Does this Flea belong here?

[matchlessman]

Howdy, 

 

I have a RE Flea Frame with the number of 6896 I believe.  The front seat frame seems high, and the light switch has 4 positions.

 

Would this be one of the WD fleas? It needs a lot of things, like a motor ( I have 1 1/2 civilian version in the box).

 

But, I think a lot of the info here indicates it would be a WD, but do not want to bother with questions later on if it does not qualify as a military Vehicle.

 

Thanks

Chris 

USA

[Ron]

Yes indeed Chris. 6896 was the 2726th bike from 4000 ordered in 1943 under contract number S1945 (same contract as mine) and would have had serial number C5113896.  Ron

[matchlessman]

Ron, 

 

 That is great!  Thanks for your fast response and the serial #.

 

I felt I could see green paint under the blue it is painted now, but sometimes my eyesight is not as good as my imagination.

 

I hope to make this machine a winter project, so now I have an idea of the direction I need to go.

 

Thanks again, I look forward to touching base here as things move forward.

 

Thanks again.

 

Chris

[Ron]

Restoration pictures always welcome👍Ron

[matchlessman]

Howdy, 

 

I can not believe I started this thread in 2018, but here it is 2021.  Sorry it has taken so long to get back to posting an update.

The flea is up and going again.  I had to take the two post war motors and make one that would run.

I know where the original motor is at, but the owner does not want to sell at this time.

Thanks for all your help over the YEARS of restoration, I have been stalking your post quietly in the background.

Well see if I ever find another project over here.

Thanks

[welbike]

Thanks for this, I had not seen this before. But please change the colour of the exhaust system to silver, and take the canvas thing around the filler neck off, just my 2 P's.

Lex

Edited October 23, 2021 by welbike

[Ron]

OK no offence meant but since Lex has critiqued a couple of things. The front mudguard stays need re-organizing. The magneto cover and air filter are not WD. (Time to twist that bloke's arm who has your engine)  Ron

[matchlessman]

Ron and Lex, 

Thanks for the response.

No offense taken on anything.

Painting the exhaust system, can do. Thanks I did not know it needed to be silver.

The canvas thing is just to keep ethanol gas off the tank while I am messing with it.

Front stays, that is a tricky one.  The front fender was rusted in half when I got it, there was not enough strength left in the metal to hold it together, so I made a fender under the fender to keep it together.  I like keeping the original parts together, but if I can find an original I would probable replace.

I know the carb and filter are not right, I think I have some of the right stuff, but I have to make the bent choke pipe.  The original engine may have those parts, so I am dragging my feet till I know for sure It will never be mine. He did sell me the original folding kick starter.

Does an original mag cover look different? I made that one. The folding foot rest and stand, among other things, are my creation based on pictures. The original front light shell and stitch came with the bike, but the black out contraption and rear tail light are what I made based on pictures on this site and google.

The original engine is owned by a real nice guy how wants to hang on to it till he gets a newer flea he has going.  A donor engine. I remind him ever once in a while that I am still want it, but he is cross country, so emails is all I can do.

Let me know if you see anything else.

Thanks

Chris

[Ron]

Chris there is no embossed ROYAL ENFIELD on the WD mag cover. The WD exhaust port is threaded and the pipe is screwed to the barrel with a castellated nut. Ron

 

Edited October 22, 2021 by Ron

[matchlessman]

Ron, 

 

Thanks for the pictures.

Ok, I understand, the original engine does not have the writing.  I do not know about the exhaust port. I only have one picture of it before he took the kick start off. I hope to reunite the engine and frame someday

Did many of the bikes have the horn on the handle bars? I see some pictures showing them, some don't.

 

Thanks

Chris

[Ron]

Well it's on the factory pictures and probably a legal requirement to have a horn? Ron

Edited October 26, 2021 by Ron

[matchlessman]

Not sure there is anything legally acceptable about driving a 2 cycle, 6volt, brake shoed motorcycle in the USA anymore, but I want to add a horn now.

 

Thanks

[Ron]

Are you not receiving thousands of small Eastern European and Asian 2 strokes in US? Like what we are. Ron 

Edited October 26, 2021 by Ron

[matchlessman]

There are two stokes out there, but all of them are for off road use.  But even at that, some states are passing laws making gas powered mowers, generators, motorcycles, all illegal to buy.  If you have one, it can still be used, but they have passed laws saying gas station can not be built or updated.  For now it is mostly California doing this, but others will follow.

I think 6 volt is not allowed on the road even where I live because of the low light it produces.

I live in a small rural town, so I should be able to ride it on the road till someone complains to the police.  They have come talked to me, but we are on good terms, so no biggy.