Jerryjeeprichard Posted December 27, 2019 Share Posted December 27, 2019 I would like to seek help and advise on the WD Royal Enfield flying flea, Hopefully turn up a few more spares spares.... My story so far..... First bike was purchased as a partial restoration, the previous owner had got so far, relatively complete frame, tank, wheels, mudguards etc unfortunately things came to a halt as other than the engine casings everything else was missing, incomplete or damaged . I purchased this within my knowledge, hope to that I would turn up an engine. Bike 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jerryjeeprichard Posted December 29, 2019 Author Share Posted December 29, 2019 Second bike was sourced, this was literally a true hedgerow find. The bike had been recovered from a hedge in remote part of Scotland in the 1970s and stored, from what I can remember on the history of the bike the previous owner had gone to a remote croft to look/buy a wooden bodied Albion truck. Didn't by the truck but came a way with a few old bikes. The flea being one of them. Planned to do a full restoration eventual ill health prevented this. I took ownership as it had most of the parts I need to restore the first bike, critically the folding foot pegs, folding kick start, complete engine, all be it locked up solid. and what i believe to be an early WD tank badge. NB ...The Albion truck was eventually recovered by a collector and has been restored and apparently is in a museum in Scotland, maybe there is a reader out there that knows more to this story? Bike 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jerryjeeprichard Posted December 30, 2019 Author Share Posted December 30, 2019 After the high of buying bike 2 there was a period of around 4 years still hunting all things flea, The complete engine as detailed above eventually came apart. BUT unfortunately the con rod, crank pin/bearings and piston was beyond any sort of repair. The crank setup was different compared to the crank I had with bike 1, I contacted Hitchcocks (royal enfield spares dealers) who were very helpful but unable to supply all the crank parts as these were off an early engine. I did manage to pick up a NOS piston and used threaded WD cylinder barrel 😉 So the hunt for missing parts continued..... Key bits still missing... toolbox... rear carrier.... exhaust...tail light... head light.. The rear carrier was the next find, Ebay... I bid and won the auction. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jerryjeeprichard Posted December 30, 2019 Author Share Posted December 30, 2019 I contacted the seller and asked before you post the item out did he have any other royal enfield spares he anticipated selling. The chap was quick to reply, his late farther had a few old bikes, one being the remains of 1950s flea. Regrettably for me most of the useful parts had been sold over the last few weeks. There was a frame, front shocks still left, and a box of small parts. all associated with the later flea Nothing really that I needed. I explained what I was restoring, and that i needed parts for an earlier bike. His last reply detailed that he had an early flea too. It had been his farther's.... years earlier the bike had been restored and it was something that he wanted to revive at some point in time. I asked if he could send me some pictures, which he did.... but it was made quite clear that the bike wasn't for sale. Much later in the day and the exchange of many emails and phone numbers. We agreed on a price and bike 3 was as good as purchased. All I had to go off was a description and three poor quality pictures. I agreed the best option would be for me to come an collect the bike and if there was any ambiguity in the description i still had the chance to back out. There was a period of a few weeks before I could go and collect the bike as some of the bits that had been removed were buried in the garage and would need to found. The day of reckoning came and bike 3 was collected. Bike 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jerryjeeprichard Posted December 30, 2019 Author Share Posted December 30, 2019 What I hadn't anticipated on was the amount of spares this bike came with. Boxes and Boxes of parts, lots of NOS WD Flying flea parts. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jerryjeeprichard Posted November 1, 2021 Author Share Posted November 1, 2021 I need some royal Enfield flying flea advice. Slowly getting stuck into restoring the bikes. Currently working on some of the smaller components. First question, the WD flea light switch. What does it look like? How many switch positions does it have? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Posted November 2, 2021 Share Posted November 2, 2021 Here is my original Miller switch. They have an added on resistor inside for the "direct lighting" circuit. We have been able to obtain reproduction top cap and knob....Also the correct Lodge plug cap and the plug for the magneto......I can ask about availability of these items if you want. Also here is my original Miller B/O tail lamp....They weren't fitted with the usual Lucas type. Ron 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jerryjeeprichard Posted November 2, 2021 Author Share Posted November 2, 2021 Hi Ron many thanks for the pictures How easy are the switch’s to obtain. I guess being Miller they are difficult.? Base on your switch. What are all the switching locations? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Posted November 2, 2021 Share Posted November 2, 2021 The same switch was used on the WD Velo's also. CH is basically off and to do with reducing the charge rate of the 3 brush dynamo when the lights are off. The other positions are Headlamp-Tail lamp- Pilot lamp. Yes the Miller switches are quite rare and expensive. But you can usually rework one of the four position switches with a repro cap. The Miller BO tail lamps were only ever fitted to Fleas, Velo MAF and the few Miller equipped Matchless G3L's. Ron Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jerryjeeprichard Posted November 2, 2021 Author Share Posted November 2, 2021 Hi Ron I have attached picture of two switches I have. Will these work? I have or believe I have two original Miller head lights. Pictures above. The switches physically fit into the body. So what am I missing to make the suitable for my flea? Just the cover plate? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Posted November 2, 2021 Share Posted November 2, 2021 No pictures with your last post. Ron Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jerryjeeprichard Posted November 2, 2021 Author Share Posted November 2, 2021 Sorry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Posted November 2, 2021 Share Posted November 2, 2021 (edited) Well the resistor is correct, but I guess it's from a post war Flea. Ideally you need a four position switch. Ron Edited November 2, 2021 by Ron Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welbike Posted November 3, 2021 Share Posted November 3, 2021 Here's my NOS switch, now fitted to the Flea, but it has no resistor? Cheers, Lex Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Posted November 3, 2021 Share Posted November 3, 2021 Well it's obviously for a Velo or the resistor comes separately? Ron Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welbike Posted November 3, 2021 Share Posted November 3, 2021 (edited) Strange! but it's the right part number for a Flea, don't have the Velo p/l handy, maybe you can have a look, Ron? Also page from the riders handbook. Lex Edited November 3, 2021 by welbike additional info Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Posted November 3, 2021 Share Posted November 3, 2021 Lex the Velo has exactly the same switch MT3/M1/72M/125. But the Flea parts list quotes the resistor separately MT3/M1/78M/1. Ron Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welbike Posted November 3, 2021 Share Posted November 3, 2021 Yes, you are 100% right! I never read any further, stupid me! Thanks, Lex Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jerryjeeprichard Posted November 3, 2021 Author Share Posted November 3, 2021 This is all very good information. So the hunt for the right switch needs to continue. Anyone with a spare four position switch? Or a case of hunting? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jerryjeeprichard Posted November 3, 2021 Author Share Posted November 3, 2021 Another question. This time WD bike manuals I have an original manual. What other WD manuals are there for the flea? Drivers Handbook 100/RE4? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Posted November 4, 2021 Share Posted November 4, 2021 (edited) I got my nice repro handbook from Lex and either he or Rob Van Meel should have a reprint parts list https://robvanmeel.nl/ Ron PS. Shepton Jumble this Sat 6th. I'll buy up all the WD Miller switches🤡 Edited November 4, 2021 by Ron Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flyingfleasteve Posted November 4, 2021 Share Posted November 4, 2021 Ron, I’m planning on Shepton too! I hope to bump into you 😉 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flyingfleasteve Posted November 4, 2021 Share Posted November 4, 2021 Ron, I’m planning on Shepton too! I hope to bump into you 😉 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Posted November 4, 2021 Share Posted November 4, 2021 See you there Steve. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jerryjeeprichard Posted November 4, 2021 Author Share Posted November 4, 2021 Can I put my name on two original Miller switches and two rear Miller tail lights. 😂😂😂 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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