Hi Martyn,
Thanks for your effort and support in the above responses.
To point #1, I think this motor is in good shape. Mechanically, I have received comments on its quietness, which is reassuring. On the oil front, I did want to put a multigrade into as, somewhere I read about the detergents dissolving some of "the sludge" that may build up in certain areas of the engine and circulate that to the detriment of all moving parts if a multigrade was added. What would be best, as I don't intend to touch the bottom end?
To be fair what came out the Comet, looked very clean to me and I have been dropping oil out of various bikes for a few years, now. Someone might add that it looks so clean because the 40 wt does not contain detergents, however, part of the oil's job is to clean, as well as protect, lubricate and cool. Anyway, what I saw come out looked like it had a great deal of life left in it. As a top end rebuild, is on the cards, this will be consigned to correct "local oil waste treatment" and fresh oil and filter added to the rebuild list.
To point #2, I will work on the connectors when the bike is laid up. Its not a complicated loom, only a bit of a fiddly job, so shouldn't take too long.
To point #3, I don't honestly believe this bike needs an anti-sump valve, I just thought as the oil was out, this would be a useful time to fit one and avoid any carbon build up in the cylinder and plug from start ups between uses as the bike is not used every day and can be lead up a few weeks between uses, though hopefully, less in 2015. I may skip this bit based on your comment and save that money to treat the kids!
To point #4, I thought the bike did have a leak here and there and after nipping up the pushrod covers onto their washers and the inspection caps, all seems good on the top end. The leak on the LHS was the breather dropping oil around/onto the chain and with more regular recent use, that has gone. THE only leak that I am aware of is at the RHS of the bike coming from the brass nut covering the oil pump (?) My plan there was to take that cap off, now the oil is out, put some sealant on the threads (ONLY) and put it back in. My understanding is there is not a gasket or anything on that. So far I haven't touched it as I couldn't even see if it was tight as the main oil feed line runs over the nut, hindering access. (That's the oil line you can see in the picture tied to the exhaust with a nylon tie to ensure all the oil goes into the catch tray).
To point #5, I did not plan to do anything with the breather, though I understand in principle your explanation. If the breather was not working as it should, I suspect my engine would be 100x worse than I describe it to be. This is the first bike that I have owned to leak a little bit of oil, so it probably sounds worse from me than it is. My mates, including my friend Rob who rides his late father's Black Shadow, was not concerned. My 1924 New Imperial runs a total loss system and apart from draining anything from the bottom of the crankcase before I start it, it basically, does not leak oil either. It drips oil into the top end with one tube from the oil tank and through a manual pump (set to a predetermined drip rate into the bronze crank bearings with the other tube). That's it and I recently did a 54 mile trip in the Jimmie Guthrie Memorial Run earlier this summer! Its a super bike to ride and won "The Jimmie Guthrie Memorial Trophy" for best in show!! The excess oil I saw on the LHS (back to the Comet) in point 4 above has all cleared up and only a tiny amount goes onto the chain now, so I believe that to be OK. The bike has sat for 13 days since my last ride out and I put a white towel underneath it. Nothing! Only 2 drips ready to drop. One from the brass nut covering the oil pump and the other was just excess from the breather side and possibly what was left over from the last ride to run down that breather exit pipe.
I think there is a certain peace of mind that comes from knowing your bike better and I am embarking down that path now.
In terms of what I have disconnected, I have seen copper slip on "this and that" and everything appears to be neatly finished, so that my impressions of the bike is that it looks to be a solid bit of kit that was well looked after and not a "superficial lash up". It seems consistent with the last owner being a motorcycle mechanic. I may also have found what x described as metering wires already fitted and neatly done too. I will photograph those to, hopefully, confirm this is what they are later this morning. I can't say that I have not enjoyed my time around the bike so far.
One of my "Velo friends" popped around yesterday and he is quite impressed with some of the "engineering on the bike". He is a fan of Phil Irving and recently lent me "Phil Irving - An autobiography" which I have not yet started!"
Anyway, its time for breakfast, a couple of chores and then back to the Vincent. Will post some images later.
Thanks, again Martyn.
I do wish some of you guys lived a little closer!
Thanks for your effort and support in the above responses.
To point #1, I think this motor is in good shape. Mechanically, I have received comments on its quietness, which is reassuring. On the oil front, I did want to put a multigrade into as, somewhere I read about the detergents dissolving some of "the sludge" that may build up in certain areas of the engine and circulate that to the detriment of all moving parts if a multigrade was added. What would be best, as I don't intend to touch the bottom end?
To be fair what came out the Comet, looked very clean to me and I have been dropping oil out of various bikes for a few years, now. Someone might add that it looks so clean because the 40 wt does not contain detergents, however, part of the oil's job is to clean, as well as protect, lubricate and cool. Anyway, what I saw come out looked like it had a great deal of life left in it. As a top end rebuild, is on the cards, this will be consigned to correct "local oil waste treatment" and fresh oil and filter added to the rebuild list. To point #2, I will work on the connectors when the bike is laid up. Its not a complicated loom, only a bit of a fiddly job, so shouldn't take too long.
To point #3, I don't honestly believe this bike needs an anti-sump valve, I just thought as the oil was out, this would be a useful time to fit one and avoid any carbon build up in the cylinder and plug from start ups between uses as the bike is not used every day and can be lead up a few weeks between uses, though hopefully, less in 2015. I may skip this bit based on your comment and save that money to treat the kids!
To point #4, I thought the bike did have a leak here and there and after nipping up the pushrod covers onto their washers and the inspection caps, all seems good on the top end. The leak on the LHS was the breather dropping oil around/onto the chain and with more regular recent use, that has gone. THE only leak that I am aware of is at the RHS of the bike coming from the brass nut covering the oil pump (?) My plan there was to take that cap off, now the oil is out, put some sealant on the threads (ONLY) and put it back in. My understanding is there is not a gasket or anything on that. So far I haven't touched it as I couldn't even see if it was tight as the main oil feed line runs over the nut, hindering access. (That's the oil line you can see in the picture tied to the exhaust with a nylon tie to ensure all the oil goes into the catch tray).
To point #5, I did not plan to do anything with the breather, though I understand in principle your explanation. If the breather was not working as it should, I suspect my engine would be 100x worse than I describe it to be. This is the first bike that I have owned to leak a little bit of oil, so it probably sounds worse from me than it is. My mates, including my friend Rob who rides his late father's Black Shadow, was not concerned. My 1924 New Imperial runs a total loss system and apart from draining anything from the bottom of the crankcase before I start it, it basically, does not leak oil either. It drips oil into the top end with one tube from the oil tank and through a manual pump (set to a predetermined drip rate into the bronze crank bearings with the other tube). That's it and I recently did a 54 mile trip in the Jimmie Guthrie Memorial Run earlier this summer! Its a super bike to ride and won "The Jimmie Guthrie Memorial Trophy" for best in show!! The excess oil I saw on the LHS (back to the Comet) in point 4 above has all cleared up and only a tiny amount goes onto the chain now, so I believe that to be OK. The bike has sat for 13 days since my last ride out and I put a white towel underneath it. Nothing! Only 2 drips ready to drop. One from the brass nut covering the oil pump and the other was just excess from the breather side and possibly what was left over from the last ride to run down that breather exit pipe.
I think there is a certain peace of mind that comes from knowing your bike better and I am embarking down that path now.
In terms of what I have disconnected, I have seen copper slip on "this and that" and everything appears to be neatly finished, so that my impressions of the bike is that it looks to be a solid bit of kit that was well looked after and not a "superficial lash up". It seems consistent with the last owner being a motorcycle mechanic. I may also have found what x described as metering wires already fitted and neatly done too. I will photograph those to, hopefully, confirm this is what they are later this morning. I can't say that I have not enjoyed my time around the bike so far.
One of my "Velo friends" popped around yesterday and he is quite impressed with some of the "engineering on the bike". He is a fan of Phil Irving and recently lent me "Phil Irving - An autobiography" which I have not yet started!"
Anyway, its time for breakfast, a couple of chores and then back to the Vincent. Will post some images later.
Thanks, again Martyn.
I do wish some of you guys lived a little closer!
