Ron

Always a lot easier and more accurate to do the ignition timing whilst the head is off! All the Royal Enfield WD models are the only ones I know of that have a slack wire cable advance. Actually a better idea! Adopted by other make after the war. Ron

😃😃Especially needed for failing eyesight for the tiny dots on the pinion!

Crankshaft end float clocked and adjusted with different thickness thrust washers. Bottom end built and back in the frame. Ron

I collected my crankshaft from Ainsley today. The outcome is that when he first checked it, he calculated the balance factor at 43%. After drilling the flywheels at the big end area, he's achieved a balance factor of 58%.. I've ordered new gaskets and small parts from Hitchcock's, so I can proceed with the engine build tomorrow. Ron

I think you are right Chris, in all the pictures I have where you can see the left foot rest, the foot rest is either left down or in that halfway position. The pictures are all from around 1942 though. So unless a picture from a later contract proves different......I guess that's how they were. Leaving only a workshop or subsequent owner modification......Like mine! Ron

Indeed it is Jan! I had my suspicions and marked that disc before I let the bearing fall out in the oven. So put it back in the same location and it's well and truly held by the new bearing and its thrust washer now. Will seal the crack with JP weld or something. There's no need to knock these bearings out! In fact there is nothing to hit. I have a small electric oven in my workshop and at 220 degrees the bearing was laying in the bottom of the oven. Some butchery must have taken place beforehand as the old race had a big chuck broken out???Ron

PS. Some people think that these engines are 'wet sump' like a car. It's not the case. They are 'Dry Sump' like all the rest. It's just that the oil tank is part of the crankcase. Ron

My WD/CO is from the RAF contract C14219. I completely rebuilt the engine about 350 miles ago which included a +40 thou rebore and installation of a modern dome top Bullet piston which raises the compression from 6.1 to 7.1 and just gives these bikes a little more pulling power. Unfortunately the bike vibrates a bit more than I would like and is especially pronounced because of the lack of foot rest rubbers and handlebar grips. It's always bugged me because my engine is from an earlier Army contract, so I decided I'd rebuild my engine again, including balancing of the crank assembly if only I could find some engine cases to match my contract. Within moments of asking, Jan put me in touch with a very nice guy, Leon in the Netherlands who had the engine cases I needed. I local friend who visited the Arnhem event last week collected the cases and I picked them up from him this morning. I've already cleaned them up and transferred my new main bearing races and bronze timing side bush from my old cases. (God knows how the drive side bearing had a big chunk out of it?) My crank assembly is with my engineer Ainsley who tells me that the heavier piston I fitted is producing a balance factor of about 45%, where 55-60% would be more normal for this sort of bike. He'll now proceed with drilling and lightening the flywheels accordingly to alter the balance factor. I'll post updates as I proceed. Ron

Ian if you replace the stud with a 3/4" longer one and make a simple 3/4" tube spacer will do it. Ron

Ian, belay that information. I've just been chatting with Jan and we've discovered that there is some sort of discrepancy in the parts list. It clearly quotes 2 x eye bolt 28416. But these are only 1 3/8" long to the center of the foot rest pivot bolt. I've just measured mine which is about 2 1/8". which is sufficient to clear the tool box. There is no mention in the parts list of this extra long eye bolt or a spacer for the standard eye bolt. Jan can easily rectify this problem and I think will make his own comments. Ron

Hi Ian I don't think Gary will mind if we carry on this thread with more info on the CO. The left side foot rest plate incorporates the field stand, and requires another field stand eye bolt #28416 (or similar) to hang the foot rest out far enough to clear the tool box. Ron

Yes Gary I have a 1943 WD/CO from an RAF contract. I've just stripped the engine to get the crank assembly balanced as there is too much vibration for my liking. But I've also acquired the correct crankcases for my contract, so will rebuild it into those. I also have several other models of WD Royal Enfield's Ron

The WD/CO carb spec is :- Model 276AC/1A 15/16" bore, 130 main jet, 106 needle jet, needle position 2nd groove down, throttle valve cutaway 2/4, float-bowl 1A. Ron

Yes Jan I noted in my post that I could see that the seat if further back and higher. But don’t see how the springs interfere with the carrier. Ron

Jan I've just read your 28th Aug edited post with pictures and it seems I must have the BSA version on my W/NG. I can see that the Ariel version is moved back and up, but can't see how the springs of the BSA version would interfere with the carrier?.Never done learning!! Ron

Well funnily enough, at least some WW2 RAF vehicles had 'Defense of the Realm' tax discs as seen in this original that was sent to me by Greg Powell. Also can be seen on this RAF Norton Big 4. So I've copied the idea with Greg's repro discs on my RAF's Big 4 and WD/CO. Ron

I'm not actually sure if post war WD vehicles were civilian taxed? But if so, Greg will have one in his repertoire. Interesting site anyway. http://www.poplargreg.com/ Ron

Good old Pete! An officer and a gentleman! Ron

Hi Graham. I will be at Netley on Friday, but only as a punter. I haven't got enough stuff to sell this year to be worth taking a stall. Ron

Yep he's still active as I see him with a stall at Kempton jumble. But I don't think the website has been active much since Keiron Shortfall died?? But worth a try! Otherwise see what Stuart Bray has. http://www.stuart-bray-motorcycles.co.uk/ Ron

Good luck with getting a reply from them! As far as I can see, that site hasn't been used in years. I think Kieron's son took over when he died, but maybe couldn't make it pay? Ron

I pity any PPP (Potential Pillion Passenger) Ron

So as I see it now. In answer to Dukes query. He has the rear spring type Lycette which were definitely used on G3L's.👍 It's also the type that I have on my 16H👍 But my G3L has a short Acumen saddle with original cover, which has been on the bike all the while I've known it in well over 30 years ........So it will stay put🤞 Ron

Thanks Jan. You explained my comment "They swapped and changed around" in much greater detail......I'll try and remember some of it for the future. Yes Steve. I've tried several times to get that guy to make more covers for me. But sadly he keeps having mental breakdowns and not worth the risk of sending a rare saddle.......Even if he does answer the phone or email!! Ron

Perhaps Jan will post pictures. The M20 used the long version with the ribbed guard, with and without the front hump and later the short version. But they also fitted the loaf of bread bum pad at some time. This is the long version with front hump. Ron