Merry Christmas and Happy New Patterns! 12/25/2011
Hi there! Long time, I know! But, time spent with the nose to the sandstone...errr...grindstone. Phew...that was a LOT of tricky nooks and crannies to sand and blend in smoothly. Worked on Christmas eve too...and will keep at it even today, applying finish coats. Things which caused delays - biggest one was a modification which will allow *left side shift* with the newer 5 speed transmission. I had never seen one of those transmissions up close until I saw Chumma's. Discovered that the left side shift lever is mounted on a shaft that runs through a hole drilled right through the crankcase. This ofcourse needed a new boss to be accurately located and placed right where this drilling would be. Don't ask me how annoying that was and how long it took :-( Then there was a change in the timing cover for machining reasons, had to completely remove and rethink the bosses for the oil feed banjo bolts. Better now in wood than later in metal. Some of the features of the new design: 1. V angle is now 59 deg. This was arrived at after considering feedback on the original Musket engine, making it more compact, reducing length and making frame fitment much easier while allowing both 350 and 500 top ends. The original 70deg. angle was tricky to fit in the frame. The narrower angle looks nicer, though this is a matter of taste. 2. The oil filter is now housed in the timing cover- the smaller and lower of the two holes visible. This needed a lot of relocation of the internals but simplified the oil circuit (the original motor has an external filter housing which needed more plumbing). The larger and upper hole, at the 'peak' of the timing cover is the ignition/points housing, which is now a part of the casting, as opposed to the bolted on housing in the original engine. 3. Cooling fins sculpted onto the timing cover. Just HAD to do this :-) Pretty! The timing cover is much more in keeping with classic air-cooled aesthetics. It is overall a much more sculpted, smoothly radiused form which recalls fondly the beautiful castings from our favorite vintage engines. Took a LONG time! 4. New motor will allow left side shift with the 5 speed gearbox. All in all, I think this is an improvement. Let's see how it goes. Forgive the *slight blurriness* of some photos, after so much sanding, my hands are just a bit shaky :-) Don't miss the very last photo which shows the two complete sets of identical twins :-). Yup, everything had to be done twice over to make a backup pattern. After the disaster last time....           CommentsAl Newland 12/25/2011 4:54pm
These new castings look GREAT! I believe the changes you've made will prove to be worth the added effort. This update and pics have been a pleasant Christmas surprise! :-) Steve 12/26/2011 2:34am
Awsome!! I've been waiting so long for these updates! It looks beautiful! Well done! Aniket 12/27/2011 6:04pm
Hi Steve! steve 12/31/2011 3:24am
Understood, thanks man. Steve Pallot 12/26/2011 3:29am
Hi,I have been looking at this website every day or two watching your progress and it lifts my spirits when something new comes on,This has been worth the wait,I hope you are well and have a healthy and productive 2012 ,My best wishes to you. josh 12/26/2011 1:37pm
Awesome update! kinda been looking for an old ironbore to start my next project since hearing from you last. I hope everything goes smoother for you in the future. I cant wait to hear and see the new 1000cc run and drive down the road, Good luck! C. Pal 12/27/2011 4:24pm
So beautiful- wow! Looks so damn awesome! Well done! Pramodh 12/28/2011 4:37am
Sooper silvano 12/28/2011 8:26am
left side shift !! Jesuraj India 12/28/2011 9:43am
greet works and your project update is the real festival for all bullet lovers. 12/28/2011 3:23pm
good to see it takeing shape asto our conversations in the past I'm still interested Joe 12/28/2011 5:29pm
These are beautiful!!! Amazing craftsmanship. I have a kick start 500cc bullet and i will be eagerly following your project. Tom Oil 12/28/2011 8:08pm
Realy exciting Aniket! Josh 12/29/2011 2:08am
Awesome! It's very good to see the progress. Your work looks amazing, love the cooling fins! Are you doing all the work by hand? That must be a ton of work.. no chance of CNC'ing the parts? The compatibility with left-side shifters is brilliant by the way.. pretty sure that would save someone like me some costly repairs (or even costlier accidents) sooner or late,r haha.. keep up the good work!! Matt Law 12/29/2011 5:30am
GREAT WORK!!! I was going to put a Meteor or Interceptor engine in my '99 Bullet frame,but I'll wait for one of these,and gather all of the parts that I'll need...will a standard Albion-type right foot shift gearbox work with this unit,or does it have to be left foot,five speed? Chuck 12/30/2011 6:06am
I've also been checking in regularly for an update. And now this. WOW! Anikiet, you've hit it a grand slam with this one. This'll be one of the prettiest engines ever. Best wishes and happy new year! Rennjit 12/30/2011 6:52pm
Plain Envious !!! Kay 01/01/2012 12:24pm
This IS going to be a beautyfull engine. Changing the cylinder angle to allow 700 ang 1000 cc engines with the same crankcase ist brilliant (and to me also enhances the looks). Lovely detail with the cooling fins, the looks is worth every hour of work you spent. My sincirest congratulations. Mr French 01/23/2012 3:34pm
Hi Aniket, bart 01/29/2012 3:21am
So excited to see this project moving ahead. Remember first seeing the Musket a year or two ago I wishing the builder would go into production. Will be selling my Bonnie for a Musket build. aniket 02/04/2012 7:19pm
Bart! Don't sell the Bonnie! I have a Musket and a Bonnie and they talk to each other all the time! William 02/03/2012 7:16pm
We have a few RE's down here (in New Zealand) which I’m planning on owning one before the end of the year. aniket 02/04/2012 7:39pm
Hi there William, aniket 02/04/2012 7:43pm
Hi there guys, bart 02/06/2012 12:43pm
Hi Aniket, do you have any idea of what the final torque and HP numbers might end up as? Ballpark? aniket 02/07/2012 9:04am
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