2003 Royal Enfield 500 Deluxe

Just to prove that the Bullet and I go out for runs. First up, an old cast iron post box as found still in use throughout Britain but the ones on rural farms like this probably don't have many letters posted each day.

PICT0687.JPG



And another old stone barn.

PICT0690.JPG
 
Just to prove that the Bullet and I go out for runs. First up, an old cast iron post box as found still in use throughout Britain but the ones on rural farms like this probably don't have many letters posted each day.

View attachment 242629


And another old stone barn.

View attachment 242630
I remember a time when you couldn't throw a 9/16" spanner without hittin' one of those post boxes.
 
I remember the worm drive oil pump. Nice to see. In the Brit 700's and 750's there was a seal between the cam case and the crank throw, and the worm drive ran two pump pistons. One fed the top end, and the other the big ends. Lose that seal and the scavenger couldn't keep up. They, after some time (depending - maybe 20 minutes) then wet sump and seize a rod. Muchoyears ago.

Question> Does the 500 also follow that oil pattern?

Thanks!
 
Good question, @40north, I'm not too sure how the Bullet singles compare with British twins. Which all had their own foibles.

I haven't had a problem with the bike wet sumping. The advice I've heard to forestall wet sumping is shut the engine down with the decompressor so that the piston stops near top of stroke - this places the crankpin above the level in the oil tank, which is in the rear of the crankcase.

The oil pumps are worm driven off the crank - they count as two pumps, one each end of the worm shaft - and the return pump at the front has a larger capacity than the feed pump at the rear. So in theory, excess oil in the sump would be cleared away quickly.

These are very simple low power engines and seem to be able to plod away reliably for years. Guess that's why they are so popular in India?

If you want to read more, here's Hitchcocks' thoughts on wet sumping in Bullets:

https://accessories.hitchcocksmotor...651&c=1062795&h=4b6011e8ec76b214ec7d&_xt=.pdf
 
Last edited:
Good question, @40north, I'm not too sure how the Bullet singles compare with British twins. Which all had their own foibles.

I haven't had a problem with the bike wet sumping. The advice I've heard to forestall wet sumping is shut the engine down with the decompressor so that the piston stops near top of stroke - this places the crankpin above the level in the oil tank, which is in the rear of the crankcase.

The oil pumps are worm driven off the crank - they count as two pumps, one each end of the worm shaft - and the return pump at the front has a larger capacity than the feed pump at the rear. So in theory, excess oil in the sump would be cleared away quickly.

These are very simple low power engines and seem to be able to plod away reliably for years. Guess that's why they are so popular in India?

If you want to read more, here's Hitchcocks' thoughts on wet sumping in Bullets:

https://accessories.hitchcocksmotor...651&c=1062795&h=4b6011e8ec76b214ec7d&_xt=.pdf
Back in 1967 I failed to grasp the importance of the seal. Seized rod. Like your 500, sorta, the old 750 was simi unit with cast in oil tank. And yes, about the wormdrive pumps, scavengers (there were two) were bigger than the pumps (also two) - but with most of the cam case oil running past the seal, the sump gradually filled and the supply "tank" ran dry...bang! There was a fella in Monterey Park that would fit chevy inserts by boring the big ends and grinding the crank 0.040 under. The 750's ran aluminum rod on plain journal, ie no inserts.
I will follow the link and read it. He saved that engine...but it was spendy. Many Thanks.
 
2010? That's modern that is - EFI, unit engine & gearbox. Probably even five speeds, l/h change and other such new-fangled nonsense.

Mind you, laughed at sidecar with clock key and passenger looking very at home.
I had a 2008..old school...... but my RE guy said they're fine for 45 all day long.. anything above that is pulling the pin on the grenade .... I got the 2010.... and yes, 5 speed.. more like a 4th gear overdrive.... and it works well with the sidecar hauling my general " azz-sits " and camping gear. The key runs off a 12v 25 Rpm motor. Kids of all ages love it..... 😎
 
I had a 2008..old school...... but my RE guy said they're fine for 45 all day long.. anything above that is pulling the pin on the grenade ....
You worried me when you said that back in November 2021 -

https://www.xs650.com/threads/2003-royal-enfield-500-deluxe.60842/post-718089

I can see where your guy is coming from, there has been a problem with some of the older iron barrel Bullets having piston failures and it seems to be a combination of a poorly designed piston and questionable quality control in manufacture. For some reason, Enfield in India added an expansion slot in the piston which makes them prone to breaking up if you ask too much. The mantra I've heard is that a 500 Bullet will do 60 all day, 70 when needed and 80, once . . .

But there are work rounds and a good starting place is to replace the piston - Hitchcocks sells a UK made forged piston which removes that danger. For performance, there's high-comp pistons, alloy barrels, big-bores, performance cams and so forth. Paul Henshaw aka Bullet Whisperer has a lot of experience putting together combinations of hi-perf parts to produce rideable, reliable, older Bullets capable being ridden fast all day, every day.

Reading the Unofficial Royal Enfield Community Forum, many owners seem quite prepared to rebuild the engine with a better made UK crankshaft, upgraded main bearings, caged needle-roller big end, forged steel conrod, forged alloy piston and so forth. So you can have a reliable Bullet with a chosen level of performance as long as you are prepared to work on the bike and splash the cash.

Love to see people's faces when that key starts to turn!
 
Last edited:
Yesterday, took the wee Bullet to Carter Bar. It's not the first time I've ridden the plodder up there but always feels like an adventure.

From the Scottish side, the main A68 road climbs steadily for two or three miles, complete with three hairpin bends, to cross the Border at 1371 feet above sea level. It's not enough of a climb to present a challenge to any modern vehicle. But for some reason feels like a challenge on the Bullet. There's sense of anticipation, a faint & false sense of apprehension as you approach the Cheviot hills and pass the turn-off points where you could leave the route and go someplace else. Until, 'Well, this is it! We're goin' up Carter Bar, hope the bike doesn't disgrace itself.'

Possibly the worst risk is getting held up behind a slow-moving caravan. If you've got some driver who's new to the area, as caravans usually are, they might be so terrified of towing up a hill or even down a hill with those bends, drop to walking pace, gear selection is made for you. Who said Dutch caravans are the worst?

But of course it don't disgrace itself and we ride up with no hindrances from caravans, in fact no traffic at all.

At the top, parked in the lay-by and got speaking to a couple of Geordie lads. One of 'em told me he had a RE Bullet, and a brand new sidecar. Hadn't even fitted the sidecar to the bike when his son-in-law sold the bike and the sidecar. Without his permission. For £700. Surely not? Uhm, this sounds like a family issue that I don't want to get involved in so I fire up the single.

And ride back down Carter Bar.

They are funny bends, long and sweep right round so yer leaned over for a long while and seem to lose perspective. You go slow, it still feels too fast and yet you know you could've gone faster. The Bullet puttered gently round the hairpins in 3rd on the way up and 4th with the engine happy to be lazy on the way down.

Back home along the A68 and treated meself to an ice cream.

***********************

On other threads, we've mentioned the Romans and what did they ever do for us? The A68 was first surveyed and laid out by the Roman legionaries nearly 2,000 years ago. Known in the Middle Ages as Dere Street. Hairpins where the route passes over the Cheviot Hills but many parts of the A68 both north into Scotland and south into Northumberland are long and straight with up & down switchbacks over the smaller hills.
 
Last edited:
Yesterday, took the wee Bullet to Carter Bar. It's not the first time I've ridden the plodder up there but always feels like an adventure.

From the Scottish side, the main A68 road climbs steadily for two or three miles, complete with three hairpin bends, to cross the Border at 1371 feet above sea level. It's not enough of a climb to present a challenge to any modern vehicle. But for some reason feels like a challenge on the Bullet. There's sense of anticipation, a faint & false sense of apprehension as you approach the Cheviot hills and pass the turn-off points where you could leave the route and go someplace else. Until, 'Well, this is it! We're goin' up Carter Bar, hope the bike doesn't disgrace itself.'

Possibly the worst risk is getting held up behind a slow-moving caravan. If you've got some driver who's new to the area, as caravans usually are, they might be so terrified of towing up a hill or even down a hill with those bends, drop to walking pace, gear selection is made for you. Who said Dutch caravans are the worst?

But of course it don't disgrace itself and we ride up with no hindrances from caravans, in fact no traffic at all.

At the top, parked in the lay-by and got speaking to a couple of Geordie lads. One of 'em told me he had a RE Bullet, and a brand new sidecar. Hadn't even fitted the sidecar to the bike when his son-in-law sold the bike and the sidecar. Without his permission. For £700. Surely not? Uhm, this sounds like a family issue that I don't want to get involved in so I fire up the single.

And ride back down Carter Bar.

They are funny bends, long and sweep right round so yer leaned over for a long while and seem to lose perspective. You go slow, it still feels too fast and yet you know you could gone faster. The Bullet puttered gently round the hairpins in 3rd on the way up and 4th with the engine happy to be lazy on the way down.

Back home along the A68 and treated meself to an ice cream.

***********************

On other threads, we've mentioned the Romans and what did they ever do for us? The A68 was first surveyed and laid out by the Roman legionaries nearly 2,000 years ago. Known in the Middle Ages as Dere Street. Hairpins where the route passes over the Cheviot Hills but many parts of the A68 both north into Scotland and south into Northumberland are long and straight with up & down switchbacks over the smaller hills.
Nice story Raymond. Eerrrr.....You forgot the pictures AGAIN!
 
Yesterday, took the wee Bullet to Carter Bar. It's not the first time I've ridden the plodder up there but always feels like an adventure.

From the Scottish side, the main A68 road climbs steadily for two or three miles, complete with three hairpin bends, to cross the Border at 1371 feet above sea level. It's not enough of a climb to present a challenge to any modern vehicle. But for some reason feels like a challenge on the Bullet. There's sense of anticipation, a faint & false sense of apprehension as you approach the Cheviot hills and pass the turn-off points where you could leave the route and go someplace else. Until, 'Well, this is it! We're goin' up Carter Bar, hope the bike doesn't disgrace itself.'

Possibly the worst risk is getting held up behind a slow-moving caravan. If you've got some driver who's new to the area, as caravans usually are, they might be so terrified of towing up a hill or even down a hill with those bends, drop to walking pace, gear selection is made for you. Who said Dutch caravans are the worst?

But of course it don't disgrace itself and we ride up with no hindrances from caravans, in fact no traffic at all.

At the top, parked in the lay-by and got speaking to a couple of Geordie lads. One of 'em told me he had a RE Bullet, and a brand new sidecar. Hadn't even fitted the sidecar to the bike when his son-in-law sold the bike and the sidecar. Without his permission. For £700. Surely not? Uhm, this sounds like a family issue that I don't want to get involved in so I fire up the single.

And ride back down Carter Bar.

They are funny bends, long and sweep right round so yer leaned over for a long while and seem to lose perspective. You go slow, it still feels too fast and yet you know you could gone faster. The Bullet puttered gently round the hairpins in 3rd on the way up and 4th with the engine happy to be lazy on the way down.

Back home along the A68 and treated meself to an ice cream.

***********************

On other threads, we've mentioned the Romans and what did they ever do for us? The A68 was first surveyed and laid out by the Roman legionaries nearly 2,000 years ago. Known in the Middle Ages as Dere Street. Hairpins where the route passes over the Cheviot Hills but many parts of the A68 both north into Scotland and south into Northumberland are long and straight with up & down switchbacks over the smaller hills.
I always look forward to your stories. You do a fine job of blending a ride into a history lesson.
 
I am so lucky - two sets of owners ago, the lady that owned this house, never met her but sounds ever-so-slightly eccentric, had that outbuilding erected by a local builder, he lives a few doors down the street, to her design - somewhere to keep her car, but also plenty other space to serve as her artist's studio. Which is why it's two-car sized, double carriage doors, well posh, at one side only, plus what I'm told is called a pass door on the other part of the front, plus three large windows in two walls, plus velux skylights on the North-facing roof, all to give plenty of fresh & free daylight.

Would be an annoying garage to a car owner, only long enough for a small-medium car, and you'd never get two cars in there unless one was on castors coz of the layout.

But as a light and airy place to work on bikes, plenty elbow room, lights & mains sockets it's better than the best bike garage I ever dreamed of.

You see why that building just had to go with the Village Garage theme - green doors, old tin signs, just coupla bits of garage paraffinalia so to speak?
 
For cold starts, my routine now is, key OFF, push choke lever down, throttle shut, two or three kicks to prime the engine, choke lever up, key ON, small amount of throttle, starts first kick nearly every time. Once the bike is warm, starts first kick without the rigmarôle.

Today, I was sure the carb moved as I pushed the choke. And again as I pulled it off. Yup, the carb has loosened off - might even explain why there's been more popping & banging on decel.

PICT0745.JPG


The manifold is just a short length of rubber tube - as well as engine vibration its got to cope with the carb wobbling about as we go over those well-maintained Borders potholes. Tightened the two manifold clamps - they were quite loose.

Took a run out to Bonchester Bridge to buy some fasteners for the XS - the wee Bullet seems to be running fine, think there was less back firing.

As for any bike with self-dismantling tendencies, will have to add another routine - regular end-to-end check & tighten fasteners.

All good fun though.
 
Back
Top