Royal Enfield Bullet 500 Asbo 50 crank and bottom end rebuild discussed. Part 2, A change of plan.

[@paulhewitt1488]

Gday Paul. As we get older , patience is something that is a real virtue. In this case you are a lucky man to not only possess patience but to have been advised in enough time to stop a possible disaster. These videos are worth their weight in gold as I’m sure they bring countless hours of enjoyment to myself and others. To you and your family enjoy what I’m sure will be a fabulous 2023. Take care 👍👍

[@paulhenshaw4514]

Thank you!

[@ianlawrie919]

Your suspicion proved well founded 👍👌

[@jeremyatkinson4976]

I put my AJS '52 motor together using Alpha's wonderfully designed double diameter big end. The standard pin was straight with a collar that the flywheels butted up to. I rode to Tuscany and back never going much past 60. Later coming back from a festival I ran it up to 73. The pin sheared and just missed my ankle on it's way out. I built up another motor with another Alpha pin [ [40 odd years ago] . Sold the bike and apparently it did it again when kicking back. The bottom end was way too flexible for the Enfield copy to work. Back in the day the AJS/ Matchless singles sold on their paint quality......

[@williamnethercott4364]

Well done Paul! Not just for the engineering work but for resisting the temptation to fling the offending crankpin across the workshop.

[@paulhenshaw4514]

There was some off camera shouting and swearing a few times, but nothing was thrown across the workshop on this occasion!

[@MegaTubescreamer]

getting past the original low blow and persevering as you did must be a massive relief to know its back together as it should be paul, chapau for that ! your in front on points and only a couple of rounds left , keep em on yer jab son ,😂😄😊👍👊💥that was a brill episode !!

[@davidwilliamson9162]

Bloody hell all that work,looking forward to the head getting done please 🙏 show more on that if possible 👍

[@stephencroft6481]

Nice one you deserve a break after all that agro.

[@philmuskett265]

Mate, I'm surprised you've any hair at all!!! I'd have been tearing it out in clumps!!! Great self-control.

[@peterwilson8797]

10/10. A true engineer.

[@shug831]

Is there a end float tolerance on the crank? Was wondering how the 0.010" wider crank pin would affect it. 🤔

[@nightster6378]

Hi, my approach on the piston not being wide enough to fit the small end of the conrod would've been to mill the piston to fit the conrod even if I hadn't the crank in the cases. Would I have been wrong in taking this approach or should I ask why did you do it the way you did. A question a 64 year-old apprentice would ask, lol. I enjoy your videos.

[@paulhenshaw4514]

Hi and thanks - it turned out that conrod had been made wrong and subsequent batches were made with narrower small ends, to the correct, original specs. If I had modified the piston to suit - tricky for me - any future replacement pistons would need the same before they would fit, but this way a replacement piston will fit straight on, if ever one is needed.

[@nightster6378]

@@paulhenshaw4514 Ok Thanks, I wasnt aware of the conrod issue, it now makes sense. It's my ignorance and regret but I was never interested in RE's or Trials bikes my preference going towards Triumph Twins and now Italian, having owned only one RE as in a 64 Continental GT but watch both Michael Wallers and your own channel where both are often featured.

[@hermangibbs8163]

Great work. Thanks!

[@Mr-84]

Lucky you caught the crank pin issue , top job as always. What range might the balance factor of the new crank? you have built be with that steel con rod and American piston?

[@paulhenshaw4514]

Thanks. I plan to make a video in the future about balancing these cranks.

[@realoilfield872]

Hello Paul, could you kindly speak your comments a little louder? I'm not a native UK- speaker and it's not easy to follow and understand. Thanks a lot. I learned much here at your YT-Videos.

[@paulhenshaw4514]

I will try - thanks for watching!

[@richardcross7633]

Oh what joy didn’t it show up in end float?

[@paulhenshaw4514]

Not really, as there is always some end float until the alternator rotor / engine sprocket is fitted and done up tightly.

[@davidtucker-km7tk]

the crank is now 10 to 12 thou wider and the crank is not returning the con rod to the top as before. is the endfloat ok? I am sure you have checked it but just a thought. I really enjoy your videos thanks very much

[@johncrowley5612]

Watch the video. @11:54 Paul addresses this. The drag of the crank seals is enough to stop the crank from rotating on its own.

[@paulhenshaw4514]

John Crowley answered for me here.

[@davidtucker-km7tk]

@@johncrowley5612 well the seal drag didnt cause that problem before. why now?

[@BilgemasterBill]

Bit of a false start through no fault of yours, but whereas that setback cost you maybe a couple of hours, I would have either not even really noticed or fully understood the issue or, if by some improbable act of divine revelation I had, that would have surely sidelined me an extra week _at a minimum._ It would have taken me at least that long just to curse the nitwits who'd bolloxed that offending part to begin with, and then, of course, to find my misplaced ratchet, which would only much much later turn up for reasons wholly unclear in the butter section of the refrigerator up in the kitchen.