Forum

[Adrian]

Oil passing down the push rod tunnels then winds up in the tappet chamber from which a couple of SMALL holes drain into the timing chest. I somehow don't think your vacuum pump will gain access.



Really Papasmurf, it's not a major job to undo the timing cover screws and just tap the raised alloy tabs on the AVL timing cover through from the other side very gently just to release it, especially if your Electra's gearbox hasn't been converted to right foot shift. Careful positioning of an old roasting dish or other suitable receptacle under the timing side of the engine will catch the old oil. All being well you can re-use the gasket on the timing cover (though they're not that dear from our hosts if you want a new one handy), and you'd have to be very unlucky to disturb the valve timing. Before the cover comes off though, you might also want to undo the filter housing end cap and remove the old filter with the oil that builds up in there.



A.

[Adrian]

Sorry, Steve T got his post in while I was still typing! A.

[papasmurf]

I am NOT faffing about removing the timing cover. It may be a "simple" job, but not for someone with my age and disabilities. (Why Enfield did away with the drain plug in the timing cover for the Electra is somewhat of a mystery.)

[PeteF]

You could try sucking it out. I recently emptied a marine engine sump through the dipstick hole. It took some time but there was about 10 litres. The timing chest shouldn't take long. Do you have one of those vacuum bottles?

[papasmurf]

PeteF as already stated yes I do have a vacuum pump specifically for draining the sump of small engines.

[Bet]

I thought that the third drain plug on the Electra was to drain the timing case.

[PeteF]

Sorry, so you did. One way to find out then😀

[jefrs]

You want to flush some uck out of the engine. The engine is a proper rabbit warren inside. Assuming you don't have any known solid debris inside, the easiest method is to use the engine's pumps by half-filling with fresh oil as a flush and running the motor. You can hear when the pumps start to pick up oil, at a little over half-filled. It may need a couple of goes but it does clear out the old oil.