Ron Posted June 11 Share Posted June 11 After 3 days of 70 plus mile rides. I was out on my own at 6.30 am on the 4th day to recci out a route. At very low speed up a narrow lane as I was shielding my eyes from the blinding low sun. There was a loud click and the bike started to wobble valiantly. From where I sat I couldn't see the problem, and managed to do a 10 point turn to face the other way. I was 5 miles from camp, so the mission was to get as near as possible before phoning for help. I found that at 20mph the wobble was acceptable, and made it back to camp under my own "slow" speed. Here is the problem, which I was aware did sometimes happen to Royal Enfield front down tubes. Ron 1 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rog8811 Posted June 11 Share Posted June 11 When you say it sometimes happens, is it at a predictable position on the tube or can it happen anywhere? Not a nice thing to happen so far from home, I hope you don't have too much trouble repatriating it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rootes75 Posted June 11 Share Posted June 11 Looks like a very clean break. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welbike Posted June 11 Share Posted June 11 (edited) Yes, Ron, you sent me the picture! incredible that you weren't going faster and came off! Enfields are known for this to happen, on the front downtube, but also on other places but rarely. You would think, that the frame was under stress? The thing that held the frame together was probably the petrol tank! Glad you're OK, I still have big problems with my knee, after the bad landing with the Cushman! Cheers, Lex Edited June 11 by welbike spelling Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Enigma Posted June 11 Share Posted June 11 Damn, that could have been a big accident. Good you are alright. See you at A&E? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matchlesswdg3 Posted June 11 Share Posted June 11 Definitely a warranty claim! Glad you survived that one! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rewdco Posted June 11 Share Posted June 11 Glad to hear that you're OK Ron! A bike's frame is easier to repair than your own framework! My WD/C is another example of this weak spot. This is how I bought it... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulJager Posted June 11 Share Posted June 11 Wow, that must have been pretty scary. Glad you are ok. Also my frame has a repair at the known weakspot. Jan pointed it out I believe when I introduced myself at this forum and posted pictures of my '42 350 WD/C. Unlucky that you had to experience this problem while driving, on the other hand it must have been a pretty rare situation that your frame still hadn't broken until now after all those years. Or not? But, again, glad you are ok. Good luck with repairing the spot and the work it will cost again. By the way: I have installed the center stand now, very very happy with it. All the best for you Ron. Regards, Paul. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrian Barrell Posted June 11 Share Posted June 11 6 hours ago, Enigma said: Damn, that could have been a big accident. Good you are alright. See you at A&E? Quite likely if that happens again..... (I know what you meant) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Posted June 12 Author Share Posted June 12 Regarding the repair. A simple internal spigot seemed the simple solution. BUT! The first problem is, the front tube is tapered from 1 1/2" to 1 1/4". I acquired a suitable piece of thick wall tube from my tube guy friends and made four slits in it up to the top 1". I squeezed it in my vice and sanded it to make a bit of a cone shape. I also drilled four 10mm holes around the outer tube so as to puddle weld to the cone. Next problem was that the remaining upper part of the broken tube is thicker (double skinned) so the ID is smaller. I was searching through my sockets to try and find a size gauge and came across a long series impact socket that fits the bill perfectly. (I'm quite happy to sacrifice it) I had to cut about 1/4" off the end of it. Likewise I drilled four hole to puddle weld to it. I've sanded a total of about 1/4" away from both top and bottom tubes to create a nice groove to weld. I decided that TIG is probably the best and I'm waiting for a guy to turn up with the correct equipment. Ron 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Posted June 12 Author Share Posted June 12 On 6/11/2024 at 11:19 AM, Enigma said: Damn, that could have been a big accident. Good you are alright. See you at A&E? Regarding A&E! Jack asked me if I could rustle up some riders for convoy duties for the very first A&E. I think there were at least a dozen of us. I'm also one of the organisers for the Veterans Parade at Weymouth. Unfortunately for me, due to government funding, the date for veterans week was moved and clashes with A&E, so I've never been able to participate since the first one....Hey Ho! Ron 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Enigma Posted June 12 Share Posted June 12 7 minutes ago, Ron said: Regarding A&E! Jack asked me if I could rustle up some riders for convoy duties for the very first A&E. I think there were at least a dozen of us. I'm also one of the organisers for the Veterans Parade at Weymouth. Unfortunately for me, due to government funding, the date for veterans week was moved and clashes with A&E, so I've never been able to participate since the first one....Hey Ho! Ron A pity you can't attend A&E. Too many events in too short a time... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Posted Friday at 04:37 PM Author Share Posted Friday at 04:37 PM The TIG welder turned up this morning and the whole process too about an hour. I've put some high build etch primer on and will flat it down tomorrow for KG3 top coat. Ron 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welbike Posted Friday at 04:53 PM Share Posted Friday at 04:53 PM Good show! didn't the brass in the brazed lug play up? Lex Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Posted Friday at 05:44 PM Author Share Posted Friday at 05:44 PM Not at all Lex. The break was well below the brazed lug. Ron 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GSYBSA Posted Friday at 06:42 PM Share Posted Friday at 06:42 PM Nice repair Ron. I assume this was why the later re-inforced frame came about? Rick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Posted Friday at 08:10 PM Author Share Posted Friday at 08:10 PM Yes Rick. I think Jan will confirm. There were at least three upgrades to this frame problem by Royal Enfiend. This is faze two. The last faze was an extra support tube from the headstock back under the tank. I guess the frames were made from Reynolds tube. It's real tough stuff to drill. Ron Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rewdco Posted Saturday at 05:38 PM Share Posted Saturday at 05:38 PM Indeed Ron. The WD/C had a cylindrical downtube. Due to the fact that lots of frames had broken just below the headstock, Enfield used a conical downtube for the (early) WD/CO (with a larger diameter at the weakest point). But the conical downtube didn't solve the problem, so they added an extra tube just below the headstock for the later WD/CO bikes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Posted Sunday at 07:34 PM Author Share Posted Sunday at 07:34 PM The finished result. I shiver to think of the result of such a failure at 45-50mph. I'll need to build up some confidence with this (My favourite) bike and will be constantly checking for any cracks for a while😱 I'm going to Beulieu tomorrow to get a new tyre for the front. Then a test ride on Tuesday (weather permitting) Ron 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rewdco Posted Sunday at 08:14 PM Share Posted Sunday at 08:14 PM Perfect repair Ron! Well done! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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