Oil Line Ball Bearing?

[Andy M]

I've nearly completed my re-build.

But in the bag in which I placed the upper part of the oil-feed pipe (the bit which the two bolts pass through and into the rocker cover) I've got a small spring and a 1/8" ball bearing.

I can't remember from when I stripped the engine down, but I assume that these came out of the pipe itself. But I can't see them anywhere in parts book. Should these be in that part of the oil pipe? Or could that have been forced from somewhere else. I'm confused.

Andy

[alanp]

I don't know about a 1/8" ball but a 3/16" ball is under the screw which locates the cam follower pin in the back of the barrels. Is the spring approx. the same size as the ball?
Alan

[Andy M]

Ball might be 3/16, I only measured it roughly. But yes the spring is the same size as the ball. Looks like it was supposed to sit on the spring.

But I've been looking at my rocker feed pipe more carefully and I think there's been some bodging in the past.  The photos I can see all show the t-piece for this pipe pointing horziontally, directly across the top of the rocker box. Whereas my t-peice pointgs vertically up towards the frame tubes before the pipe itself bends round towards the oil tank. Difficult to describe. I always thought the oil feed looked very untidy, now I'm wondering if its a bit of a late bodge.

[RichardL]

Another place for spring and ball is captured in the crankcase behind the oil pump. I can't recall and can't research right now if that ball is 3/16" or 1/4".

Richard L.

Richard

[a101960]

Oil pressure relief valve?


Lets hope it is not the anti drain ball and spring because if it is you will have to split the crank cases to fit it.

John

[scotty]

Anti drain/syphon ball bearing is 1/4"
hth

[iansoady]

But I've been looking at my rocker feed pipe more carefully and I think there's been some bodging in the past.  The photos I can see all show the t-piece for this pipe pointing horziontally, directly across the top of the rocker box. Whereas my t-peice pointgs vertically up towards the frame tubes before the pipe itself bends round towards the oil tank. Difficult to describe. I always thought the oil feed looked very untidy, now I'm wondering if its a bit of a late bodge.

Mine was bent into a really weird shape but it was easy enough to straighten it out and tidy it up.

Interestingly, period photos (eg in Mick Walker's book) show the U shaped bit with the banjos pointing downwards (ie with the feed coming in at the bottom) but it seems far more sensible to have it at the top so you can hide the pipe behind the petrol tank.

[LJ.]

The rocker oil pipe can look quite attractive if its not plated as the brass banjos and copper pipe polishes up nicely. Mine also go up and over. The 49 long stroke star twin with separate rocker boxes looks even tidier as the pipe goes between the boxes. Careful while straightening out as only yesterday I managed to fracture the pipe near the 'T' piece, easy job to fix with soldering Iron, just hope now it's not blocking the pipe.

[Andy M]

It's not the oil pressure release ball bearing/spring. I've still got them and they are much larger.
I wondered about the anti-drain ball, but I found a ref that it was 1/4" and this is definitley much smaller than that.

[bsa-bill]

is/has there by any chance been an anti wet sumping valve in the oil line to the pump?

[dpaddock]

There are no springs or balls associated with the rocker oil feed.

David

[a10 gf]

Anti-syphon ball is 6.35 mm \ 1\4 inch