B21 oil leaks

Started by Greenfield, 24 April, 2025, 16:14:13

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Greenfield

Ok, so it's a BSA!
I've got the B21 back together and started and warmed it up. I noticed smoke coming from under the petrol tank and found oil fizzing from the rocker oil feeds. From the outside it looks like there are steel inserts in the aluminium rocker box which the union screws goes into, but are these the ends of the rocker spindles? If so, should there be some sort of sealing washer inside?
Secondly, there was a steady drip of oil from the primary case. When I removed the level screw, half a cup full of oil came out. I'm assuming that this is engine oil from behind the engine sprocket. Again, any comments would be appreciated before I investigate further.

Greenfield

Replying to my first query, it was the end of the rocker spindles that the union bolted onto. Once apart, I found that the two rocker springs were significantly different when they should be the same; new ones on order. In addition, instead of having a spring on one side of the rocker and the thrust washer at the other, the exhaust rocker had the spring and thrust washer together and no washer at the other side. My theory is that by having both spring and washer together it moved the rocker along the spindle allowing excessive oil to exit the spindle groove and make its way through the spindle/rocker box interface. This would also result in reduced lubrication of the exhaust rocker; not a good idea.

Group Leader

I still can't get my B21 oil tight.     

The main culprits up the top seem to be the rocker feed banjos, the blanking plug in the hole for the non-existent de-compressor actuator and the top end of the push rod tube (circular with castellated nut type).

Nevertheless it's a lovely little bike to ride now I've fully re-built the engine and stopped it seizing up which, of necessity, has a slightly hybrid bottom end due to lack of a replacement late standard timing side crankcase casting.   I'm a mere beginner when it comes to BSAs but I do have a little bit of engineering nouse (45 years in the aerospace world taught me a couple of things) but previous owners .......  ::)

Alan