Restoring 1945 Royal Enfield

['45 WD CO]

I JUST enherited a '45 WD Royal Enfield in almost perfect shape!!!!  It last ran 10 years ago, and then was emptied of all her fluids and stored away in a garage.  Do I need to take certain first cautious steps to get her running, other than the obvious of adding fluids and a new battery?  Almost EVERTHING on this bike looks like my 06 Iron Barrel Bullet!

Thanks,  Bill

[ace.cafe]

That's an awesome bike, Bill!

I think that going over everything that operates would be standard procedure, to just check that it is all safe before trying to ride it. Tires are possibly dried out, and should be checked.
For the engine, I'd drain the oil out of it and put in fresh. You can take out the spark plug, and use the kick starter to pump oil around the engine, or you could put it in gear with the spark plug out, and push it around the block for a little while, until you see that the oil is all circulated around the engine.
New spark plug, check the battery for probably 6 volts and probably Positive ground, and get familiar with that kind of system.
If it has a magneto, you might want to get some advice from some people here who know the details about the magnetos.

She's a beauty, and she deserves to be kept up well.

Congratulations!

['45 WD CO]

Thanks much, Ace.  Yes, it does have a magneto, so I'll have to learn about that.  The gas tank, as I suspected is rusted inside, so that'll be my first task to tackle.  Thanks again, Ace.
Bill

[neil]

Hi Bill:
Marvelous Bike ! ! You are one of the lucky ones. My first bike was a pre-WW II  Royal Enfield 250. I loved it. By the way, there is a chap on this site who calls his bike "Old Bill". Well now Bill, you have a bike that is really - - - O L D . Best of luck with your old Enfield. Hang on to it, it'll get very valuable as time passes.

Neil and Buzzy the Bullet.

[Vince]

     Before you do anything: Take out the plug and remove the valve caps or push rod adjuster cover. Move the kick starter VERY slowly to SLOWLY turn the engine over several times. Observe the valves/rockers/push rods to ensure that the valve is moving. Feel for any resistance to crank shaft rotation.I have had more than a few engines come from long term storage with stuck valves. In this case just kicking through WILL stick the valve into the piston with dire consequence. If the valves doesn't move STOP! Then free it up. Some times some cutting oil will help. Sometimes you have to remove the head and disassemble the valve.

['45 WD CO]

Thanks Vince!  All I did so far is pull the plug and pour the nice red lubricant into my spark plug hole.  I'm planning on doing this for a couple days before I move ANYTHING.  I'll take your advice on the plugs, valve caps and push rod cover.  Any idea how much she's worth in good working order in the U.S.?  I'm just the wrench and garage for the project, but plan on making an offer to the hands-off owner before I get too deep in this project.  Thanks again!  Bill

[barenekd]

Nice heirloom!
Bare

[ERC]

The last value I saw is in a five year old antique motorcycle mag. In that condition it was $5500.00. May be worth more now or less depending on the current market.   ERC 

['45 WD CO]

Thanks much.  I'm seeing anywhere between $4,000 and $5,000, fully restored and operational.

[RGT]

Great bike, be nice to see some more pic's of it. I would think the more original and less restored that bike is, the greater its value...

['45 WD CO]

I'll take more shortly, but here she is as I get her out of the ariplane hanghar, where she'd been for the past 10 years.  I'm taking her apart this afternoon, but still don't know what all the levers are on the handle bars.  One must be the decompresion lever, one must be a kill switch propably going to the carb, but not sure about the third?  Anyone know?

[RGT]

I would think it has a spark advance /retard lever for ease in kick starting.

That is a good picture, I am very jealous.

[ERC]

Decompressor, choke and mag retard.   ERC

['45 WD CO]

Thanks ERC!!!!  That's what I thought.

[jedaks]

The gas tank, as I suspected is rusted inside, so that'll be my first task to tackle.

A good solution to a rusty tank is to fill it with a mix of molasses and water and let it sit for a few days. Another option is to fill the tank with white vinegar and let it sit a week. It will do a fine job on the rust and wont hurt the metal.