Trying to narrow down oil leaks

[ChrisE]

Hi there.

This is on a 1929 Long Four, 7HP

What does thing do on the top of the timing best and dynamo housing? It has a small ball bearing on top that is sprung loaded. It is difficult to understand what the function is. Al the moment it leaks a lot of oil out of there. I have taken it off to clean it (in white spirit) and see if that cures it?

Any help would be gratefully received!

Chris

[BarryCambs]

I'm not too familiar with Vintage engines, as mine has a 1934 engine in, but the part in the second picture is an old style latch grease nipple. I guess someone used it as it was the right size to block the pipe, when they lost the original cap. I assume this is the oil level indicator which is on the other side for the later engine.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/3-Vintage-1- ... SweuxWT4rv

[ChrisE]

Thanks Barry.

I can't work out why there would be a tapped hole there for anything?

From what you say, presumably I can just block the hole with something then?

Chris

[BarryCambs]

It might be worth speaking to Daniel Bangham about this. I remembered this discussion some time ago:

viewtopic.php?f=4&t=3989&p=23626#p23626

On the 30's engines, there is a cork float in the sump and a wire comes up through a very similar looking tube to show the oil level. If this engine has the same system, it does beg the question as to where the oil level wire has gone! I have been warned that if you run the engine with the cap off the wire can wrap around the crank.

[k. rogers]

If it's the bit I think you are pointing at, there should be an oiler the same as the one on the dynamo housing. This was to enable oiling of the spigot which drives the dynamo when the car was new but is irrelevant with an older engine.

[Tony Fearn]

Hi Ken, Barry and Chris.
I also wondered what the finger was pointing at in the photo.
From what I remember of 'Dolly', my erstwhile 1927 long two, I think Ken's explanation is the correct one. Perhaps the 'irrelevant' bit is because as the spigot wears in the tolerances aren't as important.
On the other point of running the engine with the oil-level cap off, I believe the cork float, having raised-up,will be bashed about by the crankshaft if there's enough oil in the sump. The debris from this coming together could of course block the oil-ways with disastrous results.

scan0006.jpg

The cap when it's on keeps the cork float on the bottom of the sump, well below the crankshaft.
Tony.

[ChrisE]

Update;

It seems that the oil isn’t coming out of that grease nipple, I have blocked that up entirely. It seems to be coming out of the shaft that drives the dynamo. See photos below, the leak seems to be where I am pointing with a stick. Any ideas? There seems to be a brass bush in there that the shaft comes out of. Maybe this bush is worn? Anyone else had this happen? I read that you can increase/decrease the oil pressure but I am very hesitant to start that messing about.

The bush seems as if there is lots of room to remake it and put a ‘proper’ external oil-seal in the manufacture. Does that make sense? That though would be way, way, way beyond my expertise and capabilities.

It is losing a lot though. About 15mm on the dipstick in 8 miles. You’ll also see that I have a ‘proper’ dipstick. Maybe that is an owner-upgrade from the wire/cork/float affair that presumably was a bit of a faff?

Chris

[nigel jarrett]

You need to speak to ken Rogers I think he cured a leak there by moving the flange close to that bush

[ChrisE]

OK,

hopefully Ken will come to the forum. Some better images below.

Does the whole dynamo thing just slide forward if I slacken the clamp on the shaft and the clamp that holds the dynamo to the engine? How does the distributer get it's drive and can I cock up the timing by slackening/moving?

Chris

[Keith Clements]

have you looked in the library to see if there is a useful technical drawing?

[k. rogers]

Hi Chris. Nigel was correct in what he said about moving the clamp as far as possible towards the bush. This eliminates any 'pumping' action created by the spigot moving for and aft with the rotation. Achieving this, however, is a bit of a fiddle as you have to keep the spigot out to its furthest extent somehow while you push the clamp towards the bush and retighten. I can't remember the method I used, but hopefully, you understand the principle. Mine definitely had wear, but once I carried out the above on the advice of an experienced friend, things did improve!

[ChrisE]

Hi Ken,

That sounds like I should try it! Maybe I can find another clamp to go on the shaft to save all the sliding-faffing? Or just put a few zip-ties on to take up the gap and see how it goes for a few miles?

Keith – I have tried to access the technical libraries before and it won’t let me have access. I am a JCC member so not sure why 

Chris

[Keith Clements]

Chris. You should now have access.

[ChrisE]

Thanks Keith,

I can now see the Tech Library. I cannot though see very much on the 7HP engine and nothing really on the bits that are in question.

Chris

[ChrisE]

Well, kind of successful, but a bigger problem now!

I fairly easily moved the clamp across to the brass bush and now there is virtually no longitudinal-slop in the shaft. When I started the clamp bolt wasn’t very tight. It is now. I also moved the dynamo forward to match it. The dynamo clamp wasn’t very tight so I suspect this has moved backwards pulling the clamp with it. You can see in the photo that oil is coming out but maybe that’s just residual oil and there will be no more. I can only hope!

I do though have a much bigger problem. I’ve mucked up the timing somehow. It is incredibly had to start. On the starting handle it kicks every time (and now I’ve hurt my hand!) I managed to start it on the starter bit it’s running really rough. On the handle when it tries to start, it blows fuel-mix out of the carburettor.

I have never ever done anything with timing and I’m really lost! – Help!!

Lastly the knob below the distributor, I thought held the distributor on and was loose. I turned it in (a lot) and now suspect that has contributed to it (see photo where I am pointing). What does that do? I’m trying to get it fixed to take my Dad to the Employees Reunion at Bradford so help is needed!!

Thanks, Chris