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ohc - oil leak remedies for open valve gear

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Hi 

 years ago back in the 1980s I remember looking at Inters and manx nortons at brands hatch and a lot of them had some type of foam inserted through the hairspring valves.

 Was this an attempt to mop up oil leaks ?

 If so can anyone suggest if this is a reasonable remedy (although not  pleasing  on the eye).

 I'd also be interested to know on how much foam to use, and where to secure it to the springs and give it a go on my inter.

Thanks

 Mark.

- Any a

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Still used on race bikes with hairpin springs. Presume they get sponges from the kitchen, without wife knowing. I think you make a hole for the valve stem and cut a slit and then push it in place. Never thought much about it, as mine last ran with hairpin springs in -61. Don't think it's a total remedy, but it makes the bike less prone to oiling the rear tyre. Anyhow, cheap and easy to try.

Ouch! 

Dan  - that looks frightening as well as expensive. I must admit I have never checked mine but would have though additional noises would be prominent if it had broken/collapsed.

  In fairness, its leakage in use, weeping down the fins but castrol R is a bugger to clean off  the engine, - impossible when it gets on the exhaust . 

 Ill try the foam. and work a way of positioning it where it looks like its doing something productive.

Many thanks 

 Mark

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As far as I can work out, the tunnel is more important if the oil feed is not pumped into the end of the shaft. With the race bike feed  is the oil bath it provides really needed? It's all very well talking about damage being a maintenance issue, but how many owners strip the cam box just for fun? Is this damage less likely with the racing type end feed, I wonder?  (Ps this is Speculation...)

 


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