Head and Rocker Spindles

I just finished installed the rocker spindles into the head with their respective rocker arms, thrust washers and thrust springs. I made sure that the "flats"were pointing rearward for the intakes and forward for the exhausts. I also aligned the cuts in the spindles so that the oiling holes had a straight, unobstructed shot into the spindles. I had also keep all components separated into four camps so that spindles and rocker arms could, once again, be re-united.

I did a test fit of the spindle covers and found that the fastener holes would not line up. Taking up a re-purposed, large, former screw driver I was able, while the head was still warm, to re-orient the "cuts" in the spindles so that the spindle covers could be attached, once done I noticed that the oiling holes were almost 50% obstructed.

Is this a problem??

RS

Not a problem. Jim

Thanks Jim.

Why do you think the holes and slots are such a poor alignment? Or was that the point, in the first place, to restrict flow?

RS

Actually there isn't much flow their unless the shafts are in wrong or worn out. I don't know if it was intentional but they are all that way. Jim

When Norton upped oil pressure/flow for Commando's by going from 3 start to 6 start gear pump the twins over oiled the intakes and smoked to hi heaven. Solution was to reverse the spindles, shaft nocthes away from oil feeds to prevent much oil flow into rockers so the end slots now only half cover the oil holes.
Exhaust side not as important to limit oil entry as their valve guides never see piston vacuum to pull oil in and push rod tunnels can drain way more oil away than tiny
hi rear placed intake drain path through barrel and cases before reaching sump.
Intake valve get the stem seals not exhaust side as useless clutter there.

RoadScholar said:

Or was that the point, in the first place, to restrict flow?

Click to expand...

I think the hole in the flat would cause more restriction.

The hole in the flat and the hole in the oil gallery appear to be the same size. When the spindle is oriented so that the cover's key engages it's slots and the cover screws can both be sent home the oil hole in the gallery has less than 50% of its area exposed'. I'm going to marry that image with Jim's advice to move on and Hobot's theory that there was some intelligent thought put to the orientation, and find something else to worry about.

Many thanks for the input; I'll still have a lot on my mind when coming down on the k/s during the initial light-off, overhead oiling won't be on the boat.

RS

The restriction is the clearance between the shaft and the rocker. It is way smaller than the restriction caused by the misaligned holes. Jim

Dear sir's, I know evolution is still a "speculative theory" for why men have nipples and women have orgasms but I gave you "factual history" behind the spindle notches that are no longer needed or desired in heavy twin Norton heads, so turn em out and never use scrolled spindles, unless old low PSI 3 start. Except for Ms Peel of course as she is a mutant.

this is when it happened but hard to find online reference to smoking solution.
http://www.nortonownersclub.org/history/lightweight
[many past Norton features didn't survive or were retained but bypassed - in site]

The Electra was the first Norton to be fitted with a six-start oil pump worm, followed by the Jubilee and Navigator at number 106838. The big twins did not get the larger capacity pump until number 116372.

Click to expand...

There is a special spindle aligner tool
http://www.oldbritts.com/19_067185.html