Swingarm hitting oil filter

After putting on new front tire, I rode the bike and all seemed fine. However, on inspection the swingarm pivot was in contact with the oil filter and had caused a leak around the seal. With the bike on the center stand both tires are now in contact with the pavement. Previously the rear tire would be approximately one inch off the ground. The front tire is same size and brand as old tire. The bike is a 74 Commando.

Any suggestions or helpful advice is appreciated!

michael levato said:

After putting on new front tire, I rode the bike and all seemed fine. However, on inspection the swingarm pivot was in contact with the oil filter and had caused a leak around the seal. With the bike on the center stand both tires are now in contact with the pavement. Previously the rear tire would be approximately one inch off the ground. The front tire is same size and brand as old tire. The bike is a 74 Commando.

Any suggestions or helpful advice is appreciated!

Click to expand...

Man, that old front tire must have been a slick.

As far as the interference, you are saying absolutely nothing has changed except for the front tire?

It seems that the only way the swing arm can touch the oil filter canister is if the rear shocks extend too far.

If you were to remove the shocks and let the swing arm rotate downward then contact can be made.

Did you make any changes to the shocks during tire/wheel maintenance?

I know dumb question, but you did not install an oil filter that is longer that specified?

If everything the same .... something you didn't touch has moved .... I wouldn't ride again till I found out what ...
Craig

Check both Isolastic mounts, especially the front for sheared/missing bolts?
Edit: Also engine to cradle mounting bolts.

Only item changed was the tire, oil filter had been on since last fall with no problems, no noticeable difference in handling or vibration level. Will recheck all Isolastic and cradle bolts.

Thanks for the help so far.

Oil filter bracket bolt loose/missing?

:?: :?: :?: One oil filter bolt was missing and replaced so now have about a quarter inch of clearance, but both tires still in contact with ground when on center stand???

All engine mounting and Isolastic bolts are intact and tight.

Still thinking something I did when putting new front tire on, but not sure.

:?: :?:

michael levato said:

both tires still in contact with ground when on center stand???
Still thinking something I did when putting new front tire on, but not sure.

Click to expand...

Have you unscrewed the fork cap bolts recently?

Inadvertently fitted a larger size tyre?

No as to undoing fork cap bolts.

Same size avon road rider 100/90-19, wondering if Avon made any changes, old tire was 2 years old.

Forks and shocks both move freely down and up.

but both tires still in contact with ground when on center stand???

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Hi Michael

only the front tire should be on the ground when on the stand

It is very common for the center stand mounting holes in the lower frame to wear larger and oblong over the years...

and when they do it creates room for the bike to sit lower, I would look under there with it on the side stand and move the center stand up and down while secured

in theory it should not move at all and even if it does not because the nuts are tight it can move under force of being levered up while mike is raised on the stand

you may have to take out say one bolt to see if the hole is worn and if so you need either a new center stand or weld extra metal on yours to close the holes

just a thought, as many old Commandos have this problem

Rode out to local honda dealer, who sold BSA. He thought front tire looked taller than rear. When I came home and measured front tire is 1/4-3/8 inch bigger from center of tread to the rim. Both tires are same size avon road riders but rear manufactured in sept 2014 and front in sept 2015. Same tire pressure in both and stock Dunlop rims.

Puzzling?

1up3down did not ask a dumb question.......various different size filters will fit. I know of one that was shorter and i suspect others are longer. We thought of employing the shorter one on our so called classic race Atlas't. Just in case anyone racing Nortons is interested a letter to me from the Chief Development Engineer at Crosland Filters Ltd dated 10 June 87 states .....
' We do manufacture a spin-on oil filter with a similar mounting to the 673 which is 59mm long instead of 79mm for the former. The part number is 2030. the filtration area is half that for the 673 and the relief valve is 8 - 12 lb/ sq inch. this should be satisfactory for 200 miles use providing the down side oil pressure is satisfactory '.
Crosland were the original Norton filter manufacturers.

I have NO idea as to what the equivelent of that filter is these days. The 200 miles quoted was the minimum use before any restriction at all to flow would occur so for 100% of flow to occur it was suggested we change the filter after every 200 racing miles. Filters are designed to allow the flow required by the engine manufacturers even when seriously pertly blocked but for those idiots / brain deads who never change their filter there is a by- pass valve fitted and it would NOT suprise me to find many Norton filters are running in full bye pass mode!! One london dealer sold oil filter systems to brain deads....they employed fuel filter elements which are not suitable for oil fitering......wonder how many engines failed due to lack of oiul?? Personally I checked before buying a system and the earlier letter started of one of the various filters the motor cycle dealer had bought ...
........' I regret to say that the 18493 is too restrictive for the lubricating oil system used on the Norton. The 18493 is designed for diesal fuel applications and has a particle retention rating of ten microns instead of the 20 you require . Also the 18393 filter does not have a filer by-pass.........'.
A word of warning to those who go and buy the cheapest filter.....what makes you think the filter element is as good as or has the same area as the original filter ..or even a by-pass valve?? A great many years ago I had a few filters suitable for Nortons checked...the original Crosland filter had an area of 153 sq inches...the Wipac CA111 filter only 105 sq inches ...for example.......

Some slick salesman had sold the motor cycle shop owner a BIG pile of filters and holders etc that were totally unsuitable for motor cycle use. As the pile eventually reduced to zero I assume they were all sold to unsuspecting BSA Triumph and Norton owners......for filtering their fuel?????

Just a hunch - the front rim maybe a WM2 and rear WM3 - with a thinner rim the tyre will look a little taller

On a WM2 the tyre beads are sat 1.85" apart and on a WM3 the tyre beads are sat 2.15" apart

I would be surprised if Avon changed the dimensions of the same tyre in a year.


Often see 90/90 x 19 on the front and 100/90 x 19 on the rear to account for the difference in rim width.

First post say , bike used to sit properly on center stand , something has changed if both tires are now on ground when up on center stand ... maybe get a beverage , flashlight and a stool and sit and look at everything in detail ...
Craig

Mainstand pivts/Stops that are worn can cause it, bent stand as well. Mine doesn't clear enough to turn the wheel, I use a 1/4" aluminum plate at home, a few beer cans afield

Check to see if the cradle has indentations where the c-stand rests when extended.

Measure the length of your shocks to make sure they are standard. Longer shocks is probably the only thing that can cause the swingarm to hit the filter.