Restauration of the Royal Enfield

[Esjan]

Hello every one,

We are new here on this site  and we have some questions!

We have bought a Royal Enfield WDCO 350 cc. Frame number M21607 and Motornumber 1603. Can anyone confirm that this is matching, and what the date of delevery is? Or where I can find this?

Does anyone know that there were made some sidecars from RE wdco's?

Greetings,

Wilbert and Erik from the Netherlands

[welbike]

Nice! Are you sure about the frame number, no letters were normally used.

Groetjes,

Lex

[Esjan]

Hello Lex,

Thank you for the reply. Could only the number 21607 belong to 1944?

[welbike]

Well, I don't know too much about WD/CO's, but the excellent book "British Forces Motorcycles" says contract C1546 was ordered in 1942, and completed in 1944.

Best wait until Jan reads this, he's the expert.

Lex

[Ron]

The "M" prefix was introduced at some point during contract C13870 in 1943. M 21607 was the 1781st bike from 5000 under contract S/1546 demanded in 1942 but delivered up to November 1944. The tank census number would have been C5163947.

Engine 1603 seems to come from the first WD/CO contract (C11081) 1942.

My RAF contract WD/CO also has an "M" prefix frame. After the first contract the square toolbox by the carb was deleted, but I didn't like the ugly gap, so fitted one anyway. Is that an air box or something on yours?

Ron

[Esjan]

On 12/6/2024 at 12:06 PM, Ron said:

The "M" prefix was introduced at some point during contract C13870 in 1943. M 21607 was the 1781st bike from 5000 under contract S/1546 demanded in 1942 but delivered up to November 1944. The tank census number would have been C5163947.

Engine 1603 seems to come from the first WD/CO contract (C11081) 1942.

My RAF contract WD/CO also has an "M" prefix frame. After the first contract the square toolbox by the carb was deleted, but I didn't like the ugly gap, so fitted one anyway. Is that an air box or something on yours?

Ron

Hello Ron, thank you for your explanation. It seems to be original than! 

Yes it's an airbox! See picture.

[Ron]

This is what they looked like for the first contract with the rectangular toolbox. After which it was the ugly gap. An air box was not used on the WD/CO! just a simple "flame trap" filter. Ron

Edited December 7, 2024 by Ron

[Esjan]

On 12/7/2024 at 12:58 PM, Ron said:

This is what they looked like for the first contract with the rectangular toolbox. After which it was the ugly gap. An air box was not used on the WD/CO! just a simple "flame trap" filter. Ron

Thanks Ron, Do you know if there were made sidecars by RE?

[Ron]

The only military bikes that were fitted with sidecars, were the miltary Norton Big4 with the sidecar wheel drive, and The BSA M20 and Norton 16H which were sometimes fitted with the civilian Swallow Model 8 sidecar for the RAF.  Ron

[10FM68]

There are these - which look more like requisitioned RAC/AA bikes, but according to the Chilwell list they were Motorcycle Combination Norton 633cc.  A nice photo of an RMP training exercise - 4th Corps Provost Unit in UK.  Quite a good picture, I think - and it shows how carefully turned out Military Policemen were in those days.  Not quite how things are today, sadly!

[Ron]

Yes the Norton Big4. SWD. There were variations to the passenger body and those that were fitted with the AA work body and even a mortor carrier.

Unfortunately the front down tube on the Royal Enfields was never strong enough to take a sidecar. They were prone to brake even as a solo. (Ask me how I know! Very scary when it happens)

Ron

Edited December 16, 2024 by Ron

[Esjan]

9 hours ago, Ron said:

Yes the Norton Big4. SWD. There were variations to the passenger body and those that were fitted with the AA work body and even a mortor carrier.

Unfortunately the front down tube on the Royal Enfields was never strong enough to take a sidecar. They were prone to brake even as a solo. (Ask me how I know! Very scary when it happens)

Ron

, 

Very nice pictures, thanks a lot for the information!