classic motorcycle forum

Motorcycle Discussions => British Bikes => Topic started by: smartfella on March 03, 2015, 09:52:12 PM

Title: Breather or oil feed.
Post by: smartfella on March 03, 2015, 09:52:12 PM

Can anyone clarify what I think this pipe input is.
I think its a breather pipe but could it be an oil feed pipe.
Thanks.

Title: Re: Breather or oil feed.
Post by: cardan on March 03, 2015, 11:00:21 PM

What are we looking at? (looks vaguely 1920s Precision, but I'm not sure)

Is there an oil pump inside the motor/timing chest? If not there needs to be an oil inlet to the motor somewhere. Either this is it, or if there is one elsewhere it might be a breather.

Often by this date the breather was on the drive side, so that the oil mist could be used to lubricate the primary chain.

Leon

Title: Re: Breather or oil feed.
Post by: smartfella on March 03, 2015, 11:05:18 PM

Sturmey Archer.
Here's a photo with the case off and the pipe connected.

Title: Re: Breather or oil feed.
Post by: cardan on March 04, 2015, 05:38:11 AM

Oil pump in/out is at the back, so the top fitting could be a breather. However it's possible that  the output of the oil pump goes up to a sight feed on the tank-top, then down to your fitting to go into the motor. Common in the mid-late 1920s.

Check to see if there is a flap/ball valve in the fitting, and if so whether it allows flow in or out.

If you know what bike the motor comes from, you should be able to establish how the lubrication system works.

Leon

Title: Re: Breather or oil feed.
Post by: john.k on March 04, 2015, 11:56:49 AM

Just asking,but are you sure its not a blanked off valve lifter fitting?.They usually go into the cambox at the front or rear in that location.Regards John.

Title: Re: Breather or oil feed.
Post by: mark2 on March 04, 2015, 08:44:32 PM

this might be correct , I have an engine with the valve lifter fitted there , not s/a , did this engine have a plate stamped Blackburn by any chance ?

Title: Re: Breather or oil feed.
Post by: smartfella on March 04, 2015, 10:03:26 PM

It's a Sturmey archer engine . Its stamped SA and it identified on this site by the good people on here.
I don't know what bike it was in. I am putting it in a 1929 New Henley.

There are no other breather points. Just oil in and out at the back and this one on the front.

Thanks for all the info.

Title: Re: Breather or oil feed.
Post by: mark2 on March 04, 2015, 11:06:14 PM

I did see a engine like this some years ago at a sale (about 8)  , steve from George yomans had it , thought it might be the same one , nice engine , but had a Blackburn plate on it which it was not

Title: Re: Breather or oil feed.
Post by: cardan on March 05, 2015, 06:46:24 AM

I think you'll find that the valve lifter is a quick thread co-axial with the exhaust tappet - the reason I suggested Precision initially as this is the only place I've seen it before.

Leon

Title: Re: Breather or oil feed.
Post by: mark2 on March 05, 2015, 09:56:33 AM

1920s triumph also used this position

Title: Re: Breather or oil feed.
Post by: chaterlea25 on March 05, 2015, 10:01:53 PM

Hi,
In the photos shown the crank timing side end is hollow, does the fitting in the timing case line up with this?
If it does then the oil feed to the big end /engine goes there
The fitting on the front of the timing case in the first pic looks very similar to the breather valve fitting on my Blackburne engine
What type of internals are in the oil pump?

HTH
John

Title: Re: Breather or oil feed.
Post by: mark2 on March 06, 2015, 09:18:28 AM

funny you mention blackburn , is this engine in the UK ? if its the bike im thinking it migt be i have the history for the machine