Should I have an oil filter ??

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Combat Col

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Sep 28, 2010
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I have a Combat made in Dec. 71. In theory this should make it a 72 spec. Engine No. 202107
My belief is that, as of 72 they had external (car type) filters. Is this correct ? Maybe there's a crossover period when they were 72 spec but with no filter ? Or did filters come along a bit later ? Anyone know ?
Next question is : (when I eventually get it going) Does it need one if I only plan on doing reasonably short Sunday rides ? They obviously worked ok up until 72 without one.
 
In my opinion, with all of the troubles I have had, one cannot have enough oil system aids. A good filter is a must. The screen just dosn't cut it. Also concider an oil cooler. I'm adapting one from a 600 kawasaki. aside from the extra cooling, you get a litle more capacity. More clean cool oil is always good.
 
I have 202093 JAN 72 build date that I bought new. No oil filter. I added one when they first came out with the 850s I think in early 73.
 
Combat Col said:
I have a Combat made in Dec. 71. In theory this should make it a 72 spec. Engine No. 202107
My belief is that, as of 72 they had external (car type) filters. Is this correct ? Maybe there's a crossover period when they were 72 spec but with no filter ? Or did filters come along a bit later ?
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According to the Norton service notes, the spin-on filter assembly wasn't fitted until engine No. 208754.
 
I had to add oil filters to 203XXX and 205XX Combats. But the filter ain't really for engine wear factors as most the particles are too small to bother surface oil gaps and they tend to just settle down in places like bottom of tank and inside sludge trap. They ran decades w/o oil just fine, as long as oil changed enough to keep ahead of the real concern, corrosive chemicals and broken/cooked down oil and additive package. Main reason to add oil filter is to delay sludge trap fill up and get a bit more oil and cooling effect. What is more needed is a screen over oil sump to keep chips out of oil pump - when something unrelated to oil causes trouble.
Pre-73's just lucked out to have same space available to add one neatly.
My buddy Wes did over 100K miles w/o filter before his bottom end rod shelled siezed on road. He put his under carbs on air box back plate. I like it better down low of less mess to change. Any place mounted can spill oil on tire if leaks enough.
 
Old Britts sells a filter installation kit that I put on my 72 combat.
Fits behind transmission where later bikes have it.
Odd that Norton in 72 replaced the large drain plug with screen at bottom of crankcase with smaller drain plug without screen but didn't add the filter.
No filtration offered at all.
I'm thinking the filter kit wasn't available in time so they shipped without it.

Bob
 
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