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British Bikes / Re: oil drawn through from oil tank while parked
« on: July 27, 2006, 10:40:53 AM »
Hi Simon,
Nice to see someone having problems from actually riding their vintage bike.
Both problems are fairly common to vintage bikes regardless of make and have quite easy fixes.
Firstly it is routine vintage practice for the first start of the day to pull in the clutch lever and kick the bike over a few times to free off the clutch plates. They can get sticky for no apparent reason and if it is a vintage bike that can sit for a few weeks between rides it can be even more noticeable.
Secondly, if the clutch is in good order but still suffers from dragging it can be a small problem caused by excessive wear on the gearbox mainshaft thrust washer. This is a small plain bronze washer that controls endplay in the mainshaft and when worn out allows excessive endplay. When there is excessive endplay much of your clutch lever movement is wasted taking up the endplay before ever it starts to separate the clutch plates and the clutch will drag.
Put in a new thrust washer (very easy to make) and the results are magical.
As for your oil problem, does your Model P have the semi automatic hand oil pump on the tank or an oil pump down on the engine? Or both? The only time I have encountered the problem you describe is with a mechanical pump on the timing chest and as modern oils will eventually seep through any vintage pump no matter how good it is I now fit a tap to the oil line. Don't worry about forgetting to turn the oil on before going for a ride. You won't forget. How many times have you forgotten to put your trousers on before leaving the house? Forgetting to turn the oil on is just as embarrassing. You won't forget.
Happy riding, Bob
PS, now for the cheeky bit. The Model P was introduced for the 1925 season. No 1924 models.
Nice to see someone having problems from actually riding their vintage bike.
Both problems are fairly common to vintage bikes regardless of make and have quite easy fixes.
Firstly it is routine vintage practice for the first start of the day to pull in the clutch lever and kick the bike over a few times to free off the clutch plates. They can get sticky for no apparent reason and if it is a vintage bike that can sit for a few weeks between rides it can be even more noticeable.
Secondly, if the clutch is in good order but still suffers from dragging it can be a small problem caused by excessive wear on the gearbox mainshaft thrust washer. This is a small plain bronze washer that controls endplay in the mainshaft and when worn out allows excessive endplay. When there is excessive endplay much of your clutch lever movement is wasted taking up the endplay before ever it starts to separate the clutch plates and the clutch will drag.
Put in a new thrust washer (very easy to make) and the results are magical.
As for your oil problem, does your Model P have the semi automatic hand oil pump on the tank or an oil pump down on the engine? Or both? The only time I have encountered the problem you describe is with a mechanical pump on the timing chest and as modern oils will eventually seep through any vintage pump no matter how good it is I now fit a tap to the oil line. Don't worry about forgetting to turn the oil on before going for a ride. You won't forget. How many times have you forgotten to put your trousers on before leaving the house? Forgetting to turn the oil on is just as embarrassing. You won't forget.
Happy riding, Bob
PS, now for the cheeky bit. The Model P was introduced for the 1925 season. No 1924 models.