Lagging the oil tank

Tom Gaynor

Well Known and Active Forum User
VOC Member
Following the recent thread on "what oil for your Vincent" - has anyone tried lagging the UFM? I know that blocking the space between UFM and tank to prevent air flow has been done before, but I can foresee problems in any subsequent removal / refitting. Has anyone tried anything else? What I had in mind was Acme Vincent tank lagger, just cut to size with scissors, sticks in place, easily removable when desired.
 

ET43

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Non-VOC Member
Tank Lagging and other things.

Many years ago at a Deers Hut meeting Trevor Southwell probed everyone's Vin for oil temperature. Even Adrian Cattell's oil who had ridden some 140 miles from Derby, was not up to working temperatur, reading around 150F I seem to recall. Too much airflow betwixt UFM and tank methinks. On another subject for twin owners. Remove your gearbox dip stick, degrease it, paint it with matt black paint and you are able to see the okl level ok. Finally, another subject. To equalise the carb slide lift, fashion two 6" long 5/8" wide 1/16" thick alloy strips, bevelled on one side, and with a 1/8" wide slot 5/8" deep in one end. Wind back the slide stops until they are resting on their base, insert the alloy sticks bevel side down until they touch the inner side of the carb side of the slide and adjust the slide stops until they only just make the ends of the stick twitch. This can be seen by standing at the handlebar whilst operating the twist grip, then you can adjust the cables to suit and it does not entail geriatric mechanics whilst trying to stick a finger up the hole and look at the other one. Comet owners will be in their element here.
Happy New Year to you all, and keep all your wheels on the ground. ET43
 

Tom Gaynor

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VOC Member
The answer to derek's question is in ET43's response. The oil never gets to a reasonable working temperature, so never evaporates off (for example) water vapour.
Without giving way on the question of lagging, how to, I balanced the carbs on another vee-twin, a Guzzi Le Mans II. It didn't take long to find out that balancing the carbs was not just a matter of having the slides at the same height. I used a Carbtune, a pair of manometers, initially mercury, later stainless steel (gauges are useless, not sensitive enough). Starting with the slides at the same height so that it idled evenly, I had to adjust mixture so that the pots remained in balance as the slides lifted.
When I'd done that, which involved a fair amount of changing idling settins, the motor was significantly smoother. Balanced, one might almost have said..... Same was true of a Ducati 900 Monster: the slides were at the same height, but a ducati guru balanced the pick-up for me and it was like a new bike.
 

Ken Tidswell

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VOC Member
lagging

As a pragmatist all I would do is to find some expanded polystrene and trim it to fit the gap(s), If you are lucky enough you could find some grey or black coloured material , so much the better. Not pretty but those who prefer the experimental approach satisfying could have some fun, Ken
 

BlackLightning998

Well Known and Active Forum User
VOC Member
Why not use an oil which operates at lower temperature - the technology exists today?

Two questions come to mind:

First is that given the outstanding design of the bike I'd have thought that if there is an air gap around the UFM then there are only two possible reasons for it, firstly that the manufacturing techiniques and tolerances meant that it had to be made that way (I suspect not) and then secondly that it was designed that way - in which case we should ask why?

Second then, assuming that it is operating as designed then oppose to lagging the UFM why not just use a different oil which delivers its performance as a lower operating temperature?

Stuart
 

Len Matthews

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VOC Member
All interesting stuff but I've seen some Series D's with extended oil tanks so is the increased capacity a bad thing?:confused:
 

timetraveller

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VOC Member
No need to go to all the trouble of making something to get the carbs with the same lift as suggested by 'Pushrod'. The bit you need is already on your bike in the form of H36/1, the motion block for the rear brake. I have been using these for this purpose for 50 years, man and beast, and you always have one with you! I do one carb and then the second using the same block and it takes very little time.

Regarding Tom's point re. using the flow to balance the carbs; I used to tune an 'E' type Jag (three carbs) and (unsuccesfully) tried all the usual dodges until I came across the Gunson Carbalancer. It completely solved the problem and made the task trivial. It also works well with a Vincent twin but is easier if you can get someone to hold the throttle steady.

Happy New Year to you all.
 

Tom Gaynor

Well Known and Active Forum User
VOC Member
Lagging tanks

(The carb balancer I bought was made in Ulster. Someone to operate the throttles is a big advantage, unless you have three arms and two heads.)

I've just bought 20 litres of straight 40, and it's bloody freezing outside, and likely to be for several months.....so I'm looking for a short term fix. Next time I'll buy 0-40. The STF is likely to be polystyrene wodged into place, thanks, Ken.

I suspect the underlying belief is that oil needs to be cooled if anything, whereas it has been known for years that Vincents have the opposite problem (hence the widely known advice that you shouldn't start it unless you intend to ride it at least 10 miles). Not only is this subject covered in great depth in FYO and ATY, it can be assumed that Trevor didn't conduct his experiment because he'd suddenly gone doolally, but because he expected to find what he did.

I pass on the comments of a fellow racer, that more bikes stopped in races because the oil-cooler started to leak, than ever stopped because the oil got too hot......
 

BlackLightning998

Well Known and Active Forum User
VOC Member
FYO and ATY

I know I should recognise the two publications but it must be late - what are the titles please.

Terry Prince (who rebuilt my engine in 2006 before I bought the bike back) recommends fully synthetic so long as I use a full flow oil filter cartridge.

He's done a bit and should surely know what is what.

Stuart

(The carb balancer I bought was made in Ulster. Someone to operate the throttles is a big advantage, unless you have three arms and two heads.)

I've just bought 20 litres of straight 40, and it's bloody freezing outside, and likely to be for several months.....so I'm looking for a short term fix. Next time I'll buy 0-40. The STF is likely to be polystyrene wodged into place, thanks, Ken.

I suspect the underlying belief is that oil needs to be cooled if anything, whereas it has been known for years that Vincents have the opposite problem (hence the widely known advice that you shouldn't start it unless you intend to ride it at least 10 miles). Not only is this subject covered in great depth in FYO and ATY, it can be assumed that Trevor didn't conduct his experiment because he'd suddenly gone doolally, but because he expected to find what he did.

I pass on the comments of a fellow racer, that more bikes stopped in races because the oil-cooler started to leak, than ever stopped because the oil got too hot......
 
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