question (LAB) - 74 Mk2 - engine rocker oil feed line

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joe czech

joe czech

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the oil feed line to the rockers comes off the crankcase (right side) and goes up to the cylinder head, splits, and feeds the right and left side on the cylinder head. question - which side of the cylinder head is the split (factory). mine is on the left side. previous owner added an oil pressure gauge, and the pressure takeoff port is on the right side. i'm thinking it's reversed and the split should be on the RH side of the head. LAB posted a pic of the head steady engine ground, and the line to the crankcase appears to be on the right side along with a clip to support the oil feed line. if I leave things as is, down the road, I might have oil feed line interference with the carbs - ???

question (LAB) - 74 Mk2 - engine rocker oil feed line
 
Factory setup was as in the photo. Right side gets the pipe and splits off to go to the left.
 
Yes, as others have said the rocker feed from the timing case normally goes to the RH side of the head first, then over to the LH side.

I noticed it was the opposite way in your frame paint thread but saw the oil pressure gauge spigot on the RH side so I thought it had been arranged like that for a reason.
 
L.A.B. said:
Yes, as others have said the rocker feed from the timing case normally goes to the RH side of the head first, then over to the LH side.

I noticed it was the opposite way in your frame paint thread but saw the oil pressure gauge spigot on the RH side so I thought it had been arranged like that for a reason.
Click to expand...
i can't figure out the "reason" for anything as well as most of the "mods" on the bike - plenty of helter-skelter. not sure why the PO made the change - he did have a single mikuni along with the pressure gauge, so that may have had something to do with it. follow up question - torque value of the feed line hardware? thanks....

BTW, i'm assuming the plastic lines are 45 years old, so i'm replacing them with a (venhill) braided stainless assembly - :)
 
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joe czech said:
BTW, i'm assuming the plastic lines are 45 years old, so i'm replacing them with a (venhill) braided stainless assembly -
Click to expand...

Braided stainless is fine, just make sure it can't rub against the underside of the fuel tank even if it's the plastic coated braid.
Unfortunately many of the braided rocker kit cross-over sections are too long and need to be shortened as I've done.
Where possible fit the banjos so the spigots angle inwards. I also use an alloy sealing washer against the head in preference to copper.
question (LAB) - 74 Mk2 - engine rocker oil feed line
 
A cleaner setup is to grind through the hard surface on the end of each intake rocker spindle, then drill through. This way you have an oil passage to the left side and you can block the left side banjo to eliminate the crossover oil line. Works great.
 
thanks for all the help guys. I think I have everything configured as good as it's going to get. ground wire where it's supposed to mount, and with the additional ground, things should be good. need to torque the banjo bolts - hopefully, no leaks, but I wont know until i get the engine running - months away. the braded crossover seems to be a perfect length, and the line to the crankcase may be a bit short, but it does work. i'll double check for tank interference down the road. I moved the oil pressure tap to the LH side. it requires a special banjo-type bolt for the gauge - it worked fine with the venhill kit. the only thing I couldn't use was the little wire clip for the oil feed line - I can live without that...

question (LAB) - 74 Mk2 - engine rocker oil feed line


question (LAB) - 74 Mk2 - engine rocker oil feed line


again, thanks for all the help - ;)
 
joe czech said:
the braded crossover seems to be a perfect length,
Click to expand...

I'd still want to shorten it. :)

joe czech said:
I moved the oil pressure tap to the LH side. it requires a special banjo-type bolt for the gauge - it worked fine with the venhill kit. the only thing I couldn't use was the little wire clip for the oil feed line - I can live without that...
Click to expand...

You might want to consider turning the main feed line so the banjo is also angled inward or the line will clash with the RH carb or manifold.
question (LAB) - 74 Mk2 - engine rocker oil feed line


I've seen the line positioned outside the manifold, but to me I think that looks untidy, however, that's just my opinion.
 
L.A.B. said:
I'd still want to shorten it. :)



You might want to consider turning the main feed line so the banjo is also angled inward or the line will clash with the RH carb or manifold.
question (LAB) - 74 Mk2 - engine rocker oil feed line


I've seen the line positioned outside the manifold, but to me I think that looks untidy, however, that's just my opinion.
Click to expand...
OK - will look into it. I can mount the carb manifolds re-route things. I see maylar's oil feed routes between the carbs. I agree, looks a bit better. I set the tank in place to check for interference, and it look like the LH side of the crossover hit the bottom of the tank. i'll need to address that. again, thanks.
 
edited to add, just saw your other thread, ignore my comment :)

you could clean the look of the ground wire up and hide it by running it to the center, inside bolt on the head steady. The wire will pass by the cross tubes inside the head steady to the center bolt.
 
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