Oil leaking

[Johnw67]

Hi,

I am new to this forum and have had the pleasure to have just purchased my first Bantam. It is a 1967 D10 and I have an issue with what looks like oil coming from the front spindle of the wheel. I cannot see if it coming from the shock absorber more from the nut on the spindle. I have attached a photo and any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks John

[Stubaker58]

Hi
Congrats on the purchase, is the bike a three or four speed version?
On Bantams with the 'lightweight' forks it's usually the fork seals that leak.
Probably best to take the wheel out and have a look inside the hub to check whether the brake shoes have been contaminated (the brake is pretty hopeless even when not oily!!)
Regards

[Johnw67]

Hi,

Thanks for the advice, I will remove the forks and check the seals. I don't think it has gone into the hub but I will check this out as well.

It is a 4 speed.

Thanks again

[neil1964]

Do these forks have a damper securing screw up inside the bottom of the leg that you can only get at with the wheel out?

[Johnw67]

I don't know, but will have a look.

[limeyrob]

Wipe around the lower fork leg about half way up. If its oily then its running down from the seal.  I would expect the seal leak to run down the back so my money is on the fibre washer on the oil drain on the inside of the leg leaking.  If these are done up too tight the washer splits and they leak.

[Stubaker58]

Short answer ... no they don't have a bolt up the centre. The spring scroll screws into a thread inside the fork slider.
The drain screw is incorporated with the threaded stub for the mudguard stays and sits on the outside of the fork slider.
They are not great design but they do seem to work (other than leaking out their oil!)

A four speed D10, the four speed means either a sport (chromed fork sliders?) or a Bushman (any orange anywhere?).

Sounds like an interesting project.

[Johnw67]

Hi,

I cant feel any oil leaking from half way up the fork, it seems like it is coming from the spindle area, I will take a closer look at the weekend.

It has chrome fork sliders but no signs of any orange so guessing a sport?

[limeyrob]

Very good chance its the drain then as this is the only opening into the oil on the lower fork.