1966 Hornet sludge trap.

[boriscross]

I asked a question the other day about seized barrels and piston that thankfully is now solved. Now I'm down to the sludge trap, I got the cap out OK, drilled the the centre punch marks and used an impact driver. I've taken the crank bolt out but the tube will not move, have used the recommended method with bent wire, nothing happens. Any suggestions?

[DAVE BRADY]

Hi,

Is the tube full of sludge?  Sometimes it has to be carefully drilled out but if it is not too full scrape out what you can and then try to soften what is left with a degreaser/solvent.  Once the sludge is softened the tube should come out.
As a last resort you may have to destroy the tube and get new one.

Dave.

[Nanonevol]

I made a puller out of all-thread with a grub screw tapped into it perpendicular. 
Insert the tool with the grub screw turned in and line it up with the flywheel bolt hole. 
Unscrew the grub screw part way with allen wrench through bolt hole so it catches on the edge of the tube hole.
Then pull out the tube by turning the nut on the all-thread. 
This is a Vintage Bike idea as I recall.  Takes a bit of effort to make but works beautifully.

[DAVE BRADY]

Hi,

That is a great idea.  Might be worth softening the sludge a bit as well.

Dave.

[boriscross]

Thanks for the question, Dave no there is actually very little in the sludge trap which was a surprise as it would appear that the engine has been stripped relatively recently which would not seem to be the case from other observations.

[boriscross]

I like the idea of the extractor and will also try this. I have also ordered a can of freeze and release lubricant which might work when it gets here.

[ChrisG]

Boris,
There may not be much sludge in the tube but the gap between the tube and crank may have as that's what fills up first. I thought my Royal Star was clean and must have been done recently until I took the tube out and there was a perfect annular arc of sludge in there. I was amazed at the amount that dropped out.
Not as bad as my old Thunderbolt (the one on the cover of The September Star) though. When I did that (my first ever) I thought the hole was cast in, as it was a rock hard wavy surface all round. I took out stacks of crud. Problem was (and maybe still is) there was no tube in there and I didn't know there should be one so it went back together without! We live and learn eh?
Chris

[DAVE BRADY]

Hi,

I would think that if you have a spin on filter then the lack of a tube is not a major issue.  Just about all of the sludge will be caught in the filter. 

Dave.

[chaz]

done the 500 sludge trap today, got the plug out and thought there was half a hole.
tube came ut with a decent size drill without much trouble, then used the propper size drill to clear out the hole and finished off with a clean in the cleaning tank.

[DAVE BRADY]

Hi,

This amount of stuff is what is in your guts after a lifetime of drinking tea.

If you haven't already binned the sludge can you weigh it?  It would be interesting to see how, over time, the balance of the engine is affected.

Dave.

[Mike Farmer]

 

Only if you have milk in it

Mike