2nd time in 6 months

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seattle##gs

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Low oil pressure......heads rebuilt by two different shops with the rocker spindles put in backwards. Fortunately I had an oil pressure gauge on both bikes.
 
When I bought my commando in 06 from a prominent US seller of old Nortons and other Brittbikes, that was one of the many problems (including serious and hazardous suspension issues) with the bike that they assured me was in perfect condition - restored by them. ;) The spindles seem to be a very common screwup! Glad you got it sorted. Like FE asked, was there an OP difference?
 
Rocker spindles in backwards.....is related to flats pointing up rather than down?
I get confused in the terminology sometimes....and my cylinder head is being overhauled at this moment.
If I could impose upon someone to offer up the basic installation procedures of fats and spindles I would like to send it along to my machinist to share. He is a wizard in the machine shop but not experienced on Norton cylinder heads.
Seattle, Mike, anyone have photos? Any visual reference is a help.
 
http://www.classicbike.biz/Norton/Repair/70up_Commando/70upCommando.pdf

Section C8, 2
"Engage a rocker spindle into the cylinder head with flat facing rearwards on the inlet side and forwards on the exhaust...."

2nd time in 6 months
 
i cannot see how it would make a differance to oil pressure readings spindle chamfers are at 90 degrees to the location slot so it can not be misaligned with the oil hole , these are both the same size slots so rocker spindles will still pass exactly the same amount of oil fitted either way around

i would assume reading Lab`s post the reccomended direction of installation is for splashing valve tips and gravity assist
rocker arms would be lubed with spindles fitted in either direction
 
The hole is bigger than the gap between the rocker spindle and the rocker so pointing the spindle flat outwards makes the gap the constriction, with the spindle flat inwards IE 180 different the hole becomes the constriction but it is not restrictive enough for engines with the 6 start pump and high pressure feed. As well as too much oil to the head the pressure drops including to the big ends.
 
Frankie17 said:
i cannot see how it would make a differance to oil pressure readings spindle chamfers are at 90 degrees to the location slot so it can not be misaligned with the oil hole , these are both the same size slots so rocker spindles will still pass exactly the same amount of oil fitted either way around

i would assume reading Lab`s post the reccomended direction of installation is for splashing valve tips and gravity assist
rocker arms would be lubed with spindles fitted in either direction
Click to expand...

i cannot see how it would make a differance=ignorance is bliss
rocker spindles will still pass exactly the same amount of oil fitted either way around=wrong
i would assume reading Lab`s post the reccomended direction of installation is for=wrong

https://www.accessnorton.com/NortonCommando/rocker-spindle-alignment.23742/#post-349886

When the shaft hole faces the valve, the oil must lube the whole shaft prior to leaking out toward the ball end of the rocker. This is proper and adequate lube for the ball end.
If installed with the hole(&flat) pointing toward the ball end, it starves the rocker of pressure feed and the oil takes the path of least resistance and blows out the ball end.
kill the rockers
kill the rockers
kill the rockers
Extra oil in the intake area is only a secondary indicator...often followed with smoke
 
Frankie17 said:
these are both the same size slots so rocker spindles will still pass exactly the same amount of oil fitted either way around
Click to expand...

The (necessary) oil restriction is nothing to do with the rocker end slots as dynodave has explained.
 
every day is a school day been a long time since i stripped the rockers

forgot the the drilling in the pushrod ball

how did the early spindles with the scroll distribute to the pushrod balls was there a relif in the arm ?
 
On the first motor it dropped the oil pressure to 10 or 15 pounds. On the freshly rebuilt motor with a new oil pump it held a steady 25 pounds.
 
Man, I would hate to see dynodave with a knife. Cuts to the bone just using words. Heh.
Martin
PS, this is why NOBODY works on my bike but me.
 
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seattle##gs said:
On the first motor it dropped the oil pressure to 10 or 15 pounds. On the freshly rebuilt motor with a new oil pump it held a steady 25 pounds.
Click to expand...

new pump??? ouch only 25psi, what kind of oil? Good to have a gauge though.
I'd be looking closer for 40-45 when new @50W.

Frankie is an honorable guy...admitted his laps of memory and did not take offense (I hope, to a very little zinger)
Since he asks a question, I'd answer his question about early scrolled (puke pressure) rocker shafts.

The early low pressure systems have the oiler origin "flat" on the shaft, which is also the origin of the scrolling on the shaft, it must face the ball end of the rocker to allow oiling and also allows the main low pressure return oil to also flow to the tank.

sportsroof said:
Man, I would hate to see dynodave with a knife. Cuts to the bone just using words. Heh.
Martin
PS, this is why NOBODY works on my bike but me.
Click to expand...

Looked at your history and in the 3rd post of your first thread it was suggested you use the search feature, which I fully concur with, as MANY posters ask questions for the 10th or 20th time...and has been answered many times.
Without search, the internet/forums have no memory...zero

In the over 15 years on this forum and only 1222 posts, I am sorry to say I have learned very little technically from the posts here.
Ask for some research survey info...crickets mostly...I end doing most of my research on my 14 commandos/ 4 featherbeds/ 2 gardengate nortons and a huge pile of fleamarket items in my where?house and local club members bikes.
97% of the PM are helpful, friendly and appreciated.
 
“In the over 15 years on this forum and only 1222 posts, I am sorry to say I have learned very little technically from theposts here. ” dynodave

The forum has too much bad, totally incorrect information. Just because one owns a Norton doesn’t mean you are knowledgeable about that Norton. Some members insisting upon gadgets that can be destructive to their engines.

I’ve seen ridiculous claims of top speed, unbelievable lowball rebuild costs, opinions contradicting facts, to recall a few posts that would be misguiding to the uninformed.
 
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I'd say there is more good information here that anywhere else. If you post something that is wrong you most likely will be corrected.
If you are cross with people who don't search the forum before asking a question it is possible that asking again an updated
response will occur. If you don't want to read a thread or answer a question then don't. And be kind to the newcomers especially the young
as they keep the forum alive.
My opinion only to each his own.
 
Onder said:
I'd say there is more good information here that anywhere else. If you post something that is wrong you most likely will be corrected.
If you are cross with people who don't search the forum before asking a question it is possible that asking again an updated
response will occur. If you don't want to read a thread or answer a question then don't. And be kind to the newcomers especially the young
as they keep the forum alive.
My opinion only to each his own.
Click to expand...


Point being, how does a newcomer to this site discern the wheat from the chaff?
 
comnoz said:
Hang around, do a lot of reading. Ask questions using PM. They will figure it out. Jim
Click to expand...


Should they have to? Isn’t bum dope on this site comparable to erroneous info in a workshop manual?
 
JimC said:
Should they have to? Isn’t bum dope on this site comparable to erroneous info in a workshop manual?
Click to expand...

Do you have a better option.

I would say there is lot more erroneous info on this site than in a workshop manual. But eventually the errors here get corrected.
 
When ‘newbys’ do searches on here of old posts it’s only to help them build a background info and start pulling together the various different thoughts, ideas, opinions, etc.

There is LOTS of debate on here, it’s not just unchecked posted statements. A bit of reading on any topic yields very strong opposing ideas and thoughts and arguments.

And then, with a much better background info, any newby will start engaging in conversations and ask questions before committing to much.

How do I know? Cos that’s what I did. I was brand new to Norton’s when I joined this site and the learning curve that I was able to go through because of this site, vs what it would have been like without it, is not even comparable.

I’ve managed to nail together a very nice Commando I think (excuse my immodesty) and that is, to a very large extent, thanks to this forum.
 
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