Kubota / Enfield ? Will it fit ?

[Sibbo]

I've found a donor bike, an old Enfield 500 , pre '1975 so old enough to be allowed to do mods to it by our local rego boys here in Oz . I've looked at the Chinese engines but they are just too noisy for me to live with so I've narrowed it down to a water cooled twin, that should be heaps quieter ! There are a few out there and I need to get the right one... primarily, the output on the left so I don't need a countershaft and will it fit ?

The model I'm looking at is Kubota Super Mini Series Z482-E4B, 13.5hp .

Has anyone done it with the Kubota or anything similar ? (I've searched the files but nothing has come up).

If it's been done and reported could someone post a link?

Thanks ,
Sibbo.

[henneberg]

Hi,

Here is a bit info on the only Enfield - Kubota Z482 conversion, I'm aware of:

http://classic.dieselkrad.info/dieselmo ... -twin.html

[Sibbo]

Thank you very much Eric, just what I was after !

The owner's name is given as Steve, does anyone have a contact for him ?

[Sibbo]

It looks as if he's a hard man to catch . https://www.dieselbikeforum.com/view ... ilit=steve

[henneberg]

The Kubota is a reliable engine, but to build into the Enfield frame, I think 3 issues is to be considered:

Primary drive is propaply easiest to realize with a belt, instead of chain with oil ( start motor engages on the flywheel, how to fit an oil seal there ? )

Plummer work to fit the water cooler in an appropriate place.

Larger battery to heat the glow plugs, as the Kubota is an indirect injection diesel engine.

[Sibbo]

The belt drive would be a good idea, there isn't a lot of power to transmit so a tooth belt should work well.

[pietenpol2002]

I went with the traditional banded V-belt largely due to cost and because I had the driven pulley for the clutch on hand. In addition to cost, the V-belt doesn't doesn't place as much force on the bearings as a tooth belt. And in theory should absorb a bit more shock load. While mine is not an Enfield frame, the 482 still sits fairly well centered when aligned to the Enfield gearbox. Mine is however mounted left by 1 pulley sheave width as the inner sheave on the driven pulley drives the supercharger. I'll need to fab a tendioner as my gearbox is not adjustable. And of course you also end up with a dry clultch.

https://www.dieselbikeforum.com/view ... ota#p18626

Good luck with your planned build.

[Sibbo]

Thanks Ron, how big are those pulleys ? 5" forward and 8'' aft ? If you use belts with a central cord you can back tension them without breaking them, the largest radius you can fit though.

[pietenpol2002]

4" drive and 7.25" driven.