Oil Lines question

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DaveinCanada

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Oct 27, 2024
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Hi All,

I'm working on a '73 restoration and I'm now onto the oil system. I've got most of the lines figured out and running where they should. However, there are two lines that I don't know where they go. Yes, I've looked at the diagrams but they aren't very clear. Below are pics of the lines in question.
The first is a thick braided line running from a case on the right side (pic has an arrow and question mark)- it has been cut and just hangs there.
The second pic is from the top of the oil tank. There is about 3 inches of tube present but nothing connected to it.
Could these two lines connect to each other?
Oil Lines question
Oil Lines question
 
L.A.B. said:
Yes. 44, 45 and 46.

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Click to expand...
Hey L.A.B. Just to get this right - 44 is the thick braided hose from the case, 45 is the 3 inch hose at the oil tank and 46 is an "Adapter tube" to connect them? Is that right?

Where do I run the thick braided hose? behind the air filter and up the center pipe and behind the battery casing?
 
DaveinCanada said:
Hey L.A.B. Just to get this right - 44 is the thick braided hose from the case, 45 is the 3 inch hose at the oil tank and 46 is an "Adapter tube" to connect them? Is that right?
Click to expand...
Yes.
DaveinCanada said:
Where do I run the thick braided hose? behind the air filter and up the center pipe and behind the battery casing?
Click to expand...
I'm not exactly sure of the correct routing on your model so perhaps somebody else can advise you of that.
 
You probably have a thick line that connects to the crankcase on the timing side. That goes to a reducer and that goes to the pipe pointing forward form the oil tank filler neck (see your white arrow). The oil tank vent, which is the pipe on top near the front of the oil tank, goes to the pipe on the back of hte "hamcan" air cleaner to just to the atmosphere. Neither of those are "oil lines", They are vents. There are three oil lines.

1) Engine oil return to oil filter "in"
2) Oil Filter "out" to oil tank return (long black pipe hanging down from the rear of the tank.
3) Oil tank banjo that goes to the engine oil fee.

If stock and with everything put together, the routing of all five hoses is clear and fairly smooth.
 
The 44,45,46 assemmbly of two rubber lines and size adaptor are all for the breather at the timing case (in the blanked off area which used to house the magneto in by gone versions). The tank end goes into a pipe at the top of the tank...sort of a froth tower effect. Oil vapour then exits the tank and gets into the hamcan air box via another bit of hose to be drawn in a burned (early emission control stuff). Some owners fit catch cans or a drain line out the rear frame hoop or swingarm, some have it try to dribble on to drive chain instead of the original chain oiler coming down from the oil tank. I, like most owners, have blocked off the chain oil feed entirely as it tends to make too much mess, just keeping chain manually oiled seems fine.
 
@marshg246 @L.A.B. @Tornado Thank you very much. I've got most oil lines and vents figured out. However, can you tell me what this is (white arrow)? I cannot see it in any diagram. There is an outlet on the back of the oil tank that has a hose that splits. Looks like one hose goes straight down to the oil filter while the other comes across to the left side and down toward the back wheel/brake. There is some sort of adjustment knob on the hose that goes towards the brake. Any idea what this knob is for and where the line goes?
Oil Lines question
 
The line is the chain oiler item 30 and others.
andover-norton.co.uk

Andover Norton Parts Drawings - Andover Norton Factory Parts - Commando Parts

Andover Norton Parts are the only Norton spare parts in the market manufactured to original drawings, within the factory-approved tolerances, from the correct materials, and with the correct finish.
andover-norton.co.uk

The knob has been added by a previous owner to regulate the flow.
 
Last edited:
L.A.B. said:
The line is the chain oiler item 30 and others.
andover-norton.co.uk

Andover Norton Parts Drawings - Andover Norton Factory Parts - Commando Parts

Andover Norton Parts are the only Norton spare parts in the market manufactured to original drawings, within the factory-approved tolerances, from the correct materials, and with the correct finish.
andover-norton.co.uk

The knob has been added by a previous owner to regulate the flow.
Click to expand...
Does the chain oil line connect to anything or does it just sit above the chain?
Is it OK if I leave the knob there?
 
L.A.B. said:
The line is the chain oiler item 30 and others.
andover-norton.co.uk

Andover Norton Parts Drawings - Andover Norton Factory Parts - Commando Parts

Andover Norton Parts are the only Norton spare parts in the market manufactured to original drawings, within the factory-approved tolerances, from the correct materials, and with the correct finish.
andover-norton.co.uk

The knob has been added by a previous owner to regulate the flow.
Click to expand...
The knob on the chain oiler pipe is probably original.
Its the the same as that fitted on my Mk2, and on the 850 revised parts list (after engine number 307311) as part number 064875. (That clip is also referenced in SERVICE RELEASE N3/57 of 1973)
 
DougC said:
The knob on the chain oiler pipe is probably original.
Its the the same as that fitted on my Mk2, and on the 850 revised parts list (after engine number 307311) as part number 064875. (That clip is also referenced in SERVICE RELEASE N3/57 of 1973)
Click to expand...
Thanks DougC. The I will leave it as is.
 
DaveinCanada said:
Thanks DougC. The I will leave it as is.
Click to expand...
Again, most owners remove that chain oiler at the tank connection pipe and block off the pipe. I epoxied in a close filling bolt on mine. The oilers were not very good as drips of oil hitting the chain at speed would be sent everywhere at all times egine running.
There are aftermarket options like tge ScottOiler or Tutoro that only pass oil under certain operating conditions. But most owners just manually lube chains every few weeks.
 
franko said:
Some people, myself included, use something similar to this in place of part number 46.
For my bike the hose from the tank is just long enough so it attaches to the PCV and the right angle of the valve allows in to go down the side of the tank and attach to the other hose. The vent helps with minor oil leaks.
Click to expand...
thanks for the tip.
 

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