News

RE Bullet 500: How a screeching sound turned into an 18,000 rupee bill

2nd September 2024, 10:36 by Ananth Iyer

In short the total expenses for both the works have been around 24.5K. I checked with the SC if 10 years is a good amount of time for the original gear assembly set.

BHPian Majumdarda recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

So my dear Amun-Ra was facing some problems and after much trial and error, it was identified to be related to the connecting rods. Basically there was no drop in performance, but unwanted screeching sounds started to pop up; which was ultimately diagnosed to these rods. Basically the rods are mounted on a small piece of metallic cylinder. Somehow, this cylinder and the rods chose to divorce themselves and started to cause friction; the screeching sounds were basically the parts venting out their frustrations at each other. From what I understood, its the fitting that is more expensive (since part of the engine has to be opened up) and also requires minute adjustment while refitting. Thankfully, the job was successfully completed and resulted in an expense of 18K odd. I sincerely wish the new pair gels with each other, the same way as my 20+ years old Pulsar's does!

Photo of my Amun-Ra while at the servicing station

Amun-Ra was handed over for the job on 7th June, post which I visited WB and collected my B500 back on 28th June; though the work was completed much earlier. One of the observations post the delivery was that there were no further screeching sounds, but now there started kick-backs (if I can rightly deduce). I was informed that the starter gears might be required to be replaced, but was advised to continue to the extent possible. There were strict instruction so as not to cross the 60KMPH mark till the next 500 kms.

My trips thus gradually reduced to office and home and with the unwanted sounds removed, I started to get eager to join some rides with my buddies. But, pretty seldom though, the carburetor would give kickbacks and once the assembly even came off the pipes . Also extra sounds started to accompany the ES option, which, to be very frank, were quite heart wrenching. Somehow, they seemed to be more like the internal grooves not gelling well, and probably some teeth broke off. The ES option started to give me panic attacks; the KS was running good.

One fine day, while I was trying the ES, there was a loud thud sound and my heart just sank. SC quickly attended my frantic call, took off my bullet (via KS) and was ready post couple of hours. On inquiring about what went wrong / charges, I was informed to ride and not to exceed the speed limits. But the ES issue seemed to be resolved now.

With no more unwanted sound and rides due for a pretty long time, I could no longer contain myself (though I was a little short of 500kms) and made a trip to the Solashi windmills (21st July) with the new 350, 450 and 650s. Mine was in fact the oldest bullet in the group. Time flies so fast, that 10 years just seemed the other day. From being the youngest Royal Enfield bullet in the group (2014) to the oldest one today. Anyways, riding with these new Royal Enfielders is another ball game all together, which I understand, everyone has to go through. Overall a very good experience over the slush, and thankfully could retain the balance both ways. A few pictures

And then ES headache came back again. One day, while I was trying to ES Amun-Ra, a loud sound came from within the engine casing (which sounded as if a bolt just broke off) and I just shell shocked. Tried the ES after sometime, and the only sound I could hear was the "grrr......" which felt like when I am pressing the button, the levers are moving inside but nothing more. I tried the KS and it had become shockingly stiff. I tried a few times and observed that the kick is now hitting back, like the old bullets. I thus inferred that whatever has happened, has stiffened the Kick but since I could start Amun-Ra, its probably safe to start, though first remembering all my known (and unknown) Gods!

This morning I visited SC again and after one key press, technician deduced that whatever temporary fix he had tried with the ES earlier, has not worked and informed that the clutch gear set has to be replaced. Well, with hardly any other options and with an interest to know what the temporary fix he had applied, we went ahead.

Isn't this a sight to behold

Notice the spring kind of fixture, this is the fix which had been applied; as the one that is fixed within the assembly had broken off. Unfortunately the fix did not work and it has broken off too. That solves the mystery of those terrible sounds. Since the spring kind of fixture was not working well, the levers started to behave erratic and was causing the sounds. And once the spring broke off, the levers just became free and could not move the connecting lever end which moves the motor so as to start.