1954 ES2 exhaust valve over oiling

Previously wrote:

Previously wrote:

Hi All,

The previous owner of my ES2 has changed the copper tube that carries oil from the return side to the rockers.

It is now 5/16" diameter. I suspect this carries too much oil to the rockers and swamps them. The 1/8" diameter circa, drain holes, cannot cope with draining quickly all this supply and occasionally as a result, I am getting exhaust valve sticktion. I was wondering if anyone knows what the proper diameter of this tube should be? Also has anyone ever run the motor with this supply removed or drastically restricted?

Best regards,

Albert Pisani

Malta

Hi Albert,

What ever you do don`t cut off the oil supply to the the top end,think about it it was put there by Norton for a specific purpose .

The obvious answer would be to go back to the standard set up and see what difference that makes,the feed pipe should be approx

"3/16" id,if you are still getting valve problems then it`s "Off with it`s Head".

Good Luck

Alan H.

Hi Alan,

Yes I would tend to agree with you, Norton wouldn't have put it there unless required. But if not mistaken the earlier models didn't have it.

My concern stems from the fact that I cannot be sure what is original and what isn't. The only original bit left of the system is the bolt that holds the banjo union to the rocker box. But I can't say if the holes have been drilled out in that as they don't look right at 3/32" diameter. I have taken the head off and there is a gummed up area just above and blow the guide on the exhaust valve. The guides and the valves as well as the springs are new, I have covered about 1200 miles since the rebuild so did not expect this to happen, unless the sticktion I am experiencing is actually due to the valve stem seizing in the guide and not the oil causing it at all.

I will reduce the pipe size to 3/16 though, as the 5/16" is certainly wrong.

Many thanks,

Albert

Previously wrote:

Hi.

I would have thought that the holes in thebanjo bolt (if unmodified)that screws into the rocker box would restrict the oil flow regardless of what size the pipe to it. I have had trouble with 'exhaust valve stiction' which turned out to be a worn valve stem allowing carbon to build up on it. A worn guide would give the same trouble. Strip the head and checkthe valve stem - if it's black half way up then it's likelythat's the problem.

Cheers.

Ian.

Hi Ian,

Well I can't trust anything at this point. The holes look as though they have been enlarged on the retaining bolt. They are approximately 3/32" dia. I have covered 1200 miles since I rebuilt the motor and all the valves, guides and springs are new. I have removed the head but only found some black gum just above and below the exhaust guide ends on the valve stem but none actually inside, so not sure anymore that too much oil is causing the problem. I wonder if it could be valve stem seizure in a tight guide?

Thanks,

Albert