Oil priming

[Phil C]

Hello all, 

When, in the next few days,  I summon up the will to leave my armchair (cold, isn't it?), I'm going to fit a tap to my oil feed pipe (1965 B40F.) When I then put oil in the bike, I'll need to put, I think, about 1/4 pint into the sump (recently drained.) Could someone remind me, please, how I should do that. I think I was told to put it in via one of the circular inspection caps on the rocker cover?  Is that right?

Phil.

[DerekAnderson8]

if i was you i wouldn't put any in the sump, after you fit the valve to oil feed line start the bike and check its returning to tank.



derek

[JulianS]

If you prime the sump then the rockers should get oil quite quickly after starting. If you dont prime the sump the rockers wait  a bit.

The other way is to kick the bike over with plug out and ignition off until you see it returning to the tank. Then you know both feed and return side of the pump is working.

[A10 JWO]

I put 1/2 pint in my A65 worked a treat.

[Phil C]

Thanks everyone. I think I'll probably kick it over a few times with the plug out and watch for oil coming back into the tank. But, out of interest, if I did want to pour some oil into the sump, would one of the circular inspection caps on the rocker cover be a suitable place to put it in?  Phil

PS Trying to decide whether to go to the show at Shepton Mallett. Probably won't, but tempted. Why is it always so cold on the Shepton Mallett weekend?

[A10 JWO]

Pour it straight in the rocker = gravity will do it.

[JulianS]

Shepton Mallet cancelled due to weather rescheduled for 23rd and 24th Feb.

[Phil C]

A10JWO, excuse my stupidity, but when you say pour it straight in the rocker, do you mean through the circular inspection cap hole? Is that okay?  Phil.

[Phil C]

Thanks for letting me know about the show, Julian.  Phil.

[AdrianS]

yes you can put some through the rocker cover.

If you decide to kick the bike over with the plug out, you may be surprised how long it takes for oil to get to the top of the pipe feed to the rockers. I was told by an engine rebuilder to take the plug out, put the bike in top gear and "run" up and down the road with it to get the oil to the rockers!

[Phil C]

Hello everyone, Dragged myself clear of the armchair just now and fitted a tap to the oil feed on my 1965 B40F (8mm ball valve tap as recommended by Bernie.) Please see attached photo, for interest. Quite a neat little tap, I thought?  Thanks again Bernie.  Anyway, I put the full quota of oil (4 pints) into the oil tank, and, with the plug out, turned the engine over repeatedly with the kickstart, watching for oil to come squirting back into the tank. The oil did appear, but squirting might not be the right word. It just kind of kind of dribbled out of a hole in the the vertical pipe in the tank.  In the past, when I've peeped into the oil tank, with the engine running,  the oil has been pulsing vigorously back into the tank, much more lively than this lazy dribble.  I'm guessing it's okay though, and that the reason it's only dribbling is because I'm just turning the engine over by hand and the the oil will be cold?  Would you say that's right?

Also, by the way, the hole through the centre of the valve is quite narrow - will that be okay?

Phil.

[JulianS]

Beware of any constriction in the feed line which will reduce the oil flow to your engine. It is a risk.

[ANDY HIGHAM]

Don't come on here crying when you forget to turn the tap on and wreck your engine.
There is usually a ball and spring in the front of the timing cover to prevent wet sumping

[Phil C]

That's hard to get at, isn't it?

[ANDY HIGHAM]

Items 33 to 36
https://www.draganfly.co.uk/index.php/bsa/bsa/b40/category/1186-gear-selector