tyler Posted November 1, 2020 Share Posted November 1, 2020 (edited) . Edited February 12, 2021 by tyler 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tyler Posted November 1, 2020 Author Share Posted November 1, 2020 (edited) . Edited February 12, 2021 by tyler Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rewdco Posted November 1, 2020 Share Posted November 1, 2020 Thanks for sharing Tyler! Well, here's what I can tell you about your new toy: Frame number 19751 was despatched from the factory on 24/11/1943 to the War Office in Sheffield. It was one of the 2826 bikes for the RAF contract C/14219. The "special" thing about these RAF contract bikes is that they did not have pannier frames and pillion equipment... The engine with duplicated frame number 14182 left the factory on 09/09/1942, as part of Army contract C/13870. This was a contract for 3000 WD/CO/B bikes, the B standing for Burman gearbox. The Army was afraid that Albion (who had been making gearboxes for Royal Enfield for ages) wouldn't have enough production capacity, so they split up a 6000 bikes demand in two contracts: C/13869 were 3000 bikes with an Albion gearbox, C/13870 were 3000 bikes with a Burman gearbox... HBO is a post war Albion gearbox number though... Regards, Jan 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Hall Posted November 1, 2020 Share Posted November 1, 2020 I may have some bad news for you. Ask the seller if he has that WD/C engine still. The frame is a post war model C frame which has the same number as a 1943 WD/CO. The front frame tube from seat to top of engine plates has the tell tale spacer needed for the WD/CO engine. Also the rear frames have no boss for the rear stand as per the WD/C as it had a centre stand. The chain guard is a WD/C item also, as are the forks and I think the front wheel spoke pattern. so the good news is you can leave as is, restore as a WD/C with a replacement engine, gearbox and rear wheel or restore as a WD/CO by replacing the rear frames (difficult to find). Please don’t be disheartened as this is how most of us start and we end up with a WD/C, WD/CO, G, J, Jeep, Halftrack, Tank, spitfire and the list goes on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rewdco Posted November 1, 2020 Share Posted November 1, 2020 Oops, I have been a bit too quick in my response... And I must admit that Chris is correct. The front frame (with the frame number!) is WD/CO (it has the tapered downtube), but the rear frame and the forks are WD/C indeed... Jan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Hall Posted November 1, 2020 Share Posted November 1, 2020 Jan, the late WD/C frames also had the tapered down tube. If you look at the photo showing the top of the gearbox, look at the bracket and you can see it’s not wide enough for a CO engine, it’s the width of the C so a spacer has been fitted. I had a post war C frame in the 19,000 range identical to this and I also had another slightly different where the fork damper anchor plate fitted. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Hall Posted November 1, 2020 Share Posted November 1, 2020 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Hall Posted November 1, 2020 Share Posted November 1, 2020 I also note the tank is likely one of the pre war/early war OHV tanks intended for the J and fitted to the WD/C early on, unless it’s a WD/C modified for the CO cylinder head. Careful examination for marking on the underside may reveal a WD serial number. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rewdco Posted November 1, 2020 Share Posted November 1, 2020 (edited) I must admit that you're correct Chris! 😐 But that would mean that this is a "post war Model C" frame, made for the civilian market. And that would date it to July 1948... Edited November 1, 2020 by rewdco Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Hall Posted November 1, 2020 Share Posted November 1, 2020 Unfortunately. However, Tyler has a decision to make. Keep as is, restore as a CO or restore as a C. Or end up with a C and CO!! C Engines and gear boxes are easy to locate, centre stands are available as repro but the rear wheel is difficult to locate. CO frames are difficult to locate also but they do come along every so often. Decisions, decisions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rewdco Posted November 1, 2020 Share Posted November 1, 2020 If you want to keep it as a Bar None bike, the WD/C option would be the more logical choice. I've never seen pictures of a WD/CO in Egypt, but there were definitely WD/Cs there! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Posted November 2, 2020 Share Posted November 2, 2020 Uh Oh! Well Chris's eyes have picked up everything there. I must admit, I stared briefly at the rear wheel which looked odd and never twigged that the rear stand lugs are missing. I also know nothing about the post war numbering system. I think it's still a fun bike as a bobber and mod to the "Bar None Club" Tyler if you are licking your wounds? There is the "Customer protection act" as the bike was clearly advertised as a 1943 WD/CO, so you could be in line for a full refund. The wording of the listing makes me believe that the seller was also unaware of its true identity. Or maybe accept a reduction in price and the WD/C engine thrown in if he still has it. Worse things happen at sea!! Ron Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tyler Posted November 2, 2020 Author Share Posted November 2, 2020 (edited) . Edited February 12, 2021 by tyler Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Hall Posted November 2, 2020 Share Posted November 2, 2020 14 hours ago, tyler said: message me if you'd rather not discuss in topic) On 11/1/2020 at 6:47 PM, Chris Hall said: Careful examination for marking on the underside may reveal a WD serial number. Hi Chris, would this be stamped on or painted? It’s a pressed number usually prefixed WD in one size followed by numbers in another. It’s a large font but shallow pressed so could be under years of paint. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slaapstad Posted November 4, 2020 Share Posted November 4, 2020 Where exactly on the tank underside would the marking be? I need to check my ones. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Hall Posted November 4, 2020 Share Posted November 4, 2020 The red box is where you should find it. This is a postwar CO tank so has no markings. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slaapstad Posted November 4, 2020 Share Posted November 4, 2020 Cheers Chris! And you say that it is stamped? I have a few tanks I must go and look at and see what transpires. I seem to recall that there were date stampings on panniers as well, but I've never been able to find anything. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Posted November 4, 2020 Share Posted November 4, 2020 I own and have handled quite a few original pannier frames and bags and from memory I've only ever seen one date stamped frame and at least one bag from a pair (Might have been both of them?) Ron Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slaapstad Posted November 4, 2020 Share Posted November 4, 2020 Thanks Ron. Methinks I shall stop searching in vain! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Hall Posted November 4, 2020 Share Posted November 4, 2020 I would say pressed in as they are very uniform markings. I don’t think it means that if you don’t have the marks, it’s not WW2, it could simply be that they serial numbered spare tanks etc. I have no idea why they would number them but I’ve had at least 3 that way. I’ll check my WD/C and see if that one has the number. I’ve unfortunately sold the rest many years ago. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slaapstad Posted November 4, 2020 Share Posted November 4, 2020 I found one - 17423. Now this came with a matching frame/engine machine 223** from contract C/S 1546. I need to pull another tank out, but I know that that came with a post-war CO, so I'd be surprised if it has a number. Another (with traces of army green evidence) has none. Another tank I have just noticed has a cutout under the tank on both sides of the central saddle. Any idea what it's off? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Hall Posted November 4, 2020 Share Posted November 4, 2020 Does it look like a bulbous C tank with 2 Squared angle cutouts, one either side and one bigger than the other? Would it also have damage to both sides of the front as if forks have hit it when turned? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Hall Posted November 4, 2020 Share Posted November 4, 2020 Have a look and see if you can find the letters WD where I put the red box. They will be smaller than the numbers and could be above the centre line of the numbers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slaapstad Posted November 4, 2020 Share Posted November 4, 2020 (edited) I'll put a wire brush onto the red tank to see what's there. Edited November 4, 2020 by slaapstad typo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slaapstad Posted November 4, 2020 Share Posted November 4, 2020 Hi Chris - indeed the one tank has two square cutouts as you suggested - one longer than the other. I also noticed that the fuel cap is further back than the WD one. Not really dented though? You've obviously come across one of these before. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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