Sloper Rocker Arm Oil Seals

[JohnCH]

Hello, new member here.
I'm a long-time M20 owner and have just acquired a 1930 S-30 sloper. I'm new to this model and it's my first touch on pre-war bikes, so I expect to be picking experts' brains a little. It was professionally restored in 1987, I believe used regularly since, but has been unused for several years recently due to the death of the last long-term owner. It's complete, starts and runs, but has no power above idle. I suspect fuel starvation due to crumbly Petseal in the tank, which I've encountered before.
Anyway, the inlet rocker pad has worn through its hardening and taken the top of the valve stem with it. I can get those fixed. On dismantling the rocker box I noticed that the restorer had fitted O ring seals at either end of the rocker arms, instead of the original felt. Given that the felt was supposed to absorb oil and help lube the rocker bearings, I wonder if the O rings are such a good idea. Does anyone have a view in this?
Cheers,
John

[Y13 Alan G]

Hi John. It doesn't matter whether you use oil seals or felt pads as the rocker spindles are lubricated by grease gun as shown in the attached extract from 1929 Sloper Instruction Manual. Due to Forum picture size restrictions the attached may not be very clear. In the picture "C" are the long grease nipples, grease every 250 miles or so. Hope this answers your query

[JohnCH]

Thanks Alan.
I think I'll return to felt. My rocker pad and valve have suffered wear through misalignment, and I wonder if the very limited compressibility of the o-rings might have caused the rocker arm to be offset on the spindle. I have a good copy of the drawing in my owner's manual, but thanks anyway.