Author Topic: Oil system Q1: Adding an oil filter  (Read 5962 times)

Offline rowan.bradley

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Oil system Q1: Adding an oil filter
« on: 05.11. 2017 08:16 »
Three more questions about the oil system. Question 1:

What is the best way of adding a modern oil filter to an A10? What type of filter? What type of filter holder? Where best to put it? Some people seem very concerned about having the filter visible. I don't think I'm too concerned about this so long as it's not pink, and so long it is fitted somewhere neatly.

Is this a worthwhile addition to the system?

Many thaks - Rowan


Current bike: 1958 A10 Super Rocket (in bits), purchased in 1967.
Previous bikes: M21

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Re: Oil system Q1: Adding an oil filter
« Reply #1 on: 05.11. 2017 08:51 »
Hi Rowan,
If you search the forum you will find a wealth of information about oil filters. I chose to fit a Norton type filter to the front of the rear mudguard below the gearbox. If your machine is a swinging arm model you may choose to fit a filter in the larger toolbox.
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Re: Oil system Q1: Adding an oil filter
« Reply #3 on: 05.11. 2017 12:23 »
Three more questions about the oil system. Question 1:

What is the best way of adding a modern oil filter to an A10? What type of filter? What type of filter holder? Where best to put it? Some people seem very concerned about having the filter visible. I don't think I'm too concerned about this so long as it's not pink, and so long it is fitted somewhere neatly.

Is this a worthwhile addition to the system?

Many thaks - Rowan

This pic shows how I fitted my commando filter above the gearbox, on a bracket bolted to the engine/gearbox plates by the top gearbox bolt. I made no attempt to hide it, it retains the standard oil pipes unmodified, but also needed short lengths of rubber oil resistant pipe and jubilee style clips to plumb it in.

Edit: as above this is a topic well covered elsewhere, but I'm not sure I've posted a pic  of how I've done it.
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1956 A10 Golden Flash  (1st finished project)
1949 B31 rigid “400cc”  (2nd finished project)
1968 B44 Victor Special (3rd finished project)
2001 GL1800 Goldwing, well, the wife likes it
2009 KTM 990 Adventure, cos it’s 100% nuts

Offline rowan.bradley

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Re: Oil system Q1: Adding an oil filter
« Reply #4 on: 05.11. 2017 13:00 »
>it retains the standard oil pipes unmodified

So how did you break into the existing oil system then? Presumably the return pipe needs to go to the filter, not the tank, and you need a new tube from the filter to the tank?

Thanks - Rowan


Current bike: 1958 A10 Super Rocket (in bits), purchased in 1967.
Previous bikes: M21

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Re: Oil system Q1: Adding an oil filter
« Reply #5 on: 05.11. 2017 13:18 »
I see that your current bike is a swing arm model. I know a bit about plungies and very little about SA models so my advice may not be any use to you; however here is my post from a few years ago:

I bought a Norton 850 oil filter head and filter from Ebay intending to fit it in the toolbox of my plunger frame GF as others have done. However, the assembly was too wide to fit in the toolbox so I have mounted the filter on the rear mudguard behind the gearbox using nylock nuts. Both parts are dull black so fairly inconspicious.
When mounted the filter head union stubs point towards the chain. I've used Goodyear 8mm, (5/16") ID reinforced rubber pipe to do the plumbing.
The oil feed pipe from oil tank to pump union pipes is as original. The return from the pump is carried over the top of the gearbox, down between the vertical frame tube and the gearbox  then gently curves around to meet the filter inlet stub. The filter outlet pipe is routed tightly underneath the gearbox and then up behind the pump union assembly so it appears adjacent to the original metal pipes. It lines up nicely with the rocker feed banjo and oil tank connector. Finished off with proper hose clamps it looks neat and not too obtrusive.

Here is a link to some photos of the set up.
http://tinyurl.com/cqbbnj7

Update: I've added an annotated image to show the pipe runs.
Greybeard (Neil)
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Offline a10 gf

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Re: Oil system Q1: Adding an oil filter
« Reply #6 on: 05.11. 2017 15:20 »
Just posting reminder \ demonstration for the search (main menu), in case someone has missed the possibilities.
The full search function has many useful settings (in comparision to the simple search from upper right of page).

For this specific case I'd do this (see attachment):


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Re: Oil system Q1: Adding an oil filter
« Reply #7 on: 06.11. 2017 04:09 »
>it retains the standard oil pipes unmodified

So how did you break into the existing oil system then? Presumably the return pipe needs to go to the filter, not the tank, and you need a new tube from the filter to the tank?

Thanks - Rowan

Here are some pics, from memory I bought new oil pipes, and used the fittings from the ends of the old pipes on the ends of the short lengths of hose.
New Zealand

1956 A10 Golden Flash  (1st finished project)
1949 B31 rigid “400cc”  (2nd finished project)
1968 B44 Victor Special (3rd finished project)
2001 GL1800 Goldwing, well, the wife likes it
2009 KTM 990 Adventure, cos it’s 100% nuts

Offline rowan.bradley

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Re: Oil system Q1: Adding an oil filter
« Reply #8 on: 06.11. 2017 17:45 »
Am I right to assume that having fitted one of these modern inline filters in the return pipe, I no longer need the felt filter that was in the tank? Mine has been eaten by mice in the years that the bike has been sitting in my garage, so if I don't need it that will be one less thing to buy  *smiley4*.

Thanks - Rowan


Current bike: 1958 A10 Super Rocket (in bits), purchased in 1967.
Previous bikes: M21

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Re: Oil system Q1: Adding an oil filter
« Reply #9 on: 06.11. 2017 17:49 »
Renew the felt filter in the tank, if that’s what should be there and forget about fitting an external one.

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Re: Oil system Q1: Adding an oil filter
« Reply #10 on: 06.11. 2017 17:51 »
An external filter is always something else that can go wrong. Trust me on that.
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Re: Oil system Q1: Adding an oil filter
« Reply #11 on: 06.11. 2017 19:27 »
Am I right to assume that having fitted one of these modern inline filters in the return pipe, I no longer need the felt filter that was in the tank? Mine has been eaten by mice in the years that the bike has been sitting in my garage, so if I don't need it that will be one less thing to buy  *smiley4*.

Thanks - Rowan

My filter in the tank is a tubular piece of metal gauze, no felt, I decided to refurb it (I had some of the correct gauze to solder on). I did this thinking, that (despite carefully cleaning the tank out  *work* ) there was still a chance of a piece of debris getting pumped around the engine   *problem*
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1956 A10 Golden Flash  (1st finished project)
1949 B31 rigid “400cc”  (2nd finished project)
1968 B44 Victor Special (3rd finished project)
2001 GL1800 Goldwing, well, the wife likes it
2009 KTM 990 Adventure, cos it’s 100% nuts

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Re: Oil system Q1: Adding an oil filter
« Reply #12 on: 06.11. 2017 20:25 »
My filter in the tank is a tubular piece of metal gauze, no felt
Same here.
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Offline RoyC

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Re: Oil system Q1: Adding an oil filter
« Reply #13 on: 06.11. 2017 21:05 »
My filter in the tank is a tubular piece of metal gauze, no felt
Same here.
and here
My bike is a 1958 A7SS
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Offline duTch

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Re: Oil system Q1: Adding an oil filter
« Reply #14 on: 06.11. 2017 21:52 »

 As ^above^, my Plunger Flash also has a simple brass mesh strainer- keeps the big bits out....A felt filter may be good in theory, but the pump would work harder to suck to the feed, and I think it (the pump) already needs all the help it can get- unless the felt is there to simply catch the oil on its' return (I've considered that but not done it)

 As others, I've a Noturn type spin on, but as already stated there's plenty to read in other threads
Started building in about 1977/8 a on average '52 A10 -built from bits 'n pieces never resto intended -maybe 'personalised'
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