Triumphrat

Ahobie17 · 06-12-2008

1970 T100C, I was chasing a top end oil leak from the oil line to rocker boxes. I've replaced the 5/16" oil line bolts which go through the rocker boxes along w/ the 5/16" copper washers, well the leak is no longer present, BUT upon removal of the rocker access caps I see the valve train is dry when running the motor at 2000 rpms, plus have ridden 5-10 miles and the valve adjusters are still dry. One thing I noticed is that the 5/16" copper washers appear to snug to me, but there is a space between the washer and bolt. Just not what I would expect. I'm thinking that once the copper washer has been compressed it effectively seals the oil flow to the rocker box.
Trying to take care of this is driving me fricken nuts, first can't stop the leak and now no oil!!!!!!

Has anyone experienced this problem? What should I do? enlarge the washer that sits on top of the rocker box???? any Place that will send me the right size washers? How much clearance between the washers and bolt???

quagmire · 06-13-2008

Are you having the problem with one or both rockers?

I just went outside and looked at my rockers, ther is no space between the bolt, washers, banjo fitting, and the rockers. Everything is tight against each other. Do you think its a problem with the spindles? Could they be sitting in the boxes incorrectly?

Are you sure the oil passageways in the spindles are open? I seem to recall the holes for the banjo fitting shouldn't be near enought to the washers to be affected.

With the motor on take the oil cap off and block the return stream with your finger. Then check the rockers and see if you forced any oil up there. If not, I'd check to see that the rocker feed pipe is clear, then, make sure the washers aren't blocking the holes in the spindle. (your sure you tapped the spindle in all the way or too much?).

After that, looks like you may need to take the rockers apart.

How about some pictures.

Ahobie17 · 06-13-2008

Couldn't see the forest for the trees on this one!!!! I put the engine back together like it was before the rebuild and never saw what my problem really was. I called Jay at Britech and he set me straight. Seems that I never put two and two together, but the 5/16" oil line bolt doesn't go in from the top but from the bottom. When putting it in from the top the relief in the bolt is at the bottom and doesn't give oil its needed path to the rocker box...I feel so stupid on this one. You don't know how much easier it is lining the rockers up w/ the pushrods when the bolt is inserted from the bottom.

Thanks quagmire for your reply!!

Woody1911a1 · 06-13-2008

duh (smacks myself ) looked at your sketch several times and nope didn't see the forest for the trees either . lol

chit last week in responding to a post of yours i actually went and pulled one of my bolts so i could accurately describe it .

glad you got it resolved

Ahobie17 · 06-13-2008

I'm anxious about the test ride tomorrow, but here's some pictures after the fact, but hopefully it will help someone else out in the future.

If you look at the chrome bolt near the threads notice the bolt is necked down to allow oil flow, silly me didn't think of that. I was so focussed in on putting it back the way it was, never even thought it was wrong.
The rocker box picture shows the bolt inserted from the bottom as it should be. Makes perfect sense NOW.

Last weekend at the British Bash in Louisville KY, more of a car rally, my bike is the Jacaranda T100C.

quagmire · 06-17-2008

Woody, you can come down here and smack me too!