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Distinguished - BHPian ![]() ![]() | ![]() Quote:
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Senior - BHPian ![]() | ![]() Quote:
May be... I can try talking to him next time when I visit my hometown (Tiruvannamalai). Optionally if you think any of your buddies wanted to try contacting him directly I can guide them how to reach the garage where this scooter parked. He had suvega in dismantled condition without RC and sold the same for Rs.2,500/- so this is just for his expectation benchmarking. If you can buy the scooter you can use: 1. Seat plate 2. Body tub 3. Rear carrier 4. Tail lamp holders 5. Wheel hubs 6. Pedals 7. Frame (chassis) 8. Handle bar 9. Head light fittings 10. Front grill 11. Front Mudguard 12. Petrol tank (as model) 13. Original ignition switch (or fork lock switch) Last edited by trammway : 20th January 2009 at 10:45. | |
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![]() | #63 |
Senior - BHPian ![]() | ![]() While we discussing the Royal Enfield Fantabulus, I found one of my friend in orkut got the original user manual for the scooter. Picture of the same from his Orkut album for all your eyes. Look at the color scheme from the book (though in grey shade), it matches to the wreck I found from my home town. ![]() |
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![]() | #64 |
BHPian ![]() | ![]() IF this helps ..... A long time ago, I do remember reading an arcticle about a Bruce Soares from Andheri Bombay who did rebuild one of these. Bruce is a active rider with Inddiethumpers, a RE club in Mumbai. Cheers! |
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Distinguished - BHPian ![]() ![]() | ![]() Quote:
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![]() | #66 | |
Senior - BHPian ![]() | ![]() Quote:
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![]() | #67 | |
Distinguished - BHPian ![]() ![]() | ![]() Quote:
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![]() | #68 |
BHPian ![]() Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Coimbatore
Posts: 444
Thanked: 166 Times
| ![]() @ Girish Sure, will post my recently acquired " Fatabulus", yet to be restored though!! You can see her in flesh, when you visit CBE ![]() @ All other friends: Even before picking this "Fatabulus" Scooter, I have written some technical details about this machine at some other sites & I have tried my hands on a RE Sherha powertrain ( engine & gear box), that too on a similar type of engine, with "Siba-Dyna start" as in Fatabulus Scooter. Let me tell some facts & figures, with some peiece (Peace) ![]() watch out....tommorow |
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![]() | #69 | |
BHPian ![]() | ![]() Quote:
I have observed a couple problems with these scooters. While all other 2-wheelers were having spring clutches, the Fantabulous used a diaphragm clutch. After riding the scooter for some time, the clutch used to start dragging slowly. The 2nd problem was with the self starter. The dynamo ( a big one at that) does the duty of the electric starter as well. While cranking, the ignition is cut off and when the key is released, the Starter circuit is disconnected and Ignition is switched on and the engine fires. Being a 2-stroke engine, the engine some times fires in the reverse direction and runs smoothly. Releasing clutch propels the scooter in the reverse direction and a few times accidents have happened. Since there is a battery, a small ignition lamp similar to the ones in the newer bikes was provided. It was noticed that everytime the engine fires & runs in the reverse direction, the pilot lamp becomes very bright instead of going off. Replacing this small Ignition Lamp with a bigger one managed to attact the attention of the rider to this abnormal running condition of the engine and to switch the ignition off restart again. This modification prevented further accidents. These are my recollections. I am not aware if any other Fantabulous Scooters had these problems. Any comments/update on this matter is highly appreciated. One + point was this Scooter have a very very Bright Head Light when compare to most of the cars and bikes of that time. Thanks to the very powerful dynamo. P.S. Hope I am not boring you busy guys with vintage stuff. | |
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![]() | #71 |
BHPian ![]() Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Coimbatore
Posts: 444
Thanked: 166 Times
| ![]() Hi All, Even before picking my RE Fantabulus scooter just few days before,I knew some thing about "Fantabulus". There is lot misconception about this machine amoung bike enthusiasts, now I have both Sherpa & Fantabulus,so think, Iam eligible to say few words about Fantastic Fantabulus!!. ( Let me post the pics later....., coz there is more chance to go off the topic (technical features) 1) Though both sherpa & Fantabulus had 173cc Villiers powertrain ( integrated engine & gearbox) they differ in crank case & gear box construction. 1a) Sherpa had two types of engines ---- one with "Siba-dyna start" & other one with pure conventional Kick start { so we are talking about the one with siba-dyna start only, in this thread} 2) Gear ratios totally differ,coz F'lus had 10" wheels & Sherpa is 18" wheels ( there are more parameters to be taken into account....lets stay Basic!!) 3)Clutch in F'lus is simple Multi plate ,oil running one, ( not diaphram clutch as told by some of our friend.,...........) 4)Sherpa has 18mm lodge type spark plug, whereas F'lus has 14mm short reach plug 5) Exhaust construction is entirly differant,....so needless to say there will be differance in " Exhaust Duration" ( this I am talking about Port location) 5a) this I am telling in particular,coz even I have heard about people "Transplating Engine from F"lus to Sherpa & visversa" ![]() 6) Gear shifter pedal (S) in F'lus is nothing but our " Toe& heel" operation, but ,the ergonomics of the pedals is so fantastic (toe position is in offset with the Heel shifter) 7)Now about the " Siba-Dyna start" in F'lus: Though the construction is bit cumbersome & complicated, this is a best method,if one understands this method.........if he is going to lay his hands on this part of the machine!! "I guess, this was the fundamental aspect, which made our mechanics(on those days) to keep away from this machine." ( still, you can see some old timers,flashing stories of reverse rotation of the engine & stuff!!.....how can this happen???? ..........I'll be pleased to hear,if some one could explain this technically!!) On my opinion, this Scooter would have been a smash hit in UK, market if Royal Enfeild, have not closed their doors at Redditch at 1964,provided if the export policy of Enfeild India, worked good. As told by some in this thread, Battery quality would have been not up to the mark on those days. Technical Details of Fantabulus: Engine: Villiers two stroke, fan cooled, with built in self starter. Bore X stroke : 59 X 63.5 mm capacity:173cc / power out put: 7.4 Bhp @ 5000rpm 4 speed / final drive by chain thru' rubber cush drive in rear wheel. Suspension : Front ;- Leading dual link pivotted fork with hydralic dampers. Rear; - Single swing arm pivotted with hydralic dampers ( shockabsorbers) Wheels: 10" splitable rims ...interchangeable F&R Electricals: battery;- 6V^ 12 amp....2 nos connected in series Head lamp ; Miller, pre focused 12 V 36 W / 36 w. * Gear neautral indicator ** Ignition indicator light *** Trafficators ( optional) Un laden weight :130 kgms ![]() |
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![]() | #72 | |
BHPian ![]() Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Coimbatore
Posts: 444
Thanked: 166 Times
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Not at all, sudharma Pleased to hear from you, No Bhpian will think its boring,.....if the post is related to Automobiles. cheers!! ![]() | |
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![]() | #73 |
BHPian Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Mumbai
Posts: 154
Thanked: 21 Times
| ![]() Hi Powertwin I have a 69 Sherpa and i have posted the pics on a Sherpa thread, i will be starting to restore mine during the monsoons when i am in India. Mine is running well and has no technical problems however will you be able to throw some light on the engine and some other techincalities that is on my Sherpa just for my knowledge ![]() |
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![]() | #74 |
BHPian ![]() Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Coimbatore
Posts: 444
Thanked: 166 Times
| ![]() ![]() She has clocked just 17000 + kms till now ( she was off the road from 1972 onwards) Original paint,with complete vital parts, except , the 5 position panel switch knob ( wipac), neautral lght, ignition light. They have tried to start & layed their hands on the electrical circuit some time a year before, totally removed all wires &left as such, luckily they did not proceed further with engine & stuff. The fuel tank was sent for cleaning & now they are searching ![]() I was lucky enough to trace the original seat plate, with a upholstry guy with some regular moulded foam & a lousy cover. ps: @ Karl : Ji can you send me few pics of the fuel tank ,showing all details with dimensions from that Fanta's you have posted in this thread. pps: Complete electricals was fixed at my garage the same day and started with regular check ups & fed ups (?) |
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![]() | #75 | |
Distinguished - BHPian ![]() ![]() | ![]() Quote:
![]() Shall gladly give you details on the fuel tank from my scooter two weeks later when I return home. | |
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