Stainless Oil Lines

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It keeps the economy going? You can replace the old lines for a few bucks. If you need some, I have some, or get the air brake line from your local auto store.

Dave
69S
 
They are nice. They are protected. I love mine.
That being said, I would have to say that fresh proper lines will be just fine and will last many years and for thousands of miles at pennies a foot.

Anyone out there who cannot confirm the age or condition of their lines could save some major, and I mean major, headaches by replacing these lines, especially if you have done oil pump work where you have renewed the oil pressure. My system reads 90lb's cold at idle and 75 hot down the interstate. If you plan any trips, reinforced lines should be concidered or at least have a length of line strapped to the frame under the seat.
 
The stock plastic lines get brittle, crack and then a lot of oil quickly lubes your foot. Yes you can rebuild with truck brake line and it does the trick, but it is a high pressure line and this makes it hard to repair on a trip out in the middle of nowhere. I finally caved and got the stainless line. Worth it to me for peace of mind. I don't like the ones with the stacked banjos which need a longer hollow bolt but you can get them with the double banjo and use your stock bolt. Shop around too - prices vary wildly.

Another alternative - I used to carry a spare assembly in my headlight shell.
 
What Batrider said.

On my 2nd Norton back in '81, the rocker feed line that crosses over decided to let go while the engine was going. Oil everywhere, not pretty. Luckily it was idling at warm up just befor a ride. Shut it down immediately so as to not run the motor without lubrication. Ruined the day, fortunately not the engine or worse (oiled up rear tire and sliding off the road potentially) THAT would have really really ruined the day.

If you have the original oil lines on a 35+ year old bike, you ARE on borrowed time. This should be one of the first fixes the Norton should get if the P.O. hasn't yet already.

Money well spent and NOT considered "bling".


JD
 
Since the first failure of a plastic line in the middle of nowhere I have considered stainless braid as a necessity. [pre-cell phone]

The first time I installed stainless braided teflon hose I went to my local bearing supply house and they used some crimps designed for another type hose and crimped them to the original fittings. Wasn't as pretty as what is available but that hose is still in use 25 years later. Jim
 
I would highly recomend the braided lines. I learned the hard way. At about 800 miles into a road trip my 'perfectly good' home made line failed. After all the work on the bike and I took off with crappy auto store hose. What a moron! As soon as I got back I ordered the braided lines from Old Brits and have never had to pay any attention to them. They are worth every penny.

Stainless Oil Lines
 
I installed new plastic assembly that I got from a Norton parts supplier when I rebuilt my engine. It failed around 6000 miles, luckily during start up in the driveway. I couldn't get a stainless one at the time and had to get another plastic one. Stainless is definitely a future upgrade.
 
It depends on which lines you're talking about. The high pressure rocker feed line is definitely a candidate for stainless braided. I did mine after the plastic one cracked at the upper banjo. The lower hoses (herringbone originally) should be routed carefully and protected from abrasion by the factory spiral steel casings. These get stainless braid only for looks, like I've done with the fuel lines:

Stainless Oil Lines
 
maylar said:
It depends on which lines you're talking about. The high pressure rocker feed line is definitely a candidate for stainless braided. I did mine after the plastic one cracked at the upper banjo. The lower hoses (herringbone originally) should be routed carefully and protected from abrasion by the factory spiral steel casings. These get stainless braid only for looks, like I've done with the fuel lines:

Stainless Oil Lines
Click to expand...


Gorgeous bike! Well, I certainly appreciate all your comments, you saved me some money. I will get the high pressure line kit in stainless with the stainless hardware along with a stanless brake hose. May get the Gates look alike hoses for the other lines as well, but being as the ones that are on there are new, I may not bother........ yet. Not high up on my list of priorities.

Steve
 
Gday Maylar, just looking at your fuel lines, wondering where you got the ferrules or ends that are crimped? makes for a nice tidy look!
Regards Foxy
 
I bought a set of those braided gas (fuel) lines about two years ago. They sat in the box for a year before I got around to changing tanks & wanting to use them but when I did I noticed ALL the crimped ends were cracked! It had been to long since I bought them to think about returning them but it was not the first of such things that I bought "on line" that failed. Lesson is to buy real parts from real Norton people.
 
1st thing I replaced when I took delivery of my bike.
Every upgrade list rec replacing these asap as demonstrated by above pic of oiled boots.
I went with Norman Hyde brand via an online vendor
They will go when your farthest from home.
I'm doing the stainless front brake line soon too.
Last thing I need is #4 all over a nice paint job
Marshal
 
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