Red Rimshot Posted June 18, 2019 Share Posted June 18, 2019 Hello everyone, this is my first post here. I've just purchased a 1942 Royal Enfield Flying Flea. The bike currently has a DKW engine fitted but the engine is included in the sale. The original engine has a damaged crankshaft. This I may be able to repair, but just in case doesanyone have a crankshaft to sell please. Thanks in advance, Kingsley Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
winchman Posted June 18, 2019 Share Posted June 18, 2019 Welcome. I am sure some one will be able to point you in the right direction, my son has a 34 Model A and a forum member has found parts for him so give it a few weeks as many people don't visit every day. Whats up with the crank shaft as I am certain it would be able to be repaired / re manufactured. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wdbikemad Posted June 18, 2019 Share Posted June 18, 2019 10 hours ago, Red Rimshot said: Hello everyone, this is my first post here. I've just purchased a 1942 Royal Enfield Flying Flea. The bike currently has a DKW engine fitted but the engine is included in the sale. The original engine has a damaged crankshaft. This I may be able to repair, but just in case doesanyone have a crankshaft to sell please. Thanks in advance, Kingsley Kingsley, welcome to the group ! First thing to note is that apart from a few prototypes, there weren't any WD Flea's in 1942.......volume production didn't commence until 1943.....prior to that the RE 125 (Royal Baby) was made for the civilian and export market in small numbers until early 1940......... It is essential to identify your bike as a genuine WD version....the frame number would be useful here and it can be found on the right-hand side of the head-stock stamped vertically.......this should be duplicated on the engine (top of the left-hand crankcase below the carburetter and behind the barrel)......there should also be another individual engine number at the very rearmost point of the top of the left-hand crankcase........ Regarding the frame, the front saddle mounting should be taller and "vertical" on a WD frame, not shorter and "curved" as per the civilian frame.......... A spare crank assembly needs to be sought as a whole item.......this is because the pre-war and WD versions of the Flea use a different (narrower) assembly than the post-war civilian model..........whilst complete crank assemblies are interchangeable, the individual crank components are not ! Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red Rimshot Posted June 18, 2019 Author Share Posted June 18, 2019 Hello Steve, many thanks for the info. The frame number is 7140 does that tell you anything? The flywheel has chewed the woodruff key and has damaged the keyway slot in the crank. I'm not sure of the engine number yet. Yes I knew about the seat mounts and they are indeed straight ones. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wdbikemad Posted June 18, 2019 Share Posted June 18, 2019 4 minutes ago, Red Rimshot said: Hello Steve, many thanks for the info. The frame number is 7140 does that tell you anything? The flywheel has chewed the woodruff key and has damaged the keyway slot in the crank. I'm not sure of the engine number yet. Yes I knew about the seat mounts and they are indeed straight ones. Yes, a great help ! 7140 is indeed a WD frame.......this is a first contract bike (contract S.1945) dating from 1943 and would originally have had the narrow crankshaft assembly fitted..... Parts for these are nowadays unobtainable, but you can still source the later (wider) crankpin and conrod which, as a complete assembly, will fit into the WD crankcases and are invisible once installed.....the later assembly is actually marginally stronger so will last..... Where are you located....? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red Rimshot Posted June 18, 2019 Author Share Posted June 18, 2019 Hello, again, many thanks for the help. I'm in Newbury Berkshire. I've asked the seller for the RE engine. Now here's a million dollar Q ... How much for an original Flea? Do you have one for sale. I'm on 07774526605. Thank you again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red Rimshot Posted June 18, 2019 Author Share Posted June 18, 2019 Hello, the woodruff key and has 'wobbled' in its slot on in the crank thus opening it out. I'm sure I can weld it up and machine a new slot 180 Deg. Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wdbikemad Posted June 19, 2019 Share Posted June 19, 2019 PM me and we'll discuss further........... Oddly, I'm also in Newbury....!!! Yes, I think that the slot for the woodruff key can be welded up but it's a fiddly job........ When I obtained my WD/RE it had been modified post-war by the fitting of a later Wipac ignition assembly, doubtless to keep it running.....fortunately however, the correct replacement parts came with it so I was able to remove the Wipac items using a BSA Bantam extractor to find the original crank undamaged.........the original Miller ignition system is very hit or miss and parts difficult to find, but I was fortunate enough to have plenty of spares here so that I could rebuild using selective assembly......... Here's a picture of her when acquired.......she had been kept by the WD until the early 1950's then sold off.....she remained in the Norfolk area in use with several owners until the early 1970's........she's since been fully restored.........frame 8083...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welbike Posted June 22, 2019 Share Posted June 22, 2019 Hello Kingsley, I know this bike, and the seller, he asked me to bring it over to the UK, but still unsure of when I'm coming over. If anyone needs the canvas grips for the throttle and clutch side, I had another batch made, same as on the restored bike above (that was from my prev. batch) you will have to glue a piece of canvas on yourself. The throttle clamp thingy is also in the making, but not the alu casting (yet) Cheers, Lex Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welbike Posted June 22, 2019 Share Posted June 22, 2019 Here's mine that I acquired from the states, it came from an 8th Airforce vet in Florida, that "liberated"it from a UK airfield when he went home in their bomber after his tour was up. Restored a long time ago, and not running at the moment, but have all ignition parts, so should be able to get it running again, I Always call it "The Dying Flea" for obvious reasons. Cheers, Le 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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