To help fellow restorers, here are some images of my now finished WD/RE "Flying Flea"......first contract from 1943, Frame number 8083...........she started and ran well on the second kick........3 months since acquiring her in a sad state....
When first acquired in March this year.......built in 1943, released from the Army 1955, first civvy registered in 1956 and last used early 1970s.......whole life spent in East Anglia........
And at the end of June this year......... Back to her former glory.......
Correct Miller WD lightswitch Top thanks to Arnaud (!!!! ).......lower part of switch had to be assembled from various scrap Miller switches here...and Arnaud's parts fitted faultlessly ! Merci Arnaud.....
Offside rear frame detail........
Nearside rear frame detail..........note position of 1st contract plate, and opiginal NOS WD tyre pump.......no foot-stirrup used on either the James ML nor Flea pumps.........
Frame number should be duplicated on engine......here "5550" but as my frame is "8083" this suggests a replacement workshop-rebuilt engine........the "V" numbered number (the "V" standing for "Villiers Carburetter") is the engine's own individual number............
Engine detail.......note no "Royal Enfield" embossed on the timing cover....that was post-war...........also, no immobiliser fitted as the entire HT lead could be detached.........
Front view......
Frame number position........right-hand side of the headstock..........no suffix nor prefix..........
Could it get any better?! That is quite the primer gallery of pics for anyone wanting to restore one. The more you look at it the machine, the more interesting it becomes. I'll bet not many make it out to shows so they must be a rare sight. Will the air cleaner be attached or was that not an original as shown in the unrestored picture?
Excellent restoration, Steve.
Wade
Mask NOS Lex.......had it for over 25 years and still had Miller WD stores label on when acquired (I will see if I can find it).........it came from ex-AMC WD stocks originally.........I have a Metal magic copy here also to compare and this has the front-rib you refer to......the original doesn't so there must have been more than one version..........
Miller may well have sub-contracted some parts (as did probably Lucas) during WW2 so variations will exist...........
Worth also mentioning that I have seen 2 variations in the Miller WD lighting switch, 2 versions of the blackout mask, 3 variants of the Villers Air-Maze filter, 2 versions of the Miller tail-light, 2 versions of Flea folding footrests, etc...........different contracts and/or manufacturers ?
Ha Ha !! No, seriously, Miller mask on my Flea is an original......it was NOS many years ago now and although in packaging was a tad rusty-corroded.......came in with a load of NOS AMC WD stuff.........there were 3 similar masks in there, and I only took one as seeking a Lucas 6" at the time ! ]
I have found all manner of variations and sub-contracted parts over the years with various manufacturers, few documented........we cannot say for certain today, 70-odd years later, what was and what did not feature........even back then I doubt if they could keep track............
NigP, that's okay mate.....I'm better looking than Ron anyway.......
You're dead right about that welding though...noticed it myself..........it's pretty poor quality across the entire bike, almost as if to reinforce the point that these machines were (then) cheap enough to abandon if broken-down................post-war, when in civvy production, the welding certainly noticeably improved........
hi steve...
any joy with the flywheels ???
or a complete engine !!!
Sorry Chris, not looked yet..........rather busy at present with big DiY project that Mrs M has me working on whilst she is away in the USA.....need to complete it before she gets back in the next week or so otherwise I'm in trouble.....
Taken me and a mate (who's a professional decorator) 5 days so far and only half-way through !!!!! 8am to 6pm every day so far.........
Her Grace is back from the USA next week, slumming it back from New York via Halifax in Canada on the Queen Mary........alright for some !!
I'll look as soon as I get a bit of free time Chris......