Oil tank filter catastrophe - almost
Posted: Wed Sep 20, 2017 4:36 pm
When I fitted the felt on chicken wire filter in my '53 M20 oil tank I took care to be sure the material did not foul the oil exit hole (a problem I had years ago with the same arrangement on my G3). 500 trouble free miles later I arrived at a lunch stop to find oil everywhere on the rear right quarter and pouring on the floor. Bugger.
Turns out that the rubber washer I made for the filter compartment cap had deformed under the pressure of an, er, enthusiastic ride. Bit of spanner work to put it back temporarily and home carefully to clean up and replace with a "proper" cork washer. Out for a test ride today, stopping every mile or so to check and find it still weeping a bit but pressed on with the bike running fine.
Next check and the oil tank is only half full! A few hundred yards later and it's down to the minimum. No oil being burnt (no smoke), no apparent leak bar the tank filter cap so gently keep going but another look and that's it, empty oil tank and spluttering return so stopped. It was a long push for home (if you know Bishop Auckland from near the rally site to my place.)
So, started to look around and took the oil tank filter out - can you see the problem?
Drained the primary, replaced the tank cap only, put an inch or so of oil in the tank and started up. Ran a treat and oil returned strongly until the tank was full to the max line! So what is wrong with these blasted filters? I am not the first to suffer this sort of thing.
Sadly though the left hand head gasket is weeping some oil, presumably as a result of crank case pressure.
So, do I leave the filter out?
Or bend it well away from the oil hole?
Do I torque the head gasket and hope?
Or replace the gasket anyway.
How do others seal the filter cap?
All advice sought folks.
Turns out that the rubber washer I made for the filter compartment cap had deformed under the pressure of an, er, enthusiastic ride. Bit of spanner work to put it back temporarily and home carefully to clean up and replace with a "proper" cork washer. Out for a test ride today, stopping every mile or so to check and find it still weeping a bit but pressed on with the bike running fine.
Next check and the oil tank is only half full! A few hundred yards later and it's down to the minimum. No oil being burnt (no smoke), no apparent leak bar the tank filter cap so gently keep going but another look and that's it, empty oil tank and spluttering return so stopped. It was a long push for home (if you know Bishop Auckland from near the rally site to my place.)
So, started to look around and took the oil tank filter out - can you see the problem?
Drained the primary, replaced the tank cap only, put an inch or so of oil in the tank and started up. Ran a treat and oil returned strongly until the tank was full to the max line! So what is wrong with these blasted filters? I am not the first to suffer this sort of thing.
Sadly though the left hand head gasket is weeping some oil, presumably as a result of crank case pressure.
So, do I leave the filter out?
Or bend it well away from the oil hole?
Do I torque the head gasket and hope?
Or replace the gasket anyway.
How do others seal the filter cap?
All advice sought folks.