Two years in and I have just about got my Electra oil tight apart from a stubbornly little weep from the primary chain case oil filler cap. Originally these had a thick red fibre washer which did a good job sealing the filler cap once it was screwed up tight. Despite lengthy searches on line and at my local suppliers these seem to be no longer available. However, the NOC spares offer an alternative large black rubber O ring which should work. Sadly try as I might I can't get these to seal effectively because they distort when the filler cap is screwed up tight enough to stay in place. This results in a very fine film of oil weeping down the primary case onto the exhaust after about 20 miles. Needless to say I have checked the gearbox and clutch oil seals and confirmed they aren't leaking.
In desperation today I cut out two washers from a sheet of thin gasket paper and used them to replace the O ring. 30 brisk miles later and the weeping oil has disappeared!
In sum has anyone experienced this problem using these rubber O rings? Am I missing a trick in fitting it? Does anyone know of a source for the original red fibre washers the right size? I am going to order some thicker gasket paper to make a more permanent sealing washer but I would prefer to use an original washer.
To lift the mood I've attached a picture of the Electra after this evening's run - side by side with my dear old 1955 Ford Popular. The perfect combination of classics!
Nick
20842, nm20842, 06.7776
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Hi Peter, I am very lucky,…
Hi Peter, I am very lucky, they are a real joy and worth the hard work getting them in acceptable fettle and keeping them that way! As for the sealing washer - dooooh, I usually check Norvil and Andover for spares if the club don't have them but for some reason I assumed they were unavailable. Whilst the rubber O ring obviously works for some they just don't quite work for me - particularly on a long and spirited run which the Electra seems to attract! I have ordered 4 so I have some in stock - 'just in case'! I hope your Electra is in good form and you have time to enjoy getting out on it in this glorious summer weather!
All the best
Nick
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I've found...
... that many fibre washers sold these days are far too hard. I've just used an O ring out of an assortment box on mine and it seems fine. But then it would with the bike sat in the garage........
Your Electra looks great - I like the little bag on the rack.
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Thanks Ian, I haven't done…
Thanks Ian, I haven't done anything cosmetically since I got the Electra because whilst not perfect it was as you see it, including the clever little tool bag which happily doesn't rest on the rear mud guard which can cause them to fracture.
In the last two years I have had to replace the right hand cylinder head which had a long history of leaking oil despite replacing all the gaskets. Eventually I narrowed it down to a porous casting. Right hand heads are like hens teeth but luckily Andy S pointed me in the direction of someone who had a NOS unused bare head which motivated me to do a full top end overhaul including new valves, guides, cam followers and guides and a light hone of the bores and new rings.
I use Peter's top tip of using two gaskets to each rocker box and religiously torque down the heads regularly when running it in. This spring I did a gearbox, clutch and starter deep service and rebuild to improve some of the gear selection and starter issues. Amongst other horrors I found the bolts on both ends of the gearbox main shaft loose, the kickstart shaft pawl hole so badly warn that the pawl was sticking, a stripped thread on a gearbox cover retaining screw and a broken starter pawl pin. 61 years of home maintenance on a budget had taken it's toll! Finally I have replaced the two 6 volt batteries with 2 Motobatt MB5U batteries which fit in the existing battery boxes and each gives 12v, 7 Ah and a CCA of 90A. Connected in parallel they have the power to easily start the engine first or second time every time what ever the temperature. At £40 each they are a cost effective solution.
I know Al wisely warns about uneven charging problems with this set up and recommends one big 12v battery under the seat but it is a solution that works well for me providing I use the bike regularly and check that the batteries are fully charge every 3 months or so as routine maintenance. For example on Wednesday I carelessly parked the bike for an hour with the indicators merrily flashing away. When I came back I assumed the batteries would be too flat to start the bike. To my amazement it started without hesitation first press of the button! That certainly wouldn't have happened with my old 12v Yuasa YB5LB batteries which were only 12v, 5.3 Ah and CCA of 60A each.
I hope that helps you persevere with your Electra, with all the work you are doing you will soon have a really enjoyable, sprightly, well handling, reliable and handsome bike which starts on the button every time! They can even be made oil tight............most of the time! One of the great bonuses of Norton Lightweight ownership is the friendly and generous advice, encouragement and support of the club's experienced Lightweight experts on this Forum. Good luck and keep us posted on progress. I'm off to wash and polish mine, in anticipation of curing that frustrating oil weep thanks to Peter's sage advice!
Best wishes
Nick
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Hi Nick,
Your Electra and even older Ford Pop look fabulous.
Some of these parts take a bit of hunting.
Your parts list has 20842 sealing washer. As you say this was a red fibre washer.
It worked.
NM20842 and 06.7776 are part numbers used by Norvil and Andover Norton for the same sealing washer, which is used on the same cap used on Commando.
AN have a photo. Not red any more. In stock. 50p from memory.
You may find other suppliers using these different part numbers.
All the best
Peter