Forum

[steveb]

I have a 1958 350 bullet (or so the logbook says) which has a few issues the main one being that once the bike warms up it loses quite allot of oil from the gearbox, both from the sproket end and the kickstart/gear change shaft. I have read on here that these boxes should have grease (oo grade) in but this is oil and smells a little like ep90, once the box cools then the oil stops leaking.
I am at a loss to know what to do really, should I strip the box and replace the seals then re-pack with grease or what would be my best course of action? Any advice greatfully recieved as although I am very practicle and have stripped engines I have never played with gearboxes.

[Alan R]

Hello STEVE B -----------I'm not sure about the relevant dates so this is just a "general" comment }------originally the 'box had VEEDOL grease specified (it's actually a sort of mid-way between oil & grease proper). If the leaked oil smells a little like EP90 it's because it probably is just that. Either its been used to top-up with or at some time the EP oil has been put in to replace the VEEDOL grease. Your original bearings will have been of the "open" type--ie not sealed, which was ok for the grease but won't hold the oil. ............ Now here's where the relevant dates come into play >>>>>>>>>>> our hosts do a conversion kit such that you can have sealed bearings and use oil instead of grease BUT (there's always a "but" )--- I don't know what years it applies to, you'd have to check on that yourself. Personally I'd change to sealed bearings AND fit the close ratio gear kit which gets rid of that big gap between 3rd & 4th. Others have been on here recently and, with our combined help, prodding, cajoling, etc got the job done---------so you're not on your own at any time---OK ?? Tharump---Tharump---Tharump----Here comes the others with a bit more technical data for you.

[Alan R]

-------------sorry, forgot to address the main leaks. YES, replace those seals anyway and consider fitting the 1-tooth larger sprocket----it really will give a more relaxed engine when riding.If you are going to open it up then why not approach this with a "Full-rebuild" attitude so that you'll end up with a box that's ---dare I say it??----up to "speed" and with all the mods. in to carry you forward (UGH!!) for the next 20,000 miles etc. PS I'll be doing just that with my 500 Classic next winter---so I've started saving already.

[Pwayman]

Steve unless your gearbox has other issues I'd try the cheapskate method first .... drain all existing oil and replace with Veedol grease from our hosts and top up with a straight 50 oil and see how it goes.If yours is a genuine 1958 then I'm doubtful as to whether our host's replacement parts (suggested by Alan R )are suitable....... check with Mr H first.

[Norm]

I believe English Albions were oil filled, it was something the Indians got up to because they couldn't stop the oil leaking out so they shoved grease in them. If the oil leak is bugging you pull the box down and fit sealed bearings because if it really is a 58 it probably needs new bearings. A cheap fix would be to fit a new oilseal on the drive side of the box and try a felt seal under the cap on the end of the mainshaft on the kickstart side. It also helps to fit a new felt seal in the sprocket nut

[Norm]

And can somebody tell me what is different on the 56 box forward apart from the fact the English mainshaft sleve had a bronze sleve in it. Twins have a longer mainshaft, that is all I can find

[steveb]

Gentlemen, you are all more than kind with all the suggestions, I think i will try the VEEDOL route first and see if I can last out the season and get the MOT done (does an oil leak constitute a fail?). Failing that then I guess a full rebuild is the order of the day, does anyone know if our hosts overhaul kit will fit a 58 box?

[Dennis C]

Hi Steveb....This model was designed to use oil in the gearbox, you will probably find that using Veedol will give a worse than normal gearchange...... the kickstart shaft has an O ring fitted to prevent oil loss and is easy to replace, the mainshaft may have one of two types of oil seal in 58, one fits from the outside and again is easy to replace, the other fits from the inside and requires a full gearbox strip.

[Alan R]

Hello STEVE B ----------- well, there you are then, more info. than found at an IT conference !! Ha-Ha. MoT test ?? NO, an oil leak in itself doesn't mean a fail UNLESS----in the examiners opinion ---- it constitutes a safety hazard eg flowing onto the rear tyre for example----and even then that might be a "pass with an advisory". Most examiners are usually favoured towards us "Classic" types I've found.

[John M]

If you are not too sure of your bike's provenance,or which gearbox you have got, the English boxes have a rounded end cover with the "1N234" sunk into the cover where as the Indian ones are more squared off at the rear of the cover around the neutral indicator and the "1N234" markings are raised proud of the cover. The two aren't interchangeable, I've tried.