G12 oil leaks
Posted: Tue Jul 09, 2019 8:30 am
My '59 G12 has leaked from the big chrome filter nut for some time. Its OK when tightened up but loosens off (possibly with vibration) just enough for drips under the engine. I've tried many seals, etc, but have finally settled on two fibre washers, PTFE tape and wire-locking the damed thing. This after on Saturday the engine dumping nearly all its oil after a rubber seal I'd fitted blew out (not enough rebate). It has a releif valve inside it so drilling for wire-locking had to be done carefully (ex-RAF aircraft engine fitter). It also leaked from the oil feed through the head gaskets, which I modified to take tiny BMC valve stem seals by filing out the gasket hole a bit. This took some time to find as the leak appeared as if it was from the crankcase between the cylinders, I did rebuild an engine for a mate of 1962 and this had copper head gaskets and oil seals, so I copied it. The dynamo simply would not seal and I ended up with two cork gaskets and a Gee clamp holding the dynamo hard against them as I clamped it up. The bike is called "Torry Canyon" by the way.