Oil in frame Mk III Norton

brianmccroskey · Aug 13, 2023

I have recently purchased a highly modified 1975 Norton Commando with a red powder coated frame and polished aluminum tank. Cafe racer. It is an oil in frame set up. I would value any information that I could get as to the amount of oil to use or any paperwork that anyone might have access to regarding information about such a set up. I am aware that Colorado Norton works engineered a similar set up on 13 motorcycles in the past, one of which recently sol on bring a trailer. This particular frame also uses the swing arm as a oil reservoir , interestingly enough.

brianmccroskey · Aug 13, 2023

I know that Seely of England had race frame and of course the oil in frame Triumphs came out in 1971.

baz · Aug 13, 2023

brianmccroskey said:
I have recently purchased a highly modified 1975 Norton Commando with a red powder coated frame and polished aluminum tank. Cafe racer. It is an oil in frame set up. I would value any information that I could get as to the amount of oil to use or any paperwork that anyone might have access to regarding information about such a set up. I am aware that Colorado Norton works engineered a similar set up on 13 motorcycles in the past, one of which recently sol on bring a trailer. This particular frame also uses the swing arm as a oil reservoir , interestingly enough.

Could you post some photos please

mean gene · Aug 13, 2023

My frame back bone held 2.1 quarts if I recall

Tornado · Aug 13, 2023

Is there no level indication on filler cap or neck? If not, why not pour in until you can see the oil surface leaving some air above, call it a good 'un? As long as you're below any vent ports and well above oil feed port, should be fine.
Where do you check for oil return flow on an OIF bike?

brianmccroskey · Aug 13, 2023

baz said:
Could you post some photos please

Alan L · Aug 13, 2023

Does ‘oil in frame’ provide significant oil cooling compared to a seperate tank?

brianmccroskey · Aug 13, 2023

Thank you all
I have pics. Just need to learn how to post them.

brianmccroskey · Aug 13, 2023

brianmccroskey said:
Thank you all
I have pics. Just need to learn how to post them.

brianmccroskey · Aug 13, 2023

brianmccroskey said:
View attachment 109086 View attachment 109087 View attachment 109088 View attachment 109089 View attachment 109090 View attachment 109091 View attachment 109092

There it is
With pics.

baz · Aug 13, 2023

Alan L said:
Does ‘oil in frame’ provide significant oil cooling compared to a seperate tank?

The frame would act as an oil cooler

robs ss · Aug 13, 2023

Maybe - being up under the tank would tend to limit heat loss.
It does get the oil tank out of the way to allow longer inlet tracts (not done on this bike though)

mean gene · Aug 13, 2023

Neat bike! Can't hold more then 2 1/2 qt. total! Does it have an oil filter?

lcrken · Aug 13, 2023

Well, it's different, at least. I recall seeing several conversions using the main backbone, and at least one that also used part of the chassis down tubes, but never saw a Commando with the swingarm used as part of the oil system.

Ken

ashman · Aug 13, 2023

Not my cup of tea with the colour of the frame but all good and a few things needed to fix up like the zip ties for the battery and tie wire instead of hose clamps and using the swing arm for oil system, not sure how things are connected and how it works but must work, depends how much oil it holds and where the bike is ridden an oil cooler might help, well I have always ran an oil cooler on all my old British bikes even my 81 Triumph Thunderbird with oil in frame and not sure about the frame acting as an oil cooler as heat from the motor and fuel tank on top.
It certainly different to the norm that's for sure.

Ashley

texasSlick · Aug 13, 2023

Alan L said:
Does ‘oil in frame’ provide significant oil cooling compared to a seperate tank?

Only by measuring the temperature of the oil in an OIF, and in a stock tank, can that be definitively answered. My "gut" feeling is not SIGNIFICANTLY.

The cooling effect, regardless if in a tank or frame member, depends mostly on the surface area of the containment vessel, and that surfaces' exposure to passing wind.

Slick

brianmccroskey · Aug 13, 2023

Left side

Tornado said:
Is there no level indication on filler cap or neck? If not, why not pour in until you can see the oil surface leaving some air above, call it a good 'un? As long as you're below any vent ports and well above oil feed port, should be fine.
Where do you check for oil return flow on an OIF bike?

no obviuos place to check oil level other than the top frame tube.

mean gene said:
Neat bike! Can't hold more then 2 1/2 qt. total! Does it have an oil filter?

it does has an oil filter.

brianmccroskey · Aug 14, 2023

ashman said:
Not my cup of tea with the colour of the frame but all good and a few things needed to fix up like the zip ties for the battery and tie wire instead of hose clamps and using the swing arm for oil system, not sure how things are connected and how it works but must work, depends how much oil it holds and where the bike is ridden an oil cooler might help, well I have always ran an oil cooler on all my old British bikes even my 81 Triumph Thunderbird with oil in frame and not sure about the frame acting as an oil cooler as heat from the motor and fuel tank on top.
It certainly different to the norm that's for sure.

Ashley

Good thought on oil cooler. Wondering what would be the best way to hook that up. I could check the oil temp first once I get it out on the road. Thanks for the reference to an 81 Thunderbird. Tie wires came with the bike on the non pressurized oil breather tubes. Battery zip ties are my own design

as temporary to get the new battery on. The old rubber attachments were weathered and weak after that many years.

dobba99 · Aug 14, 2023

Not to be a killjoy, but i get the impression that this machine hasn't done many miles after its build, Correction, it hasn't done any miles after studying the first photo. Says to me that it has been an ornament for quite some years. I've never heard the swinging arm being used as part of the oil reservoir, frame yes and even then i would be doubtful of the modifications to the main frame tube with that rectangle cutout for one of the tube connections. Back to the swinging arm hose pipes, how long are they going to last? If you are going to ride this machine, fit an oil pressure gauge to tell you when you have lost all the engines oil when you get a oil hose leak.

baz · Aug 14, 2023

dobba99 said:
Not to be a killjoy, but i get the impression that this machine hasn't done many miles after its build, Correction, it hasn't done any miles after studying the first photo. Says to me that it has been an ornament for quite some years. I've never heard the swinging arm being used as part of the oil reservoir, frame yes and even then i would be doubtful of the modifications to the main frame tube with that rectangle cutout for one of the tube connections. Back to the swinging arm hose pipes, how long are they going to last? If you are going to ride this machine, fit an oil pressure gauge to tell you when you have lost all the engines oil when you get a oil hose leak.

The only bike I can think of that uses the swinging arm as an oil tank is a Buell

Oil in frame Mk III Norton

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