Billet Oil filter for my 71

seaguy · Sep 15, 2009

I went to Walmart and bought their smallest oil filter that they had plenty of. Don't know what car it's for. Measured it's threads and found a matching die. Bored a rod that was the correct size and threaded it with the matching die. Tapped a slab of T6061 in the center then cut oil ways and tapped in 1/4"npt x3/8" hose barbs. Will mount in the same place a newer stock one does. My filters will cost $3 at any Walmart.

Now I need to lighten it up and slick up a few areas on it.

Flo · Sep 15, 2009

If I remember right, we used to use Citreon 180 filters because they were cheaper & more readily available than the Norton ones.

BrianK · Sep 15, 2009

And the point of running the cheapest filters available, is...?

Why not just not change filters or oil at all? After all, didn't you put perfectly good oil and a filter on there just a few thousand miles ago? You can't spoil these engines, they'll walk all over you!! Show 'em who's boss. Here's a used Fram filter and a couple quarts of nearly virgin oil...shut your pie hole, suck it up and run you bugger!

Damned if I'm gonna replace a bearing that hasn't failed yet either....

Jeandr · Sep 15, 2009

seaguy said:
I went to Walmart and bought their smallest oil filter that they had plenty of. Don't know what car it's for. Measured it's threads and found a matching die. Bored a rod that was the correct size and threaded it with the matching die. Tapped a slab of T6061 in the center then cut oil ways and tapped in 1/4"npt x3/8" hose barbs. Will mount in the same place a newer stock one does. My filters will cost $3 at any Walmart.

So where are the pictures :?:

Jean

seaguy · Sep 16, 2009

I knew you'd appreciate this Jean. Why buy one when you can make it . My labor don't count..it's the challenge. Pics soon. Busier than a one armed paper hanger right now.

seaguy · Sep 16, 2009

BrianK said:
And the point of running the cheapest filters available, is...?

Why not just not change filters or oil at all? After all, didn't you put perfectly good oil and a filter on there just a few thousand miles ago? You can't spoil these engines, they'll walk all over you!! Show 'em who's boss. Here's a used Fram filter and a couple quarts of nearly virgin oil...shut your pie hole, suck it up and run you bugger!

Damned if I'm gonna replace a bearing that hasn't failed yet either....

Any filter is better than no filter and "I made it myself" is what I do.

BrianK · Sep 16, 2009

Ah! Hadn't realized you were "filterless" before (missed that "71" reference) and for some reason the pic didn't show up before for me, but does now.

It's nice work, to be sure.

Didn't mean any offense, hope ya didn't take any.

PJL · Sep 16, 2009

Nice bit of machine work. But living in France has its compensations (besides the wine) - Citroen 2CV oil filters, available at local supermarkets, fit the Commando perfectly well.

Best regards, Phil.

seaguy · Sep 16, 2009

BrianK said:
Ah! Hadn't realized you were "filterless" before (missed that "71" reference) and for some reason the pic didn't show up before for me, but does now.

It's nice work, to be sure.

Didn't mean any offense, hope ya didn't take any.

none taken. Many shoot first. It's just a thing 8) .

aceaceca · Sep 16, 2009

Thats a nice piece of work you performed there. But don't get too paranoid reading these forum posts. The 71's were the good performance machines. No filter required. I'v ridden mine for 8 years. Added about 15k miles to her. Changed the oil 9 times. Removed the sump filter the other day after 8 years, and it was clean as a whistle. Saw the bottom of the oil tank the other day also as I have not ridden in about a month. It was clean as a whistle. Wet sumping? I have never checked mine before starting save for yesterday. Just fire it up and the oil will get back to the tank. Don't need some gadget on there to prevent something that is inherent in the machine. Norton built good bikes!

Coco · Sep 16, 2009

seaguy said:
I knew you'd appreciate this Jean. Why buy one when you can make it . My labor don't count..it's the challenge. Pics soon. Busier than a one armed paper hanger right now.

Good show man.

Jeandr · Sep 16, 2009

seaguy said:
I knew you'd appreciate this Jean. Why buy one when you can make it . My labor don't count..it's the challenge. Pics soon. Busier than a one armed paper hanger right now.

I do :mrgreen: nice job I will have to look into this for my bike too, if I had any forethought, I would have incorporated it into the oil tank, but with a small filter, an add on is worth looking into.

Bravo again.

Jean

bpatton · Sep 16, 2009

Rich,

You're the man. Where are you going to mount it? It looks like it won't be in the cradle. That's got to be a good thing.

highdesert · Sep 16, 2009

I removed the oil filter and all its attendant tubes on my 73 850 over 17 years ago.
Good riddance! The exposed location and multiple possible leak points always bothered me.
I have a strong magnet in the oil tank.
I change oil every 1500 miles.
I just feel an oil filter is unnecessary.
But that's just me, I also have no speedometer drive or cable, no operative idiot lights, no turn signals,
blessedly dry belt primary, and a simple WOG on/off valve in the oil line to shut off all flow at end of ride to prevent wetsumping.

seaguy · Sep 17, 2009

bpatton said:
Rich,

You're the man. Where are you going to mount it? It looks like it won't be in the cradle. That's got to be a good thing.

It's 2 3/4" wide. I was thinking behind the gearbox. I'll have to wait and get some stuff installed to see where it may fit. Sure would be nice to stick a tray under it and unscrew the filter and not have to clean up the engine afterwards . The Sportster I had really made a mess.

Billet Oil filter for my 71

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