Broom Handle as an Engine Stethoscope

If your engine is knocking, this is an old fashioned, but effective way to determine the location of its origin. Don't laugh, I've tried it, and it actually works very well.

What you can do is take a wooden broom handle and stick it on the engine in different places like a stethoscope. While doing this, hold the other end of the broom handle up to your ear and cup your hand around it to your ear, and listen to the wood.  Try this is different places and you will be able to pinpoint exactly what part of the engine is making the loudest noise.

Thanks to by friend Rex Floyd  of Floyd's Garage - British Bike Repair and Restoration for the tip.

Wrenching Tuesday

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xCdxjyrkHIo

Bartlett here. I spent part of a recent Saturday in the garage working on my motorcycle with my handy 4 year old son, Porter wrenching by my side. My goal: replace the friction plates on my clutch. This video shows almost everything that goes into that repair. Royal Enfields are pretty easy to work on, even if they require more regular attention.



The second video is an older clip of the inside of the Enfield timing case. The classic Royal Enfield has a more primitive engine that today's motorcycles. That's because the engine hasn't changed much since the 1950s, when Enfield production opened a factory in India. The India plant workers were only trained to make the 1955 model, which is what they continued building for more than 50 yeauntil 2008 when they finally redesigned the engine. Mine's a 2003 so it retains the old 1950s style iron barrel construction. I enjoy the freedom to get in there and work when I need to without a bunch of electronics or computers in the way. Plus, I just like looking at oily gears and stuff.



Back out on the road!


If you're looking for used Enfield motorcycles, I keep up with David Blasco's Royal Enfields blog where he lists used Enfields for sale from all over the USA.