I've managed to become quite confused with the oil feed line from the crankcase to the head and rockers.

My parts box has a oil feed line with 4 banjos but I've also come up with a broken line that has only one banjo and a smaller one at that! Is this from another bike or does this go someplace on the 1973 850 Roadster that I've forgotten about?....wouldn't be the first time. Thanks in advance.

The stock setup has the long feed line going to one of the supply ports in the head. The supply ports are the holes between the spindles. This is connected with a double banjo which also secures the short line going to the supply on other side of the head.

You only need one external oil line. That line would normally have only three banjo's.

However, many stainless lines have two sections. One, with a banjo at each end, to go from the timing cover to the right side of the head. The second, with a banjo at each end, to go from the right side of the head to the left side of the head. A double length bolt is used at rhe right side.

Also, some of the oil pressure gauge kits, such as the one from Old Britts use a banjo fitting to direct the pressure feed through the steering stem, so would require a third length of line and a fourth banjo fitting.

Diamondjet wrote:My parts box has a oil feed line with 4 banjos

Is it a two piece stainless braided line, as there wouldn't be any reason to have a one piece oil feed line with four banjo fittings,-unless one was for an oil pressure gauge connection, possibly?



The original banjos are smaller than the ones normally used for stainless braided fittings, so the stainless type may require shouldered banjo bolts.

You're right...only three banjos. The 4th is completely different piece and smaller. Must be off of a different kind of bike.

If you drill trough the inlet rocker shafts , you'll only need one line and 2 banjos .

I'll have to look at the rocker set-up again.....I'm not sure how a hole drilled into the shaft will feed both left and right rocker cavities.

ludwig wrote:If you drill trough the inlet rocker shafts , you'll only need one line and 2 banjos .

So the total oiling through one fitting to all 4 shafts indirectly, is as good as through two fittings to two pairs of shafts?

grandpaul wrote:So the total oiling through one fitting to all 4 shafts indirectly, is as good as through two fittings to two pairs of shafts?

Yes .
It's basic hydraulics :
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pascal's_law
Just think of the brakes in your car : one pedal , equal pressure at all brakes .

ludwig wrote:If you drill trough the inlet rocker shafts , you'll only need one line and 2 banjos .

Can you buy drilled rocker shafts?

Best to have it done by a competent machinist, since I'm not, I had mine drilled which was probably cheaper than buying a cobalt or other super fancy drill bit.

Jean

swooshdave wrote:Can you buy drilled rocker shafts?

I don't know , but I think not .
If you do this , drill from the inside out , using a 4 mm carbide tipped drill .
To close the oil feed hole ( cycle thread , I think ) , a bolt like the ones that hold the stop plate in the gearbox cover is perfect .

Jeandr wrote:Best to have it done by a competent machinist, since I'm not...

I think you are a pretty competent mchinist ? , but you're right , i'ts not a job for a hand held drill .
It is best done on a lathe .

ludwig wrote:( cycle thread , I think )

5/16 - 22 tpi I think, so = 5/16 BSF.

L.A.B. wrote:

ludwig wrote:( cycle thread , I think )

5/16 - 22 tpi I think, so = 5/16 BSF.

I am shure you are right .
(didn't bother to check ..)