Crankcase Rescue

Mark Savage

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Crankcase Rescue
Crankcase Rescue
A couple of months ago I started a strip down of my 1972 Roadster engine to refresh it as it's not been touched since 2006 and as it wasn't done by myself I wanted to satisfy my curiosity. Head and barrel off, no problem, but as soon as I started undoing a few engine/cradle fixings some mounting points started crumbling before my eyes. At this point I was in a bit of despair. A trip to Pete Lovell soon had me feeling a bit better as he said it was a common problem and possibly due to powdercoating. If the fixing area isn't cleared of excess surface finish the vibration wears it away and leaves the cradle loose very quickly. It had obviously been tightened at some point since 2006 though as all the fixings were tight, but with evidence of what looked like JB Weld in some areas.

Anyway, he recommended a small engineering concern in Shropshire, UK. Hawthorne & Beauchamp, who could put them right and also, while the cases were with them, do the oil pick-up modification if I wanted (1972 cases).

I took them over to them and a few weeks later they were done, having been notified of progress with pictures from time to time. So my cases, having been rescued, are now back in the bike and running. Needless to say I am very pleased with the work they have done for me.
If you need to contact them for similar work, 075 0571 1517 or 079 4840 9445
 
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I chose the timing cover route, I didn't use the back breather as I believe it slurps up the crankshaft flung oil as well as breathing. I have an XS650 type breather.
I'm not sure if I saw that you have a breather there that returns wetsumped oil to the tank?
I'm sort of in a routine, from a Dommie I also own, to manually return oil if I notice the level has sunk from the crankcase to oil tank via a jug. This also gives me a chance to check the magnet on the plug.
 
I chose the timing cover route, I didn't use the back breather as I believe it slurps up the crankshaft flung oil as well as breathing. I have an XS650 type breather.
I'm not sure if I saw that you have a breather there that returns wetsumped oil to the tank?
I'm sort of in a routine, from a Dommie I also own, to manually return oil if I notice the level has sunk from the crankcase to oil tank via a jug. This also gives me a chance to check the magnet on the plug.

That was me. And really the only time you'll see oil up the breather is when it's wetsumped. A small amount of oil up the breather wouldn't be a big deal while it's running. That windage deflector will keep a majority of the oil in the crankcase. Plus once the crankcase goes neutral pressure I don't think it would pull much oil up the breather. Maybe @comnoz has a perspective?
 
Yes, you're probably right and that small amount of oil you'll get that's unfiltered shouldn't matter.
 
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I also don’t really think that small amount of unfiltered oil matters. If it did though, I think it would be easy to fit a simple sintered type filter in the breather line.

Anyhow, I reckon your XS type breather will work just fine cab, it’s what I run on Triumphs.
 
I also don’t really think that small amount of unfiltered oil matters. If it did though, I think it would be easy to fit a simple sintered type filter in the breather line.

Anyhow, I reckon your XS type breather will work just fine cab, it’s what I run on Triumphs.

It's been on for a while Nigel. It was initially on the end of the breather pipe from the original rear exit breather.
 
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