B40F Oil on wiring in tool box - from oil breather ?

[hoogerbooger]

When it was running the wiring around the battery was getting a bit oily. Residue still there . Looking at the back of the oil tank the feed pipe to the rocker looks clean (no pipe clip on it), but the return pipe is oily and suspect ( that does have  pipe clip). I will change the return pipe.

However, oil marks on the wiring seem too high for that  to be the source/only source. I notice what looks like a breather (3/4" long painted pipe spur) near the top of the tank.  Can these/should this spit oil.........and if so is it normal or indicative of problems ?

Also should the rocker feed be fine without pipe clips ? as I have none at both ends

[AWJDThumper]

The problem is that you get quick a bit a splashing of the returning oil at the top of the tank and some will find its way out of the breather. It's probably best to run a rubber pipe from the breather to below the engine to protect the wiring.

[JulianS]

Too much oil in the tank will usually cause some to be discharged from the tank breather.

[AWJDThumper]

Also should the rocker feed be fine without pipe clips ? as I have none at both ends

The rocker feed end of the pipe shouldn't need a clip provided it is a reasonably tight fit on the copper pipe. However, the oil tank end should have a clip fitted since the metal feed pipe is relatively short and, if the rubber pipe falls off, it could be catastrophic for the engine!