1947 norton model 18,dolls head gearbox oil leak.

can anyone tell me is there any cure for oil leak, and also what oil to use.in gearbox.

One solution that has been suggested to me is to part fill the box with semifluid grease and then top up to the recommended level with oil.

If you have the box apart fitting modern sealed bearings is also supposed to be helpful.

My solution is to live with it, and change the newspaper under the bike regularly.

Oil, my WD16H manual suggests engine oil but Penrite and others sell gearbox oil for older machines (engine oil with a different label maybe?). Modern gearbox oils reputedly risk problems with bushes wearing.

Previously wrote:

One solution that has been suggested to me is to part fill the box with semifluid grease and then top up to the recommended level with oil.

If you have the box apart fitting modern sealed bearings is also supposed to be helpful.

My solution is to live with it, and change the newspaper under the bike regularly.

Oil, my WD16H manual suggests engine oil but Penrite and others sell gearbox oil for older machines (engine oil with a different label maybe?). Modern gearbox oils reputedly risk problems with bushes wearing.

many thanks for help and advice. andy

Hi Andrew. The Royal Enfield Albion gearbox specified Veedol grease which was the type of grease it was originally filled by the manufacturer. This prevented leaks as there were no sealed bearings used within this box.  The boxes lasted well with the grease.

 As far as I can search, Veedol grease is not available but a good equivalent is Fuchs Silkolene LST 00 grease see link below:

http://www.opieoils.co.uk/pdfs/FUCHS%20-%20TDS/RENOLIT%20LST%20GREASES.pdf

This still seems somewhat illusive, but Hitchcock's Royal Enfield Spares sell it for £11 + vat and P&P, see:

http://www.hitchcocksmotorcycles.com/images/enfield_india/done/larges0218.jpg

They call it EP 00 but i don't think it is the same as a EP oil with the problems that can sometimes have with bronze bushing.

The Albion box held about 700grams worth and the tin contains 1Kg so you will have some left over probably.

I would warm the grease to 100 degrees C by leaving the tin in a bowl of boiling water for, say 15mins (top of tin removed) and stir it up a few times.

I reckon you could pour the grease into your box then. Another way would be to warm the tin carefully with a hot air gun.

ATB

Les H

Previously wrote:

Hi Andrew. The Royal Enfield Albion gearbox specified Veedol grease which was the type of grease it was originally filled by the manufacturer. This prevented leaks as there were no sealed bearings used within this box.  The boxes lasted well with the grease.

 As far as I can search, Veedol grease is not available but a good equivalent is Fuchs Silkolene LST 00 grease see link below:

http://www.opieoils.co.uk/pdfs/FUCHS%20-%20TDS/RENOLIT%20LST%20GREASES.pdf

This still seems somewhat illusive, but Hitchcock's Royal Enfield Spares sell it for £11 + vat and P&P, see:

http://www.hitchcocksmotorcycles.com/images/enfield_india/done/larges0218.jpg

They call it EP 00 but i don't think it is the same as a EP oil with the problems that can sometimes have with bronze bushing.

The Albion box held about 700grams worth and the tin contains 1Kg so you will have some left over probably.

I would warm the grease to 100 degrees C by leaving the tin in a bowl of boiling water for, say 15mins (top of tin removed) and stir it up a few times.

I reckon you could pour the grease into your box then. Another way would be to warm the tin carefully with a hot air gun.

ATB

Les H

many thanks for your help and advice very much appreciated andy