A 50 inner timing cover

[AdrianS]

Just a quick question;

Can the inner timing cover be removed without draining the oil tank?

Also, are the timing gears prone to wear?

[bikerbob]

According to the workshop manual that I have for the A50 and A65 1962-3 models  it does not mention anything about draining the oil to remove the inner timing case. If you are a BSA owners club member you can access the manual on this website in the members area.

[Mike Farmer]

 

I never even considered draining the oil, so I guess its OK.

Mike

[DAVE BRADY]

Hi,

You can remove the inner timing case without affecting the gear cluster but you will need to drain the gearbox oil.  The layshaft bearing does not have a seal and there is a hole in the gear cluster plate.
The gasket on the inner case keeps the oil in.
You may get away with it if you can lay the bike over.
Wear on timing gears depends on oil changes as they are plash fed so god oil helps but really only after very high mileage.

Dave.

[DAVE BRADY]

Hi,

If you cannot get 'god' oil then good oil will do. There can be quite bit of end float in the idler gear that has the ignition attached and this could result in some extra noise.  There is no shim for this but I put one in my engine to reduce the end float to a few thou.

Dave.

[wardy]

More likely the bushes will wear than the gears I think - that would be the Engineering intention at least

[Mike Farmer]

 

I've never drained the gearbox oil. I figure that the amount of oil that will flow across from the box into the outer chamber is minimal. There will be an initial flow from both of the gearbox and the timing sections but only a fairly small amount. Just something simple underneath to catch it. Maybe I've just been lucky.

Take care.

Mike

[DAVE BRADY]

Hi,

I think the oil level comes up to layshaft bearings and the points arrowed are well below this.  Doesn't the hole in the inner plate go right through and is not blocked off by the low lip of the case behind it.
How would oil not flow through this?
There will only be some residual oil in the timing part that has run off the gears and surfaces as the bottom of the timing chest is above the sump level.

Dave.

[Mike Farmer]

 

My only thoughts on this are that once you have cracked the seal the oil immediately runs down to this level so by the time of actual removal there is minimal oil left to flow.
As it would be natural to check and top up the gearbox oil, I've always taken it for granted that it didn't run out.

So we live and learn, I've got one to do shortly so I'll do a specific check. As its never been on the road(kick start ratchet problem) it should be fairly exact.

Let you know.

Mike

[Mike Farmer]

 

As promised report on my taking off inner cover without draining the g/box oil. I usually put a container under the joins and just undo the bolts. I guess the oil drained out as soon as I loosened it.
So today I did the same thing and------------------completely blew it. oil missed the container and flooded the bench.

So my answer now has to be----drain it.

Miike

[AdrianS]

So now we know!!

[chaz]

just done mine and got a white thick cream come out of it, drain first..

[DAVE BRADY]

Hi Chaz,

That sounds like water has got in or some serious condensation.

Dave.

[chaz]

Dave, its been sat for a few years in America, imported then sat in a store in England before I got it. its been in my workshop since I oicked it up, some of the mild steel nuts and washers are rusting but the gears and shafts are clean although smelly. at least the bearings in the cases are needle roller and ok instead of the phos bronze type.

[DAVE BRADY]

Chaz,

It sounds like no damage then.  Is it emulsified oil or perhaps something put in to preserve it?

Dave.