Crusader 2023.01.05 16:20:18

start of a very successful range of 250's

The sound of Motorcycle

200712_behind-the-covers Behind the covers

200712_behind-the-covers

Behind the covers

26 images

Documentation

Documentation

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Parts

Parts

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Modifications-and-Repairs

Modifications-and-Repairs

118 images

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Other-Crusaders

Other-Crusaders

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3001-Crusader-1957 2002 - 1957 Crusader 250

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2002 - 1957 Crusader 250

3002-Crusader-1957 2002 - 1957 Crusader 250

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2002 - 1957 Crusader 250

3004-Crusader-1957 2002 - 1957 Crusader 250

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2002 - 1957 Crusader 250

3006-Crusader-1957 2002 - 1957 Crusader 250

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2002 - 1957 Crusader 250

3007-Crusader-1957 2002 - 1957 Crusader 250

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2002 - 1957 Crusader 250

3008-Crusader-1957 2002 - 1957 Crusader 250

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2002 - 1957 Crusader 250

3009-Crusader-1957 2002 - 1957 Crusader 250 2002 - 1957 Crusader 250

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2002 - 1957 Crusader 250
2002 - 1957 Crusader 250

3010-Crusader-1957 2002 - 1957 Crusader 250 2002 - 1957 Crusader 250

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2002 - 1957 Crusader 250
2002 - 1957 Crusader 250

img_1983a 2008 - ...first run (South Holland Netherlands)...

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2008 - ...first run (South Holland Netherlands)...

img_1984a 2008 - ...first run (South Holland Netherlands)...

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2008 - ...first run (South Holland Netherlands)...

img_1985a 2008 - ...first run (South Holland Netherlands)...

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2008 - ...first run (South Holland Netherlands)...

img_1987a 2008 - ...first run (South Holland Netherlands)...

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2008 - ...first run (South Holland Netherlands)...

IMG_3430 2008 - 1957 Crusader 250 (Austerlitz - Netherlands) at club meet

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2008 - 1957 Crusader 250 (Austerlitz - Netherlands) at club meet

IMG_3431 2008 - 1957 Crusader 250 (Austerlitz - Netherlands) at club meet

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2008 - 1957 Crusader 250 (Austerlitz - Netherlands) at club meet

IMG_3432 2008 - 1957 Crusader 250 (Austerlitz - Netherlands) at club meet

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2008 - 1957 Crusader 250 (Austerlitz - Netherlands) at club meet

IMG_3433 2008 - 1957 Crusader 250 (Austerlitz - Netherlands) at club meet

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2008 - 1957 Crusader 250 (Austerlitz - Netherlands) at club meet

IMG_3434 2008 - 1957 Crusader 250 (Austerlitz - Netherlands) at club meet

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2008 - 1957 Crusader 250 (Austerlitz - Netherlands) at club meet

IMG_3435 2008 - 1957 Crusader 250 (Austerlitz - Netherlands) at club meet

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2008 - 1957 Crusader 250 (Austerlitz - Netherlands) at club meet

IMG_13333-Crusader 2013 - ...near Zoeterwoude (South Holland - Netherlands)...

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2013 - ...near Zoeterwoude (South Holland - Netherlands)...

IMG_13334-Crusader 2013 - ...near Zoeterwoude (South Holland - Netherlands)...

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2013 - ...near Zoeterwoude (South Holland - Netherlands)...

1957 Crusader 250

The first Enfield with a unit construction: the gearbox and crankcase in one casing
Actually the gearbox was nearly the same as the previous models, but it was housed in a separat section of the crankcase. The engine has a very smooth look.

In 2002 I bought a Crusader which I saw advertized on the internet. The price was not to my liking but was after a phonecall. For about £ 350 I bought a very nice looking 250. Dating by the Royal Enfield Owners Club learned that it had matching engine and frame numbers and was despatched at 24th of July 1957 to Royal Enfield dealer Ewing of London.

The bike had a non-UK registration number, which later after lots of research on the internet proved to be a South African registration, specifically for the Cape Town area: CA82998. I know that the bike came from South Africa through a classic field tractor collector who once imported a single bike for an aquaintance and got so much questions about it that he imported around 60 bikes from SA ranging from BMW's via Harley Davidson to my little red Crusader. The only thing he could tell me was that his South African connection bought the bikes from personal ads, store removal etc.

I didn't start restoring the bike yet, only looking at it and trying to find more information about it. My plan is to sort the engine out and make it work, get a registration and leave it as it is, only filling in the missing parts in the paint.

I have the following questions about this bikes hostory:

1. Has anyone any information about a London RE dealer Ewing who received in 1957 my Crusader from the Redditch factory?
2. How can I get to know who first registered the bike in England? Or who bought it? 3. Who can help me with any information of the South African registration? When was it first registered? Any information is welcome, including pictures.

In June 2008 I had the Crusader registered and it has now an age related Dutch registration. One of the few Crusaders in the Netherlands.

In July 2008 the Crusader had its maiden run to the club meet of the Royal Enfield Club of the Netherlands. It was a success. Later in July I had a run in the country which was not so successfull as the clutch cable broke and I had to get home by trailer.
End 2009 I had a near seizure and had to replace the piston. The cylinder only needed a 'polish'. After that I tried to find the cause of the seizure (checking the oil-flow etc.) without any real results. Now in 2010 I am struggling with the adjustment of the carburettor, which was fine before the seizure.

As it apeared later it wasn't the carburettor after all. The condensor near the points was shorted and caused the bad starting and running. After fixing this (2012) the engine starts well and runs like a sewing machine - smooth. After running in the new piston I now rev along the country roads doing 70 kmh (40 mph) or even 80 kmh (50mph), which suits me fine. I had some trouble with te clutch and had to replace the plates, but now (2013) the clutch is fine.

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