Anyone here?

Mark Savage · Feb 24, 2020

I took this picture of a Fireflake Blue Roadster at the Begonia Rally in Belgium last year. Dutch plates if I remember correctly. I took it for a reference to the colour as it's how mine came out of the factory (although it's black at the moment).
What I didn't notice before was the braided hose going up the centre of the steering stem, any ideas? Oil pressure gauge maybe? I should have looked at it closer at the time but it was on Sunday morning.

Fast Eddie · Feb 24, 2020

Ah, the rare factory pressure fed head bearing option...

Its definitely for an oil pressure gauge.

guest76 · Feb 24, 2020

The Old Britts Deluxe oil gauge kit has a mounting option to run through the steering stem.

http://www.oldbritts.com/38_240010.html

I think it's a neat idea!

MexicoMike · Feb 24, 2020

If the Norton Commando needed an oil pressure gauge it would have come with an oil pressure gauge!

guest76 · Feb 24, 2020

Great input as usual @MexicoMike - nice contribution

Hortons Norton · Feb 24, 2020

Had his kit on my MKIII since 2007 and it works great.

baz · Feb 24, 2020

MexicoMike said:
If the Norton Commando needed an oil pressure gauge it would have come with an oil pressure gauge!

Maybe a commando dosent need an oil pressure gauge but it's nice to have one
There are however quite a few things that the commando did need that it did not come with
A decent layshaft bearing,/engine breather/ hit and miss camshaft hardening /porus head castings etc etc basically most of the things we moan about on here and strive to correct
I have an oil pressure gauge on my t160 I'd consider it quite important on that particular engine
On my commando I have one of Don penders oil pressure light kits it works very well

dynodave · Feb 24, 2020

The OB gauge and hardware seem to me a bit busy and industrial.
concours had trouble with his installation denting the fender.

I like mine that I made in the early 80's . It looks even better with a new dial and next to polished aluminum clock holders.
This gauge showed me the oil pump had fragged and I was able to shut it down rather than blow it up and put a hole in the bottom end.

Yes nice to have!
Now every one of my NHT has or will get one...

Onder · Feb 24, 2020

All four of my bikes have them. Ignorance is not bliss. Knowing is better than not knowing.

jbruney · Feb 24, 2020

I sure wish you guys would stop scaring me,... or at the very least allow me to put my primary back together before coming up with more of this. I'm getting antsy without my daily rides for this week past... They've come to be very important to my mental well being... Nurturing sort of...

seattle##gs · Feb 24, 2020

A word in favor of the OP gauge....I have found into 2 motors where the rocker spindles were put in backwards resulting in VERY low oil pressure. One of the motors was freshly built with a Maney crankshaft and JS rods and pistons. The head was at a local shop and the owner should have known better. Fortunately I had installed an OP gauge and caught the problem immediately. It was 10 PSI cold.

RoadScholar · Feb 24, 2020

If an oil pressure gauge gives you even a heads-up once it has more than paid for itself. I like the Miles Classic offering, but do replace, as part of the installation, the plastic signal line and the "Chinese Handcuffs" fittings on both ends with AN ( as in Army/Navy) fittings and hose.

I was out for a ride when I saw the oil pressure drop; I had just gotten under way so I turned around as the gauge indicated that I was holding 20 psi, a drop from 50 psi; Ironically the gauge was telling me that the junction between the fitting on the head and the line was leaking profusely. When I got back to the shop I found the "message" was "written" all over my right leg; AN fittings to the rescue.

best

slimslowslider · Feb 25, 2020

Yes, it has a gauge, a nice shiny stainless one, glycerine damped and all, but..
Some years ago, we left the Begonia on a Sunday morning (not many hours after the party of the night before ended..) in a group with this bike in it.
After about 25 k's, the bike threw a rod.
The poor owner had forgotten to open the bike's anti-drain valve, and did not notice.
Valve removed since though.

Mark Savage · Feb 25, 2020

slimslowslider said:
After about 25 k's, the bike threw a rod.
The poor owner had forgotten to open the bike's anti-drain valve, and did not notice.
Valve removed since though.

Argghh, jammer.

Bernhard · Feb 25, 2020

The human brain is, well human. Should have rigged up a red light on the clocks connected to a on/ off push switch. Funny I didn't have one on my 500 Velo, but it didn't stop me from keep looking at the clear pipe below the ball valve to confirm pipe was filled up with oil
( It primes the pump)

gortnipper · Feb 25, 2020

RoadScholar said:
I like the Miles Classic offering

Do you have a link to that, as I cant seem to find it?

RoadScholar · Feb 25, 2020

gortnipper said:
Do you have a link to that, as I cant seem to find it?

I don't think MCB has a website, I inherited the relationship when I purchased Rocky Point Cycle, and he may not be a retailer. PM me your contact and I'll quote you.

Best.

Anyone here?

Similar threads