Hitchcocks Forum

I would like to replace my standard oil feed pipe to the rockers with armoured ptfe hose on my 350 Bullet to ensure greater reliability ,
The problem I have is adapter 140122 in the engine case is 5/16 cycle thread and not workable with armoured hose.
Has any one previously tried this modification ?

Cheers ng

I’ve not heard of a reliability problem with the standard oil feed pipe and they’ve made more than a few of these bikes over the last half century or so.

You have to really work at it to damage a standard oil pipe. Takes an almost willful lack of mechanical sympathy and any such damage is immediately apparent as a puddle of oil.

I fail to understand why something that has been been around in excess of 80 years suddenly becomes unreliable?

Even I, a hoddrodder til I die, wouldn't replace that item.

My issue with the solid oil pipe is with time e.g careful removal over the years the pipes become more stressed and likely to brake , a problem that is reduced with a flexible armoured hose.
I agree 80 years doesn't make it unreliable but you can help always keep these great bikes going better with minor improvements otherwise we wouldn't have our hosts.
Surely if solid pipes were the only answer then Royal enfield wouldn't have used them on other models in 60's and 70's
An armoured hose would bring you longevity and greater appearance to the bullets classic good appearance.
I will persevere and try to overcome the adapter issue.

The only time I've seen any problem with the oil line is when hamfisted spanner monkeys have twisted them when fitting/removing.
In normal use they are absolutely fine and probably better than introducing extra joints by making up a flexible one. An armoured cable is way over spec anyway as there just isn't the pressure there.
If damaged they are cheap enough to replace anyway and you can even polish them if you like (they are copper under that paint/finish they put on them)
There are lots of things you can do to improve these machines but that isn't one of them IMHO

It can be done ...

LOL, hydraulic tappets BW?

Is that the 350 racer, short stroke 500 Paul?

I've got to say it! I think the standard copper pipes look better

Copper pipe every time for a road bike

Don't fix what ain't broke unless you're going to fix it until it breaks