Oil to rockers

[DAVE BRADY]

I suppose the clear tube is a bit of a luxury and is not essential so if having one is too difficult or would not be visible maybe don't bother as so long as the oil is returning to the tank.  The only thing that would stop the feed to the rockers would be a blockage which in reality is quite unlikely. 
There is something interesting in the phots which is related to the gouges.  It looks like the seam on the bottom of the tank has been shaped to avoid the head steady bolt/nut.  I do not remember this on either of the B40s I have had.  This could suggest that tank is sitting a bit low?  This could also explain the gouges in the oil feed pipe.
Either way I would try to protect the pipe from further damage from the tank seam by slightly bending the pipe and putting a bit of split narrow fuel pipe over it.

Dave. 

ps  I think the feed should come through on the other side of the head steady and the 'repair' has resulted in misshapen banjos.

[Phil C]

Very interesting, Dave, thanks. What do you think might cause the tank to sit lower than it should? Could it be the wrong kind of tank, I wonder?  Maybe I'll take it off and photo it and ask you and others here. Phil

[Phil C]

Just thinking, if the join of the two pipes at the rocker end were central to the banjos, instead of off to one side, then the feed would be on the other side of the head steady, as you say it should be. It might also be clear of the petrol tank seam? If so, then maybe the tank is not sitting too low at all? All in all, maybe I need to replace the whole copper pipe.What is the correct route for the pipe, from rockers to the return t- junction - anybody know?      Phil

[DAVE BRADY]

Hi,

If I remember rightly the tank sits on 3 rubber pads.  1 on either side towards the front on a cross piece and 1 at the rear on top of the frame tube.  If they are the correct rubbers then the tank is sitting properly so it could be that the head steady bolt is  not sitting right or perhaps a bit long.  It is a snug fit but should not touch the tank.
Has anyone else out there got a tank that has been relieved to miss the bolt?

Dave.

[Phil C]

My tank sits on three rubber pads.  Phil

[DAVE BRADY]

Zoomed in on the bolt under the tank and it looks like this is the nut end with a slight protrusion of the bolt.  Could it be that the bolt needs to be put in the other way so the head is on the the rocker feed side.  This would then have a bit more clearance for the tank and there would be a bit more room for an originally shaped banjo.

Dave.

[chaz]

Don't know if relevant but my A10 has the pipework under the rockers not above. Like a U not a n.

[Phil C]

So the pipe comes away from the rockers in a downhill direction, before then turning back up and away to the oil tank? That would of course make a clear bit visible.

By the way, re my post before last, I lost track a bit: even if my pipe went the other side of the head steady there is still the issue of why the head steady and the tank are in each others' way slightly. I'll have s look at whether turning the bolt round would make a difference.       Phil

[Phil C]

Morning all,  Just had a look in Rupert Ratio, vol 2, and I think I see what Chaz means. On page 205 there is a photo which shows the pipes from each banjo coming down to meet in the middle, forming a U shape (rather than, like on mine,  going up to make an upside-fown U.) From the middle/bottom of that U a pipe goes off upwards under the petrol tank. Hard to tell but looks as though it probably goes to the rear side of the head steady. Not sure what route the pipe should take from there to get over  to the connection near the oil tank - anybody know please?  And of course that doesn't solve the tank/ head steady bolt issue ( just off now to look at whether turning the bolt round would sort it.).     Phil

[Phil C]

Me again, back from the garage.

Re tank and head steady: See photos. By the way, I think it's the correct tank. I don't think the steady bracket and the tank seam  are actually quite in contact at the moment, but the cut out /worn bit (whether deliberate or worn) indicates there has clearly been an issue at some stage. Thanks for spotting it, Dave. I think I will turn the bolt round when I have the tank off next, and that might give a bit more clearance. By the way, I notice the bolt head is either slightly, or very nearly, in contact with the decompressor return spring (see photo). Thankfully when the decompressor lever is operated the spring the moves away clear of the bolt rather than rubbing along it. It might be more comfortably clear when I turn the bolt round.
Re the copper pipe, I reckon Chaz is probably right in that it should probably be in a U shape at the rocker end, but does anybody know its route from there to the vicinity of the oil tank? Interestingly, I see in Rupert Ratio vol 2, p.41, that on the C15 competition headsteady arrangement to '62 the pipe went under the steady. Different bike to my 1965 B40F, I know, but interesting to see. I'm guessing mine should go rearward of the steady.              Phil

[Phil C]

A further thought I just had, regarding the headsteady bolt: maybe the bolt was longer and so was definitely catching on the seam, and so was cut shorter by someone.  Looks like it might have been (hacksaw so far and then broken off maybe?)   Phil

[Phil C]

 Don't see any rocker feed pipes for sale with a U shape rather than an n.

[chaz]

close up of more of a W than a U. as can be seen, the clear pipe leaves around the rear rocker and goes to the junction in the return line

[Phil C]

 Yes, W.  Can't see any for sale.

[JulianS]

The copper pipes are malleable and can be carefully bent to desired shape.

New ones will need to be bent to suit the bike.