Centurion

Thanks for the help. I went for the softer option and whilst they are now clean the colour is faded to say the least and because they are from 2 different makers 2 years apartthey are different colours. I dont really expect to get them both the same colour but is there any product that will re colour them. Would canvas paint do the job? Cheers Centurion

Hi I have a pair of British 1940s marked motorcycle panniers (or the may be large packs converted) either way they have been on the bike some time and are covered in road grime/mud etc. I want to clean them but dont want them to fall apart in the process. I had thought about putting them in an old pillow case and sticking them in the washer with non bio washing powder. Any thoughts or suggestions I obviously dont want to destroy the makers naqme and date stamp or have them fall apart due to the cleaning process. Cheers Centurion

Hi, You may already know this but while searching for Royal Enfield bits. I got onto the site for Burton bike bits. They have quite a lot of TRW spares mostly NOS from the Canadian military. Regards Centurion

Thanks for that, looks like I will have to shrink or look for a bigger size if there is one from that era. I suspect I may have to go to W&P or Gt Malvern and look to see whats available. cheers Centurion

Thanks for that. Unfortunately the item is in Holland unless you know of the same thing for sale in the UK. The other difficulty I may have is as a result of 1950s school milk ETc I am 6 foot 5 and weigh about 16 stone. I suspect my quest my be al ong one if not downright impossible. But I will keep on trying. cheers Centurion

I may be stupid but. I am looking to buy a 1944 DR overcoat the rubbery? canvas thing. The site that is selling them has them marked in the sizes that are on the original labels. The biggest they have is size 10. How does this equate to chest size etc in good British inches. Looking forward to good advice, REgards Centurion

Thanks for the information. regards Centurion

Yes you could be right as I said they dont quite fit the frames in that they are not wide enough across the back and the leather corners don,t hook over the top corners of the frames. They have the re inforcing fabric strips on the back side. Centurion

See pics attached I hope

Thanks for the reponse Jan and Radek. I already have the report and believe that you may already have the bike on the register as Tom that I bought it from sent me a copy of an email you had sent him re engine no,s and identity. Just to confirm here is a copy WD/CO: Frame: M20314 Engine: 20314 (LH side below cylinder) 15419 (LH side below Magdyno) C/S1546 (LH side) Inspection stamp: arrow, over M, over 426 Gearbox (replacement): HHP 973 According to the data in my register, this engine (engine number 15419) must have been assembled around September 1943. Enfield did not work according to the “first in – first out” principle, and this engine remained on the shelves until July or August 1944, when it was fitted to the frame # M20314. (These long delays were not standard practice, but I do have some other examples in my register…). This is an early contract C/S1546 motorcycle, and this bike’s census number was C5162654. I have added a copy of the nearest number on a war time photograph. The acceptance marking and contract stamp are correct for this frame number. According to the data in my register, the Albion gearbox HHP 973 must have been assembled around September – October 1943. I have been in contact with Frank Brown at pegasus-drive@sky.com who does replica panniers and seat covers etc. So should be able to resolve those problems. I will post some pics which are the ones Tom sent me when I was buying the bike when I remember how to. Alternatively If your interested I can email them directly to you. Regards Centurion aka Dick Howland

Hi all, I have recently bought an Enfield WD CO. Can any one advise as to where I might get the correct panniers, replicas will be ok. I suppose originals will fall into the hens teeth category. It has a pair fitted but they are a bit tired and are possibly not the right ones as the leather corners don,t fit over the frames, thats if there supposed to perhaps they have shrunk. Also there is a sprung pillion seat frame but no cover I have a cover from hitchcocks but it is the wrong one ie too big any ideas as to what the original shape is or where I may get one. Finally for now its finished in brown which as I understand was the colour all m/cycles were delivered in. If I want to paint it as 3 Div signals June 1944 would it be O D and would it carry any div badges etc. I know that these were not used much outside of GB but want to paint it this way as my Dad was a DR with 3 div signals. Regards Centurion

Mine look like yours and as far as I know are the originals from the 1976 La Maltournee refit. I think you may have some photos of it from the DLI last year. Its the one with the hi viz panels on the bonnet. If you havnt let me know and I will take some pics. Its trapped in the corner of my garage by the builders at the moment so may take a couple of weeks to access. Regards Centurion

I have been thinking about buying a WLA for a couple of years now (its the thought that counts) and the posted ad prices have been fairly stable around 8K. I have been watching M20 prices as well and over the last 6months they seem to be rising fairly rapidly. Its possibly the cost of fuel which is pushing it up plus the big WW2 dispatch riders bike meet planned for Normandy next year. Im still considering an M20 or Norton 16H but would have to sell my Hotchkiss to do it. I may look to part ex it, any takers Centurion

ive got it all sorted 1 the tyres on my Hotchkiss were fitted with inner tubes. 2 If your anywhere near the Tyne valley and want some tyres swopped over I can recommend Hexham Tyre and Battery Centurion

I have probably asked this before but must be having a C.R.A.F.T moment. Are the radial tyres fitted to Hotchkiss one piece wheels tubeless or are they fitted with inner tubes. Are they easy to get off as I have a pair of v/good used ones to go on. Alterntively can anyone in the Tyne and Wear area recommend a tyre shop that will fit these tyres for me. I supect that most of the main tyre dealers wont be keen on either fitting tyres that you havnt bought from them or fitting used tyres. eg sorry mate its dangerous you need new ones. cheers Centurion

When they were being grey imported secondhand from from japan in quantity some years ago. I was considering one and a quite friendly importer told me that If they come straight from japan secondhand he always took the rad off and flushed the whole system or fitted a new radiator . Apparently at that time they would sit for months in japan waiting to have enough vehicles to make the import viable and during this time the sludge in the cooling system would settle in the radiator. If they were then sold in the UK without the cooling system flush etc they would eventually overheat if worked hard and pop the head gasket. Otherwise they are vitually indestructible. good luck Centurion

I am currently reading D Day by Stephen Ambrose and there is a reference in it to bullets made of wood which the Germans used in training exercises. It states that they were balsa wood or similar which when fired marked or bruised the target. Ouch Centurion

I suppose I am a bit late in posting this well at least 2 seasons. but I wanted to take the pic on an airfield and only got round to doing it this year. So here is my preserved (I havnt done enough work on it to retore it) Hotchkiss M201 as last used by the French Airforce Vehicule controlee le piste (runway control vehicle) I took the photo on a runway at what was Ouston Airfield Northumberland about 15 miles West of the Toon (Newcastle to those unaccustomed to the North). This is possibly the most complete WW2 airfield in Northumberland and is currently used by the Army renamed Albermarle Barracks. http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p261/centurion_photos/100_0498.jpg[/img] regards Centurion

Did anyone else see the article in the Mail on Sunday colour mag 2/12/07 about Led Zepplin with the 70,s pic of Robert Plant sitting in his Austin Champ reg no ?HA 275D. It didnt look in the best of nick then but is it still around does anyone on here own it. Or has it ascended its own stairway to heaven. regards Centurion

Hi, could the fins referred to be the ribs on the top of the cylinder head which were introduced into the castings of cylinder heads to stiffen them to prevent warping. I believe that original MB heads or possibly Ford GPW are smooth finished, but Hotchkiss aka Willys Overland France WOF stamped ones do. I dont know if later MB/GPW had these ribs, If that helps, regards Centurion

If you pull the oil pump out of the crankcase the blade end of the distributor driveshaft offset fits into it the top of the oil pump drive shaft which in turn is driven by skew gear from the camshaft and the piece may come out still in place . If it doesnt which is unlikely you could consider taking the tappet cover off. This is pain because to get at it and see, it helps to take the manifolds off :?. As to what caused the problem I can only suggest a seizure in the shaft from the point where it is driven to the rotor arm end or failure through old age. Good luck Centurion

The French made them as well post war I think these usually have an air bleed pipe inside the nozzle and have 20L stamped on them. I found one of these for my Hotchkiss at an autojumble in Scotland. There is also a website dedicated to Jerry cans of all makes and country of origin but I cant remember the address Centurion

Do you know the nameof the range within the training area. I believe only silloans and wilkwood were used for ATGW. The vehicles are on Wilkwood all the command points are in bunkers. thee are numerous hard targets there some of which are used for aircraft attack. There is nothing that looks like it may have been used as a command vehicle still after possible 30+ years thats hardly suprising. Centurion

They are at an ATGW range but dont appear to have been used as targets either for AT or small arms fire. The mound you see behind it is the soil banking protecting the rear of an effects and firing bunker. As far as I can establish this part of the range was originally for Milan but is now being demolished. Perhaps that has wetted your appetite,, Centurion

There are 2 the other one is just out of camera shot both are in about the same condition. The insides have fire damage but the engine and transmission looks intact. Both are in Northumberland. Thanks for the information, Centurion