Rocker spindle choice? Norton 3 start gear / low pressure

Hi:

I'm wondering what rocker spindle types other early Norton owners are using / recommend. I have a 1962 Norton 650SS with the low pressure 3 start gear oil pump. Oil return from the head via a thin tube to a banjo on the oil tank return pipe.

Please excuse my ignorance but the more I am learning about the Norton top end, the more it seems that this is a bit a of a weak point and well worth checking it is setup correctly.

It appears my choices are as follows:

1. Original equipment scrolled type, (install with flats facing inward)
2. Non scrolled with flats, (install with flats facing inward).
3. Non scrolled with no flats.

Also, not sure if any particular supplier / manufacturer is better than any other.

Not sure what I have right now, but thought I would do some research before I investigate further. I do not believe I have a problem with the spindles rotating, locking covers seem to be doing their job. Oil pressure tested out at 80 psi (cold, attached below pressure relief valve) so my pump seems good. As the head was recently rebuilt I believe all oilways are unclogged. Just trying to work out what spindles are best for my application.

Cheers,

James

Britstuff said:

Oil return from the head via a thin tube to a banjo on the oil tank return pipe.

Click to expand...

Feed to, not return from.

Britstuff said:

It appears my choices are as follows:

1. Original equipment scrolled type, (install with flats facing inward)
2. Non scrolled with flats, (install with flats facing inward).
3. Non scrolled with no flats.

Click to expand...

2. Non-scrolled with flats are for the high-pressure rocker feed where the flats must face outwards.
3. Non-scrolled with no flats are also early high-pressure type.

Your existing top end oiling system is a low pressure system. The oil to the top is bled off the oil return line to the oil tank, as LAB is alluding. With this system, you do not have any choice with spindles .... must be scrolled type with flats facing inwards.

You can choose to upgrade to the later high pressure system which gets its oil from a banjo at the timing cover where the pressure is the same as the oil pump outlet pressure (nominally 60 psi cold, but lower hot). Should you make the change to the high pressure system, then you MUST change to the high pressure type spindles ..... non-scrolled with flats facing outwards, or else you will flood the rocker boxes.

BTW .... while the low pressure system might be considered weak, it is by no means problematic. My Atlas uses the low pressure system and in nearly 86K miles, I have never had any oil starvation issues.

Slick

Thank you both for your replies. Yes, sorry L.A.B., my mistake / thank you for correcting me. The rocker oil feed is from the banjo on the oil return line to the oil tank.

I think I going to stick with my low pressure pump and make sure I am indeed running the scrolled spindles with the flats facing inwards.

Thank you!

Kind Regards,

James