Newb check in, few Q's

Hi, new to board here, 40 year motorcyclist and wrench, been smitten with the Commando's sexy looks decades ago, finally found one I could afford ('74 Roadster) and beginning the sorting process. The oil line leading to the rocker shafts was a (used to be) clear plastic, as hard as glass, broke clean off when touched. I temped some small fuel hose to facilitate initial start up, but looking for options. I've seen the braided stainless, too showy for my tastes, Parker Push-Lok strikes me but may be too industrial looking. What was used intially? reinforced rubber? Pushed onto the barbs with crimp ferrules? Thanks

Hi there.
Welcome to the forum. Make sure the rocker oil pipe is the proper pipe as the oil feed is full pump pressure not low pressure like some older brit bikes.

Kev

Hi & welcome

The original pipe was a hard black plastic. I'm pretty sure it's still available. It comes with the banjos already fitted. Be careful what you use, if you don't go for original, as it contains hot oil at pressure & if it fails it will pump out the contents of the oil tank fairly quickly.

Stainless too showy ? In practice it's barely noticeable.



The original lines are a fairly hard and extremely heat-resistant plastic. Most other types will simply melt. As Kev says, you're at pump pressure here and that means that a detached rocker feed means no big-end pressure either.

If you wanted to use 'Push-Lok' (I've no idea how it would stand up to the temperature), you'd need the Parker fittings and I don't think they'd mount easily in the confined space available.

The major reason for using stainless is the resistance to abrasion where it runs up between the carbs and around the head steady. If the looks are a problem then a black pvc sleeve would sort that out.

Local truck garage will have nylon brake air line hose - pretty much same as the stock stuff. You can reuse the original banjos. I usually warm up the tubing in hot water then push on. There is a knack to it. The hard part is holding the hose without slipping. I think DogT uses a ferrule crimp tool to hold it and it seems to work well. That is the cheap way. I went stainless line and never looked back. Why? I found out what happens when it cracks and lubes your foot.

Welcome to the group.

I am using VW fuel injection hose for my rockers. It is rubber line with a braided cloth cover but you have to figure out how to make a clamp for it. I use monel wire wrapped a few turns and then twisted to seize it. Then it gets a short piece of shrink tube to hide the wire. It comes out looking something like this.



As for the wire, I wanted small diameter stuff so I used the monel line off a vintage fishing reel. It flexes well without breaking and is very thin. If I didn't have that I would probably be using my old guitar strings. A little stiffer to work with but it would work. The seizing wire usually available from auto or marine stores is typically a little heavy for these small lines.

Here, this is probably a lifetime supply!

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-William ... 7262653595

Russ

Would say monofilament line ,known as mono by all us Norton drivin' fishermen types.

Regarding the oil line feed to the head:

I had the original stock black nylon and it became brittle and burst, blowing oil all over on a ride.

!7 years ago I switched over to the braided steel lines.

I expect them to be in place doing their job and not ever breaking for at least another 17 years.

But that's just me, I believe in replacing suspect parts with new and higher quality parts all over my bike.

My CNW head stead is much much better than the stock one.

Why would I want to keep something stock when better functioning and better quality is now available?

The original was not plastic, it's black Nylon 11. Air brake hose will work. Inside Diameter: 0.170 In., 11/64 Outside Diameter: 1/4 Wall Thickness: 0.040 In. McMasters has it, I have about 10' left, it takes less than 5' to make the lines. Takes a few practice hits with the rubber mallet to knock them in properly and you have to hold the line in a flaring tool or round clamp of some sort, put some oil in the tube and knock them in cold.

Dave
69S

Great! Thanks for the replies. I had downplayed my view of braided stainless, so no offense would be construed from a first timer. It's great for 2000 psi, but the propensity to gnaw on anything within arms reach is a turn off for me. And where do we connect the oil pressure gage? At the lower banjo fitting? Longer banjo bolt?

OK, so... initially I resisted the notion of braided. ...and the money, lol I knew I wanted an OP gage, in the end I went with an oil line and gage combo. :lol:

As mentioned in previous reply----truck air brake nylon tubing works great--looks like OEM line-- very reasonable when compared to SS lines. Any good trucking supply store carries it--in bulk--Freightliner is one.

Mine are still original. I wonder if I should think about replacing them. I too prefer the look of the original lines. Dog, who is Mc Masters and I do not follow the process of filling the line with oil, clamping in a flaring jig, and whomping the banjo in. Please explain.

McMasters is an industrial supply, you can find them on-line. Trouble is you need to buy about 25' of the stuff from them. Lots easier if you can find the stuff at a local truck store. I have plenty if you want to pay shipping and I think it cost me about .50/ft. You only need about 5'. There are other places to find it too, you can even get it in colors if you want.

Heat in boiling water if you like, but I put it on cold. Cut it with a nice sharp utility knife as straight as you can. Put some oil on the spigot and inside the tube. Clamp the tube in the vice with piece of wood with a hole drilled in it (1/4") and cut in half. I used a flaring tool I had laying around you can't hold it tight enough in your hand, at least I couldn't. Clamp it close to where the spigot will end up in it. Take the fitting in one hand and hold it over the clamped tube and whack it with a rubber or hide mallet. Make a few practice runs and you'll get the hang of it real quick. You want the fitting to go in straight and fast and all the way first time.



Dave
69S