[Paul W]

When it came to gas flowing the ports, I was surprised to find that the work on the exhaust port seemed to make as much of a difference than that on the inlet and a 26mm carb (I did the exhaust side at a later date).

I subsequently fitted an original Meteor Minor piston and that woke it up a bit more. The photo compares it with a new, unused “standard” pattern one. They are actually fitted to the same gudgeon/wrist pin for direct comparison.


Edit: My apology…I’d already posted a similar reply earlier in the thread!

[TonyVanda]

My piston is like the one on the left with the high dome. It's a Hitchcocks high compression from about 8 years ago. I've dismantled everything and giving it all a good clean up. The rings are fine and don't bind so I'll assemble as is.

Thanks for the tips. Still always interested in learning more.

[TonyVanda]

I've finished porting and polishing, noticed I see light coming in the past the exhaust valve so had to fix that. Mayb that was my power problem all along.

Reassembled the motor and in the process of fitting the new carb. Takes me ages as I come across stuff that baffles me, like the pushrod adjusting nuts. I had the logic arse about in my head so took for ever to get them right. (the little lock nut locks the top adjusting nut...). Swapped the inlet cam with an exhaust cam on recommendation so we'll see how that works.

There is always an issue. The adapter flange doesn't work with the standard inlet studs so had to make  a couple of screws to fit. Because I dont have the proper equipment, I had to make 4 to get 2 good ones but they work well. I got warned the throttle cable might foul up with the petrol tank mount but I've got a bit of wiggle room so all ok. I had to scrounge through a tub of cables to find a throttle cable that fitted but I was in luck. Changed all the jetting as per instructions and might be ready to start tomorrow - finger crossed.

[TonyVanda]

Here is the setup looks before final assemble

[Mr_84]

Just beautiful Tony , look forward to reports when running. Gotta love that bell mouth !

[Paul W]

From early experience with my 350, even a minor an exhaust valve seating problem will kill all the power. My engine had a very soft exhaust valve seat, so much so that the bike would close up its exhaust valve clearance every 50-100 miles or so, then it lost compression and rapidly died. I got very used to re-setting the clearance at the road side. Once set, I'd get another 100 miles at most.

I took the head to a specialist engineering company and got them to fit a new valve seat. Problem solved; the valve clearance stays as I set it now and I've done around 18,000 miles on the bike since.

[TonyVanda]

Took the Bullet out for it's first ride after the head/carb/cam update. It definitely has more power but needs some tuning. I cant set the idle mix as it just belches out black smoke so need to change the pilot jet. The main jet is a 170. I have a 160 and a 180 which I'll try but it really seems to open up at full throttle on a straight flat road. I didn't want to go too hard on its first ride. I think I should be running in gently for the first cuppla hundred K's. Did about 50 today.

I'm pleased as its a definite improvement. Looking forward to getting the tune sorted and see what I can get out of it. 

[TonyVanda]

Went down a size on both pilot and main. Now the thing is really starting move. I reckon at least 20% more than yesterday.

Still not happy with the pilot jet (black smoke at idle and difficult to set the mixture) and I've got the next size down so will try that. Will also try the next main down. Lot's of petrol pissing out all over the place so I musta upset something during the change over. Will go through the process again tomorrow.

I've gotta find a suitable place to do plug stop (is that what you call it) trying to co-ordinate full throttle, clutch, turn engine switch off and coast to a stop without falling off is going to take some practice 

[Paul W]

If the bike gives out black smoke at lower throttle settings but runs well higher but the rev range, I’d check the float needle mechanism is seating properly, especially as you say it’s leaking fuel. Sounds like the carb is flooding.

[TonyVanda]

I took the carb off again and found I hadn't fitted the float bowl on properly. It's a bit tricky but seems ok now. Fitted the smaller pilot jet and I'm getting a bunch of main jets for tuning.

Also had to refit the petrol tap as it was weeping. I had the tank off and dismantled to get one of the rear lugs welded back on. All good now and itching to take it for a spin. The weather looks fine for tomorrow.

[Paul W]

I took the carb off again and found I hadn't fitted the float bowl on properly.

That would definitely cause flooding! Glad you’re sorted.

Snow here in U.K. today so no bike riding tfn.

[TonyVanda]

The float bowl issue was that the pin for the float arm hinge was sticking out and actually bent over. Totally weird as I never touched it. I'm sure it came like that but I cant be absolutely positive. Anyway, I had a pin lying around and fixed it. Lucky I didnt break anything. So I've got the assemble/disassemble/assemble thing going pretty well now. I'm down to my last pilot jet so I'll be able to make a decision on that. Still messing around with main jets and waiting for a bunch to arrive in the mail.

The power increase is really good. At half throttle the bike just keeps going. It's great. It'll pull to 100kph in 3rd gear, then shits itself when I twist to full throttle but that'll come good when I find the right jet. Dont worry, I'm not going to ride around at 100kph in 3rd gear, I just wanted to see what it would do. BTW, I have a H's close ratio gear set fitted and still got the 18t drive sprocket hence the quoted figures. Soon as the hill appears, I'm back to normal.

Looks like a fine weekend coming up so hopefully those jets turn up so I can finish the job.  Thanks for your helps.

[Adrian II]

18T sprocket on an Indian 350?   That's higher geared than a stock 500 iron barrel (17T). The last of the Redditch G2 Bullets from 1955 with the 38T rear sprocket has 14T or 15T gearbox sprockets according to H's on-line parts books, compared to 16T for most Indian IB 350s.

Even with the carb jetted to perfection, the thing could fly through the first three gears and still run out of puff in top, unless you move somewhere nice and flat like the Netherlands! 

A.

[Paul W]

I agree, 18 teeth is pushing expectation to extremes.

My 350 has one (standard fit on its upgrade to a 5 speed gearbox), but I also fitted a 42 tooth rear sprocket, which compensates it to just about standard overall 350 gearing in top.

The engine will easily rev to valve bounce in third and get close to that in fourth. It cruises well at motorway speeds in fifth but I doubt it would would pull much taller overall gearing quite as well.

[TonyVanda]

The gearing is the next task on the Bullet list but it'll have to wait. I've got to get back to the Trailblazer and only started playing with the Bullet as a distraction. At least now I have a runner that I can ride, even if it does need a bit of pushing up the hill.