's much clearance between the bottom of the chain and the rear brake arm. A 20 tooth would be great if it would fit without problems.
Title: Re: Upsize the Counter Sprocket?
Post by: RagMan on November 06, 2007, 04:58:21 pm
The first thing to foul up on my '99 when the 19 went on there, was the linkage for the left hand gear shift. It just contacts on a down shift - nothing bad, nothing grinding away, just a noise. When I convert the bike to trail riding, I will put the smaller sprocket back on to get a slower crawl.
Title: Re: Upsize the Counter Sprocket?
Post by: Roger on November 07, 2007, 08:01:15 am
I had fitted an 18 tooth sprocket to my 05 Classic and wasn't all that impressed... The bike lost a lot of its flexibilty at low speed and I found my self having to do a lot of shifting to keep everything rolling along. Mind you all my riding is done in the city and suburbs plus a little freeway work, the 18 tooth was goods at speed around 50mph (80kph). I have since re-install the 17T sprocket.

Something else I noted when I fitted the 18 tooth sprocket was the close proximity of the chain to one of the crankcase bolts. (See Photo)

Roger   

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Title: Re: Upsize the Counter Sprocket?
Post by: dogbone on November 07, 2007, 11:30:37 am
I also tried the larger sprocket . 2 things happened. With my" beechwood aged" belly, I had to shift out of top gear a lot,  It's rather hilly in eastern Ohio. It also allowed me to gain eligibility for a speeding ticket!!
Title: Re: Upsize the Counter Sprocket?
Post by: BanditRE on November 07, 2007, 01:23:35 pm
Thanks guys,
I've noticed that up to 50 mph or so, its ok, but it seems 'unhappy' sustaining any higher speeds, and I thought a larger sprocket would help it to achieve a 55-60 mph cruising speed. I'm not after freeway speeds here. Most of my riding is quiet two lanes, where I'm perfectly happy doing 50, but more often than not the traffic behind isn't. I'd like to attend the Rally on the River next year as well, and at 50 mph it'll take me two weeks to get there. Actually that sounds pretty good........

Thanks for the photo as well, I'll check for that when installing.

As for the beechwood aged belly, I fully understand! Mine's getting honed on Guiness but I'm guessing the results are pretty much the same!

I'd frame the speeding ticket if I got one. Thats a badge of honor for an Enfield.
Paul
Title: Re: Upsize the Counter Sprocket?
Post by: t120rbullet on November 07, 2007, 03:12:22 pm
I'd like to attend the Rally on the River next year as well, and at 50 mph it'll take me two weeks to get there. Actually that sounds pretty good........

You could always ride the sushi  out there and get all the grief that I did when I rode the HD.
P.S. It only took a day and a half to ride there and I averaged  65 emph all the way out there and used a qt of oil and 60 emph on the way back and used 1/2 qt of oil.
I started thinking on the way back "I might actually complete this trip" and slowed down a bit.
CJ
Title: Re: Upsize the Counter Sprocket?
Post by: BanditRE on November 07, 2007, 05:21:00 pm
I could ride the Sushi rocket out there, but you'd have to keep up!

Besides, who would ever think of riding a Suzuki to a RE rally? Or a Harley for that matter.............
Title: Re: Upsize the Counter Sprocket?
Post by: dewjantim on November 07, 2007, 09:03:03 pm
How about bringing my beemer......Dew.
Title: Re: Upsize the Counter Sprocket?
Post by: t120rbullet on November 07, 2007, 09:29:18 pm
How about bringing my beemer......Dew.

Sure, towing it there behind the Bullet is allowable :D
Title: Re: Upsize the Counter Sprocket?
Post by: krodaddy on November 08, 2007, 12:29:32 am
How about bringing my beemer......Dew.

 I sold my Beemer. No fun after riding around on my Bullet.   ;D