The road rocket racing sidecar project

[Rocket Racer]

I probably did post comparable images a few years ago- when the front wheel failed but here's a couple of pictures of the original hub after failure: two half sided 8" with the extensions pushed out and a connector between. unfortunately cast iron isnt very flexible and failed completely on one side and only had half the tangs on the other side attached. it was noticed that the spoke tension seemed off as it was all sitting together quite happily. It was definitely a holy sh!t moment.
It now sports a machined centre and plate, with the previous damaged drums cleaned up and bolted to it, so looks identical but is far stronger. I have quite a few offerings to the gods of speed. 

[Kickaha]

will be moving oil cooler to new location

How is that plumbed in ?

[Rocket Racer]

will be moving oil cooler to new location

How is that plumbed in ?

On the return line before the rocker feed.  Its on the gearbox/primary drive cases and still lower than the return feed back into the oil tank. Its now over the catch tray area and visible to the passenger.
 whereas before we had it in front of the back wheel around the location of a mainstand (not that we have one). the problem with that was it was totally unsighted during riding, so we could see a problem until oil got on the tyre, couldn't readily assess the problem while riding and as it was not over the catch tray, we very unpopularly bled the oil out on the track limping back in. If we'd stopped immediately and pushed back I wouldnt have run the driveside main bearing.

[Kickaha]

, also pondering oil temp gauge.

I've been thinking about that very thing, you can get a oil temp gauge on top of the dipstick for Ducati, BMW and probably other makes, it wouldn't be too hard to adapt one to the BSA oil tank filler cap, obviously wouldn't be able to see it on the go but would be an easy way to check at various times without having to plumb one in

[Radlan2]

Hi RR
           Good to hear you are running again, I have a Vokes filter plumbed in on the return line but was told by a well known BSA man to make sure it was fitted after the rocker feed to help increse feed to the rockers and your oil cooler could have the same effect. I seem to remember that the low oil tank and return pipe of the Daytona bikes highlighted the problem with top end becoming starved. might be worth having a look after a run.
               Best Regs
                          Chris

[Rocket Racer]

, also pondering oil temp gauge.

I've been thinking about that very thing, you can get a oil temp gauge on top of the dipstick for Ducati, BMW and probably other makes, it wouldn't be too hard to adapt one to the BSA oil tank filler cap, obviously wouldn't be able to see it on the go but would be an easy way to check at various times without having to plumb one in

conversations with a goldstar race owner seem to indicate getting decent oil temperature is more an issue of getting it hot enough. Apparently quite common to run half full tanks to get the oil hot faster. I'm parking the cooler and temp gauge idea. Running without the fairing and the meeting being Taupo and a cooler month will give a good opportunity to shake it down with the latest changes.
The top end (famous last words) has given no issues for a decade of abuse, its probably just about due for a proper review. Need to build several other motors first though...
We will take a spare oil pressure plugged line in case we have issues with the new set up. A mate who has owned a lightning since 73 has always had an oil pressure gauge on it.

Am very interested to see how the pressure behaves at race temperatures albeit not summer. now I suspect it may hold well given I dont have a plain bush timing side. Was talking to a mate about plain bushes and (he's a very clever guy) and he suggested a potential issue with the BSA design is the groove is in the crank, not in the bush. So the oil doesnt hydraulically drive into the oil feed effectively. He used better words than that, he's an engineer, I'm just an experienced hack who gets by.

Cranks now 40 under and the motor now has MAP steel rods.
Hopefully I can provide some good news after the Taupo run out over Easter. Oh the joys of messing around with old bikes, nothings ever a given only the guarantee of entertainment, possibly for others...

[Triton Thrasher]

I have a Vokes filter plumbed in on the return line but was told by a well known BSA man to make sure it was fitted after the rocker feed to help increse feed to the rockers

I’d do the opposite.  There must be something to be said for filtering all of the oil, rather than just most of it.  And any proper filter will cause very little impedance to oil flow.

If you want to restrict the return line after the rocker feed, then just do that, with a small diameter passage or hole.

[berger]

no trouble on mine with the car type filter, i have a clear tube take off after the filter and oil flows up to the rockers nicely, there's also a clear tube after the filter back to the tank, i like looking at bubbles. not on my black&tans today though i have been busy with the berger build. pub tomorrow instead

[Rocket Racer]

oil filter was relocated, decided against oil cooler, even though I have one. With the oil cooler on a rocket three the popular mod is to fit a thermostat so the cooler only gets used when the oil is hot enough.

ok rings turned up Thursday. so today pulled top end down to fit them. Put the head in a cardboard box then noted 10 min later it was dripping oil out the inlet manifold  , pulled the valves out and the inlet on the drive side was flogged out. When did I last check those guides  . bugger this heads in no state for much. Had a look in the spares, my other heads arent really suitable, but I do have a spare set of guides set aside for the A7ss. If I can get the guides done before next weekend and back together we  are back in with a shot for a run out over easter still. All up to the reconditioner if the guides are going to go in. He's promised to get into it Monday afternoon. If it gets any more complicated suspect we're toast. I did fit the new rings but suspect the oiling was purely the guides.

[muskrat]

G'day RR.
Are you going to fit seals to the guides?
Cheers

[Rocket Racer]

G'day RR.
Are you going to fit seals to the guides?
Cheers

short answer no.
longer answer, none of my fifties machines run seals, my a75 had them on the inlets. I've thought about them but only in passing. On the oils I'm running I dont really see a need. I just focus on the things that have to be done/causing me pain and that heads given good service for over a decade. The inlet was potentially smacked about by the blow up. As a methanol motor it had cast iron guides but now its gone to petrol will be bronze guides.
My main concern is whether std guides will go in cleanly or is the job going to spin into time (and money, given I need to have it back together before the weekend if I'm going to make the Easter race meeting. 

[muskrat]

G'day RR.
If the head was well heated before pushing the old guides out I don't see a problem. If this is the 10th set going in I'd look at going oversize.
Whenever new guides are put in the seats need to be visited. Sometimes just a lap, sometimes a cut is needed.
Seals only need to be on the inlet.
Cheers

[Rocket Racer]

G'day RR.
If the head was well heated before pushing the old guides out I don't see a problem. If this is the 10th set going in I'd look at going oversize.
Whenever new guides are put in the seats need to be visited. Sometimes just a lap, sometimes a cut is needed.
Seals only need to be on the inlet.
Cheers

the catch that came out is that the two exhaust guides are both 40 over. Hoping to have some made this morning which if all goes to plan should enable the seats to be recut this afternoon. The inlets went in nicely. 
So ideally I'll be reassembling tonight and if I run out of time take some time off work mid week...

[Rocket Racer]

while I vaguely recalled having an oversize guide (actually both exhausts) I certainly hadnt realised how big the guide bores had been taken out to! about 3mm bigger than stock  . the inlets are std still

[muskrat]

while I vaguely recalled having an oversize guide (actually both exhausts) I certainly hadnt realised how big the guide bores had been taken out to! about 3mm bigger than stock  . the inlets are std still

Wow, were they std for something else (like a Merlin)? Must've had major damage to go out that far.
Cheers