oil from breather pipe

[hub]

hello all, i have a 64 triumph 3ta and there is oil running out of the breather pipe onto the nice clean ground.does anyone have any ideas of cause,the breather pipe isnt blocked,iv given her a rebore,the oil pump seems fine .some oil is making its way back to oil tank

[TriSpec]

RUNNING out?
It was common for the Triumph twins to blow a little oil out when running and to drip what was remaining in the tube when the engine was stopped. Oil is splashing around in the crankcase and each time the breather opens some of this gets expelled. In the 1950s an '60s it was very common for owners to extend the breather tube and bring it up around the rear mudguard so that it was expelled behind the bike.

Peter C.

[TBS]

Before you had the rebore was oil coming from the breather pipe? You say "some oil is making its way back to the oil tank", it should be returning in a long never ending squirt. "Running out of the breather pipe" do you really mean that or is there just the occasional drip?
Hugh


www.thebikeshed.net

[hub]

thank you for your comments.oil was comming out of breather before rebore ,the amount of oil comming from breather is a worrying amount its faster than a slow running tap .the the oil returning to the tank is a even flow but may be half the pressure it should be

[TBS]

There shouldn't be any oil coming out of the breather at all, if everything is ok. Here is a starting point. Drain the sump, and make sure the oil pipes are on the right way round. When you look at the metal junction tube the front is the feed pipe, the rear is the return. Hopefully this is your problem, as the oil pump has a larger plunger for the return than the feed. If fitted the wrong way round the engine would fill up with oil., otherwise check the rotary breather has been fitted to the inlet cam. To do this blow down the breather pipe, and with the plugs out slowly turn the engine over. You should  be able to blow into the engine, and as you turn the engine over the rotary breather will shut off the air supply will stop, carry on turning the engine and you will be able to blow again.
Hugh

www.thebikeshed.net

[hub]

thanks for that,im running down to the shed to try this .oil let you know how i got on                                                                                                                                                                                                             hub

[hub]

sorry for the delay .was trying to find a piece of rubber  tube that would fit over breather pipe.anyway,when i blow into pipe its clear when i turn engine over its still clear.the oil feed and return are on the right way.what does this mean.i hope nothing  bad?                                                                                                                                            hub

[TBS]

Sounds as if the rotary breather hasn't been fitted which will cause oil to constantly vent from the engine. Unfortunately it is quite a big job to sort out. Are you good with spanners? and wherabouts are you?
 
Hugh

[hub]

do you mean the rotary breather has failed in some way.because it was working fine before this.in other words,its fitted with a rotary breather but doesnt work correctly now.any owner with a triumph is ecellent with spanners no choice i guess,all part of the fun.dublin                                                                                                                 hub

[TBS]

I think that you should investigate the rotary breather. If as you say, you can constantly blow down the breather pipe whist turning over the engine slowly and there is no restriction then I think that this is your problem. The rotary breather has 2 tangs that fit into the inlet camshaft, which when the camshaft turns, therefore turns the breather. The rotary breather has 2 V shaped slots top and bottom that coincide with the V shapes in the cases. That's why when you turn the engine you should be able to blow down the breather pipe, then not be able to blow. Between the camshaft and the breather is a spring.  Unfortunately to check this out you need to remove the inlet camshaft, I hope you have a workshop manual, and the relevant Triumph tools. It is quite a big job to investigate, and if the tangs have broken off, where are they? Worst case scenario is a total engine strip and rebuild. Unfortunately I don't know any Triumph restorers in Ireland to help you,
Hugh

www.thebikeshed.net

[hub]

thanks for you for help,tbs                                                                                                           hub