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1936 ES2 Oil Line plumbing.

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Mike,

I'm trying to figure out where all the oil connections on my 36 ES2 go. I have the tank to crankcase inlet & outlet figured out & the breather on the primary drive case. The feed to the rocker box & top end seems like it "tees" off the return from the pump on the way back to the tank. Is that correct? There is also an oil connection on the bottom end of the timing side chain case cover that must be a drain, but I don't know where to plumb it to. Any help would be appreciated!

Paul Abbott Member # 402047

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The rocker feed plumbing you have described is correct for the 50s singles, not sure about the earlier ones but in the absence of a more knowledgeable reply it seems likely that they would be the same. The oil connection on the magneto chain case is usually fitted with a short breather pipe. If your bike drips only a little oil from there you could leave it like that, but my 19S puts out quite a lot of oil past the inlet cam bush so I have piped the breather into a small catch bottle.

Ian McD

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Pre 1948 motors had no oil feed to the rocker box. They never had a rocker box at all. They had open valve springs until 1938.

The pipe on the timing chain cover is just a total loss feed from the timing chain that is lubricated by a LITTLE bit of oil that is blown out by crank case pressure from the cam bush and dribbles into the timing chain.

Rockers should be greased or oiled regularly.

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Pre 1948 motors had no oil feed to the rocker box. They never had a rocker box at all. They had open valve springs until 1938.

The pipe on the timing chain cover is just a total loss feed from the timing chain that is lubricated by a LITTLE bit of oil that is blown out by crank case pressure from the cam bush and dribbles into the timing chain.

Rockers should be greased or oiled regularly.

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What is your engine number would be my question then when I have that check against the records to see when that engine was made.

Someone has modified the top end rocker box if you have oil pipes or it is a later engine. As mentioned above they were open valves and greased every 500 miles I believe via grease nipples on the actual aluminium castings and around the valve stem guides. All my pre 1940 Nortons certainly have no oil pipes. My 1946 Model 18 is internal drilling oil lubricated and has a pump designed for that so is my 500T

I would be unsure if modified that the actual oil pump would have the volume or capacity to pump oil up to what would be above the tank in effect? Yes gravity takes charge on the way down but then you have the added snag of the venturi effect possibly starving oil by sucking from essential components i.e. bearings.

If unsure what I would do is have a trip out to the NMC museum in Coventry and have a look at a bike like yours. I do when I get stuck as every model known to man is in there and the curators of that shrine to British history are so so helpful and let you get close up if you ask.

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Ian - this is a bit off-topic but a pic of your drain bottle would be good as I'm thinking of doing the same on my ES2. George

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My engine SN is 5746. The oil line goes to the box where the push rods meet the rockers. My valve stems & springs are not enclosed. There are two drain lines from the rocker box that feed two fittings that lubricate the valve guides. There are also grease fittings for each rocker. Photo is attached.

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Thats not Norton made someone has modified that with 1/4 copper pipe, the fittings are definitely not late 30,s. I have not seen one like that, none of mine have it. I still say I would be worried about oil starvation as its possibly taking oil from the engine bearings...it takes a good pump to go higher than the oil tank.

Ask the records guys to verify the engine for you as to year.

I am happy for you to come round and look at mine if it helps you establish what is right,

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Previously carl_sanders wrote:

Thats not Norton made someone has modified that with 1/4 copper pipe, the fittings are definitely not late 30,s. I have not seen one like that, none of mine have it. I still say I would be worried about oil starvation as its possibly taking oil from the engine bearings...it takes a good pump to go higher than the oil tank.

Ask the records guys to verify the engine for you as to year.

I am happy for you to come round and look at mine if it helps you establish what is right,

Carl, My engine was verified as a 36 by the NOC. A friend near London also has a 36 ES2 and his has the oil drain from the push rod to rocker enclosure. Everything on my upper end looks factory. All oil fittings are on bosses cast into the alloy, including the one on the face of the rocker box cover. Perhaps Norton offered a "Kit" to get more oil to the rockers & valve guides. We may never know, but I',m putting things back the way they were when the bike last ran. Thanks for the information! Paul Abbott Virginia USA.

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