Hitchcocks Forum

Hi again. Just been playing with Connie, and have discovered the crankcase had a lot of oil in it after leaving it a couple of weeks following a run. I have a cheese-headed (flat screwdriver type) drain plug at the bottom of the timing side crankcase facing towards the exhaust pipe. When I unscrewed it about half a pint of oil drained out, following which the engine didn't smoke (it did before I drained it). I've had a wet-sumping Bullet in the past but assumed Connies didn't do that. Two questions emerge: how to stop this, and how much oil should I put in the tank (I think I over-filled it the other day)!? Thanks in advance. Stephen

They can wet sump, the timing chest is oil filled as on the Bullets but there is a neoprene backed washer (just a washer on earlier models,) which seals the timing chest from the crank. If this is worn or it's housing is cracked (which often happens when an ignorant rebuilder gets at it,) there's a leak path. If the oil feed quill to the crank is a little loose then you have a good top up supply of oil from the filter housing to fill the void. I'd have the timing cover off for peace of mind, if the quill is loose you need to get in there soon.
REgards, Mark

Only Interceptors don't wet sump>> ..All opther 4 stroke RE's will!

Had a Constellation for four years and it never wet sumped once. Still have my long term Super Meteor and it has never wet sumped either, but I am sure you will find some that will, my best guess would be that the feed oil pump is not seating correctly.