Blocking off chain oiler feed on early Commando

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ProblemChild

ProblemChild

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Nov 10, 2010
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Hi all,

I have a '70 Commando with the central oil tank. The return feed banjo that is currently on it has an allen set screw in the hole where the chain oiler once fed, from and the whole area shows signs of being covered in solder as well as oil. I am about to replace it with another banjo that currently has the small chain oiler tube intact, and was just wondering the best method for plugging it, and hopefully cleanest looking. I have seen photos of small rubber hose attached and then a screw plugged in the end, and heard mention of snipping it off and filling with solder. My first thought is to snip it, heat it with a torch and fill the hole with solder.

Ben
 
Is it possible to cut it flush and push the oil return hose past that point? Or cut above the junction?
Note: I don't know what your version looks like without a photo.
 
Close it off and spend on innovative oilers that don't mess as much or any at all to loose the chain life the messy Norton oiler provided. Or spend extra devoted worship time lubing chain after each ride before chain cools or get a sealed chain or just run it dry like me and change em out 8-10K miles ~ two rear tires.
 
needing said:
Is it possible to cut it flush and push the oil return hose past that point? Or cut above the junction?
Note: I don't know what your version looks like without a photo.
Click to expand...


Here is a photo from another member on here showing the small pipe just pinched shut. I was hoping to cutoff and fill as long as oil can't seep past.

Blocking off chain oiler feed on early Commando
 
My third thought now that I have seen the photo would be to cut it short and blind rivet it.
 
If the hose on tank nipple not leaking then hayseed easy way was snip hose to allow a bolt to screw in oil tight but w/o allowing bounce banging. This leaves it looking factory oiler detailed for many cocked heads of seasoned snoopers at rallies.
 
From looking at the picture of the banjos I would say that the tubes are soldered in to begin with. If the banjo is made of brass those tubes are definitely soldered. If the banjo is made of steel then possibly the tubes are brazed in.

Either way I would heat the banjo up until either the solder or the brazing melts and pull out the tube. Then I would make a plug of the same diameter as the old tube and either solder or braze it into place depending on how it was originally done. After it is all done, go ahead and replate it.

Peter Joe
 
Fourth thought: plug it with a blind rivet and then run a standard hose as per factory setup and you could still win an originality contest (at the low cost of 1 rivet and a piece of hose).
 
A pair of side cutters, nip the thing off at some convenient length, solder it shut, flip the banjo over so it's out of the way like the upper pic and be done with it. I did that in 1972. Use some real chain lube when you finish riding and let it set to cool.

Blocking off chain oiler feed on early Commando


Dave
69S
 
Thank you all for the ideas. Not sure which direction I'll take but this gives me some options. Here's to one less oil leak.
 
I would probably cut it off, tap the hole and thread in a plug. But it sounds like that is what you already have, so maybe they just did a poor job of it or the sealant sucked.

Russ
 
A Hozelock tap (for a garden micro-irrigation system) is a good fit for the oiler tube. It lets you control the flow rate and/or turn it off completely when necessary. In some ways much easier than a Scottoiler.
 
Confuses me no end how common eliminating factory oiller is then putting similar oiller back on. IIRC Norton provided a regulator valve or can fit your own. I'm into cold weld sealing with JBW, othen to avoid dissembly and fire hazard.
 
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