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**Aryan** · 08-05-2009, 06:01 PM

Motorcycle Ownership Experience Approved.

**amandeepkamboj19** · 08-06-2009, 04:49 PM

Timing gear problem

When initially when R.E. launched the thunderbird it become a flop. All of the customers were complaining about the wear and tear of timing gears. I myself got 2004 model and faced the same problem. i got my timing gears changed 2 times in just 27k km.
i asked all the mechanics what is the problem whats wrong.
some said the material is not good. some said design is not good.

But what reason realy looks convincing is high tension springs. stiffness of head valve springs are very high. I replaced my head valve spring in 2007 after that i didn't faced such problem.

But in 2007 company launched the new variant.
this time there were more then 120 alterations in the bike.

now timing gears are mounted on adjustable spindles not like the old model fixed spindle.

Spindles are the rods on which gears rotates. now in adjustable spindles one can adjust the clearance between the gears and which lead to perfect meshing of gears due to which sound is reduced and also the wear problem. But still the problem is not resolved completely there are still some issue with timing gears not up to previous extent but still after around 30k i most of the cases they are worn out.

**niks_devil666** · 08-06-2009, 06:06 PM

interesting read , I think you haven't put the pics correctly. you need to upload on a photosharing site and then share the link.

**amandeepkamboj19** · 08-06-2009, 06:13 PM

Originally posted by niks_devil666 View Post

interesting read , I think you haven't put the pics correctly. you need to upload on a photosharing site and then share the link.

i will but i am waiting for next survive of my bike so that i can post the meaning full pics instead of posting the whole bike pics

**MadMax46** · 12-05-2009, 05:20 AM

Does any one have the workshop manual for thunderbird ? Any help is appreciated. Cheers

**Ananth** · 12-05-2009, 11:59 AM

oow.. Never knew such a topic existed. Anyway, sharing my 12,000 kilometer report of my ThunderBird TwinSpark..Just copy pasting from a review i wrote..

Looks (9/10): Engine, Power & Refinement (8/10): Main Advantages & Features:

Disadvantages & Problems:

My Verdict (8/10): The ThunderBird TwinSpark is overall an amazing bike. It covers almost all of the newer technological aspects, has stricter emission norms, gives you incredible mileage and has less or very much little maintenance issues comparing to the older Bullets. For a touring freak like me, there is no other bike which gives me a comprehensive package like that of a ThunderBird TwinSpark and happy that I bought one and will always recommend for my friends to buy one. Why wait? Leave Home, on a ThunderBird TwinSpark!
- Ananth

**Nitin_traveller** · 12-08-2009, 07:25 PM

@ananth.. nice writeup dude..

hey just a clarification..i heard it has 35W bulb and even on RE site technical spec. shows 35W bulb.. is it not updated one?

also, no tubeless tyres.. are those toughed up tubed tyres.. any reviews about puncture proneness of tyres?? thinking of buying the bike, but couple of things stopping me

**jd666** · 12-08-2009, 09:02 PM

though i agree, you can actually sleep on the RE. My GF would actually doze off sitting behind me after a night shift!!

the cam issues strangely did not occur with my bike.

though i would like to suggest/advise owners of the old AVL engine, to keep the revs high. not below 2000 rpm. That will help reduce wear and tear. Done about 66-70k on my bike.

**AshishShah** · 02-26-2010, 06:17 PM

Issue i faced

Hi! all,

I recently faced an issue with my TBTS. Though I've had the experience of a lifetime with the bike and love it more than anything else, the bike does have some issues and as I used always tell my girlfriend everyones not perfect otherwise we would have never had the need of the Marriage Funda.

It all started when i just got my refueled @ a Fuel station in Hinjewadi, Pune. The bike simply refused to start after that, there was some problem with the electric starter and that was pretty obvious from the sound it made. I tried the Kick start option and it made a sound like the electric start. So was pissed of, puzzled, irritated, etc. whatever would want me to call it. I pushed my bike to a near by Mechanic parked it and asked if he would have any idea. (Free fund Advice: Never let these run of the mill mechanics even touch your bike). He said, "Nahi Sahib, humne kabhi Bullet ko nahi repair kiya" and he gave up. I tried all my "Bullet Doctor" Friends and my regular Mech, Friends suggested put it in a Tempo and send it to the Mech. So I did.

So I talked up a bit with this Mech of mine and asked him what exactly was the issue. He said Saprk Clutch had taken a Beating. On asking How? the reply Shot off: "Woh part hi Faulty hai, Electric start bar bar marne se Kharab ho jata hai". No Specific number for that "Bar-Bar" on repeated attempts to get that info out

. So the Learning is "Don't Forget, This is an RE at the end of teh day. Kick start is the Best". So I asked what is to be done he said Badlna padega. Price 3.5 K.

Time: No Clue

(Parts in Shortage) ... "RE parts are Costly and Rare". Then the Temprary Solution was remove it and use it with Kick start till it the parts Arrive.

2 Days and Still waiting.

So Now the question how many have seen this issue with their/ Their Friends bikes? Trying to get the picture as to where did i go wrong.

Waiting for replies guys.

Oh before I forget, the Bike is awesome and this price paid and effort put in is all more than worth it. Trust me you'll fall in Love with bike.

**ranjanr** · 02-26-2010, 11:24 PM

Originally posted by AshishShah View Post

Hi! all,

I recently faced an issue with my TBTS. Though I've had the experience of a lifetime with the bike and love it more than anything else, the bike does have some issues and as I used always tell my girlfriend everyones not perfect otherwise we would have never had the need of the Marriage Funda.

It all started when i just got my refueled @ a Fuel station in Hinjewadi, Pune. The bike simply refused to start after that, there was some problem with the electric starter and that was pretty obvious from the sound it made. I tried the Kick start option and it made a sound like the electric start. So was pissed of, puzzled, irritated, etc. whatever would want me to call it. I pushed my bike to a near by Mechanic parked it and asked if he would have any idea. (Free fund Advice: Never let these run of the mill mechanics even touch your bike). He said, "Nahi Sahib, humne kabhi Bullet ko nahi repair kiya" and he gave up. I tried all my "Bullet Doctor" Friends and my regular Mech, Friends suggested put it in a Tempo and send it to the Mech. So I did.

So I talked up a bit with this Mech of mine and asked him what exactly was the issue. He said Saprk Clutch had taken a Beating. On asking How? the reply Shot off: "Woh part hi Faulty hai, Electric start bar bar marne se Kharab ho jata hai". No Specific number for that "Bar-Bar" on repeated attempts to get that info out

. So the Learning is "Don't Forget, This is an RE at the end of teh day. Kick start is the Best". So I asked what is to be done he said Badlna padega. Price 3.5 K.

Time: No Clue

(Parts in Shortage) ... "RE parts are Costly and Rare". Then the Temprary Solution was remove it and use it with Kick start till it the parts Arrive.

2 Days and Still waiting.

So Now the question how many have seen this issue with their/ Their Friends bikes? Trying to get the picture as to where did i go wrong.

Waiting for replies guys.

Oh before I forget, the Bike is awesome and this price paid and effort put in is all more than worth it. Trust me you'll fall in Love with bike.

Same happened to my bike and i am using it with kick start only now a days....and never went back to showroom to ask about the parts..thinking better not to take a risk again....

I don't know how they will manage the classic which is a international model..and has Denso starter made in Japan......do they really want us to use the starter or that is only for show

**jd666** · 02-27-2010, 12:16 AM

i posted this in the other thread where you mentioned your issue -

^ your bike is electric start??? my friends called me from manali to make me hear to noise coming from their bike ( machismo 500 ), and it refused to move, shift in neutral or kick start or anything.. It was a high pitched whining noise. I advised them to remove the starter motor, and put fabricated plate on the opening, and use the kick.. It was a seized starter motor that refused to disengage from the starting gear.

the new starters are apparently better, so lesser issues. But as a rule, always kick start your bike the first time in the morning, and then you can use the electric starter for the rest of the day..

**AshishShah** · 02-28-2010, 01:23 AM

@ Ranjan: I AGREE. They Probably just wanted to show the world that even they can come up Electric starts. Which i Don't think was any ways required.

.

@ J: Thanks Buddy and that's what i've promised myself. KickStarts the Best.

**flanker** · 03-02-2010, 05:07 PM

hi guys,

me just getting my TBTS delivered in couple of days. Some thoughts and advice from you all on what i should be checking on the day of delivery and for the next few days.

**biswaroop.banerjee** · 03-02-2010, 06:09 PM

u r about to experience the most unusual bike in this age of technological marvels on 2 wheelers, u r about to be the owner of the worst bike in terms of mechanism, BUT u r about to b the MOST PROUD OWNER OF A REAL MACHINE........ride on, u r acquiring an ultimate machine on Indian Roads, do not forget to join Royal Indians Enfield Owners Club www.bulletbrotherhood.webs.com, or u can sms to Amol, our Pune moderator @ 9820160384

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