rocker feed oil line

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Decemberist

Decemberist

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Jan 12, 2012
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The other day I noticed cracks on both sides of my rocker feed line going over the engine, I hope this hasn't gone on long enough to do any damage I think I got lucky because I haven't noticed any residual oil on the engine. Does anyone know how much psi runs through the rocker feed oil line? Oh, and to replace the oil line is ridiculously expensive.
 
Hi, Welcome. Not much pressure, up to 80psi, as little as 3-5 psi. You MUST replace it. My local Brit Bike purveyor of fine parts, Gate City Cycle, sells that assembly for $39.
 
New oil lines from my local British shop sell them for $56 all made up, a very small price for when you think about what could happen.

Ashley
 
Decemberist said:
Oh, and to replace the oil line is ridiculously expensive.
Click to expand...
Yes and no. It can also be rediculously inexpensive. Semi truck air brake line has been use successfully at pennies a foot.
 
concours said:
Hi, Welcome. Not much pressure, up to 80psi, as little as 3-5 psi. You MUST replace it. My local Brit Bike purveyor of fine parts, Gate City Cycle, sells that assembly for $36.
Click to expand...
Thanks, I tried to go the cheap route and find a good nylon 1/4" tube that would stand up to the engine heat. I tried everything from industrial hose supply companies to auto parts stores but to no avail. The SS lines are expensive averaging about $120 so, I will have to go with the budget line for about $40, just to get it going again.
 
If you have the metal lines, yes they fracture. You can buy the banjos and get some Nylon 11 line or air brake line. Here's my notes.

Use nylon 11 such as air brake line available at most napa or MSC for dirt cheap$.....25 cents a foot
Hold the cold line in a flareing brake line tube holder.
It should be held 1/8-3/16" longer than the oil line barb.
Pound the barb in with a plastic mallet. Don't heat it with your heat gun, just put some oil on the barb and in the line.

mscdirect.com
74203753
Nylon 11 Tubing - Fractional Sizes Inside Diameter: 0.170 In., 11/64 Outside Diameter: 1/4 Wall Thickness: 0.040 In. Material: Nylon 11 Color: Black. .43/foot

http://www.anythingtruck.com/commercial/airb_hose.html

Nylon 11, 1/4" od, 0.17 id, .04" wall, op temp -60 to 200F MMC 5548K84 $11.75/25'

I'll send you 5' of it for postage and handling.

I think the SS 'covered' lines are way over priced, but lots of people love it, can't fault it.

Dave
69S
 
I actually did buy the Nylon 11 tube but was concerned the rated 200 F would melt due to the engine/oil heat. When I got the stuff home I boiled one end and tried in vain to connect it to the barb, maybe I just gave up too easy? DogT where would I find a tube holder or any ideas for a suitable sub? Thanks for the input.
 
I use a Rigid flaring tool. With a few practice hits, you'll be whacking the banjos in like a pro. No need for heat. Or make a vice from a block of wood with a hole drilled in it cut in half.

rocker feed oil line


See here too post117193.html?hilit=nylon%2011#p117193 or do a search on Nylon 11, you will find stuff from years ago.

Dave
69S
 
I did something similar to Dave on mine, except I just got it at the local auto store. I opened the end of the tube slightly by pushing a closed pair of needle nose pliers into the clamped hose, and starting the banjo before the hose closed back up, then driving it in the rest of the way. Give or take 10K miles on that hose with no issues.

On a related note, my Ranger had the soldered oil feed found on the pre-commando engines. One fitting was repaired twice, and still started leaking after only a few hundred miles. I bought the Commando oil feed and cut the top tube to fit the head (P11s, like Atlas and N15, have the oil holes one top where the Commando head-steady goes). Give or take 2000 miles and no issues with this one either.

Careful with the banjo pipes and sides, even the slightest scratch will become an annoying source of oil drip.
 
DogT said:
I use a Rigid flaring tool. With a few practice hits, you'll be whacking the banjos in like a pro. No need for heat. Or make a vice from a block of wood with a hole drilled in it cut in half.

rocker feed oil line


See here too post117193.html?hilit=nylon%2011#p117193 or do a search on Nylon 11, you will find stuff from years ago.

Dave
69S
Click to expand...

I used the two wooden block method that was described in the thread you linked me to. Oiled the line a bit and gave a few precise whacks to the banjo with great success. I took the bike out for a half hour jaunt and had no problems. Saved me $40 bucks thanks for the help fellas.
 
I had one drip, but I just cut off an inch or so and re-did it.

Dave
69S
 
Do you have a source for the banjo fittings?

I was considering have an oil line made. I had a couple of custom SS brake lines made for a Honda Ascot resurrection I was working on. I had them made by a Canadian firm and they were less than $30 apiece. I remember looking at the long front brake line and thinking that it would make a perfect overhead oil line with a few modifications. When I was a mechanic I saw a number of these lines pop on customer's bikes and it was a real mess. We figured they must have been bad from the factory. I have never had it happen to me but it was one of the first upgrades I made to the bike when I took possession.
 
I'm sure about any Norton distributer would have the banjos, Old Britts, Fair Spares, British Only, Walridge, etc.

Dave
69S
 
DogT said:
mscdirect.com
74203753
Nylon 11 Tubing - Fractional Sizes Inside Diameter: 0.170 In., 11/64 Outside Diameter: 1/4 Wall Thickness: 0.040 In. Material: Nylon 11 Color: Black. .43/foot

http://www.anythingtruck.com/commercial/airb_hose.html

Nylon 11, 1/4" od, 0.17 id, .04" wall, op temp -60 to 200F MMC 5548K84 $11.75/25'

I'll send you 5' of it for postage and handling.

Dave
69S
Click to expand...

Does that offer still stand? As I'm adding the finishing touches to the old girl, I'm leaning against the head when I felt something give way under my hand. I didn't even have to look; I knew what it was.

Thanks,
Nathan
 
I thought I had some left, but I can't find it. It's been a while. Air brake line will work just as good and you can probably find it at your local auto store. Don't heat it to put it on, just oil the fitting and the line inside and whack the fitting on with a mallet, but you've got to make something to hold the line, you can't hold it by hand. I had one leak, but I just cut it off and re-did it. It must have gone in crooked.

Dave
 
Old Britts have pre-made braided SS lines for this purpose if you want to just buy/install them as opposed to making them up. Of course, if you want the oem look, they also have those lines as well.
 
Following DogT's recommendations, I built mine from 1/4" truck air hose acquired at NAPA for 19 cents a foot. I'll let you know how it goes once we're running, hopefully this weekend.

Nathan
 
Nater_Potater said:
Following DogT's recommendations, I built mine from 1/4" truck air hose acquired at NAPA for 19 cents a foot. I'll let you know how it goes once we're running, hopefully this weekend.

Nathan
Click to expand...

Works good; lasts long time. 200 miles so far...
 
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