Oil leaking of rocker Box feed pipe connection

[Johannes]

Hello,

I have an Oil leakage on the banjo connections of the oil feed pipe to the Rocker Box spindles. The chamfer of the spindle has some marks. I tried different O-seals between Rocker Box and connection and Liquid seal but it didn't work. The connection between banjo Bolt and feed pipe connection is dry.
Do anybody has idea to solve the problem?

Regards Johannes

[Klaus]

Hello Johannes,

O-seals doesnt work. You had to fit fiber seals. The screws to fit the banjo are seald about the taper on it.

cheers Klaus

[KiwiGF]

One thing to check is the banjos are being compressed against the rocker box, it is possible the dome nuts on the other side are not done up enough to allow this to happen, difficult to explain but hopefully that makes sense.

Mine leaked after my major rebuild but it was just a matter of using new fibre washers and getting the bolts pretty tight, there is very little pressure in the rocker feed I reckon.

[TT John]

I did have problems like this on one of my bikes, very frustrating, as I could not seem to solve it, but then after extensive checking found that it was in fact, coming from one of the joints which, I believe is silver soldered. I only found this out by removing the pipe all together and sticking an air line on it.

HTH Regards TTJohn

[a101960]

I had the same problem. I solved it by using dowty washers (see image) they are designed for use in hydraulic systems. Here is one source of supply if you cannot find them locally. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Pack-Of-10-Imperial-Dowty-Bonded-Washer-Seal-1-8-2-BSP-Water-Oil-Air-Hydraulic-/331989002809

[Klaus]

Go sure the dome nut at the oposite side of the spindel is tighten. Otherwise you pull off the spindel and lost the pressure to get sealed.

[Craig]

Hi Johannes

What year is your bike - got any images?

The picture from Kiwi in the thread is nothing like mine.

Cheers

Craig

[Johannes]

Hi Craig

my BSA is from 1950. The Banjos look different. They are sealed about tapers on both sides. I tried o-seals, fibre washer and fibre washer with liquid seal. nothing worked.
The tapers are slightly demaged and casted housing sureface is uneven and not suitable for washers. I will manufacture Tevlon washers with.

[raindodger]

~Hmmm, looks like the banjo is fitted inside out.  My 2 penneth.
Tim.

[muskrat]

G'day all.
I think Tim has got it. Johannes pipe seems to be coming out of the banjo horizontally where it should be 45 degrees upwards (some go 45 degrees downwards). Pull it off and flip it around.
Cheers

[KiwiGF]

I just noticed this post is in the long stroke section, and my pics are of a 1956 a10, so will not be the same as johannes...sorry.....

[Craig]

Same rockers and oil feed as me. As far as I know these were A7 longstroke only.

I have tried fiber washers, dowty washers, copper washers and various silicone and they all did not work.

Since I have just replaced the rocker spindles I have now taken some grinding paste and lapped in the banjo to the spindle, and the banjo to the oil feed bolt. Then used a very small amount of wellseal compound (http://www.wellseal.co.uk/) on the surface faces and bolted it all together. Just enough to make a good seal and not cause problems with the oil feed holes in the bolts.

(I am a big fan of this wellseal product - worked wonders for me on other issues and a mate of mine who maintains a fleet of classic Rolls Royce swears by it. (product was developed by Rolls Royce)

I only did this last night actually and plan to ride on saturday - so by then will know if my plan has worked.

Pic attached of the rocker box and spindles without the banjo / oil feed  in place.

I will update pic and results later on how this has worked.

[Craig]

Here is the finished product. 1949 A7 Longstroke Rocker Oil Feed pipes.

So far so good - no leaks.

Johannes if you come up with another solution - I would be interested to see it.

Cheers

Craig