Forum

[Alan R]

Hi guys-------- Some time ago now but can anyone remember somebody doing a conversion on an Iron barrelled classic 500 using the gearwheel type pump from an Electra X ?? .......... It's just a vague memory ( at our age aren't they all nowadays ???? ), and I might have got some of the details wrong...I THINK it involved adapting the Electra X pump casing to fit the "Iron" engine ??

If it is a viable idea then that would be very useful when opting for the roller big-end set-up I'd have thought ??

[Tim NZ]

Estart or Kstart bottom end?


There are three (?) variants of the AVL (Electra X) lubrication systems...


But typically you will need to modify the timing side shaft to adapt to the timing cover oil seal, which involves adapting (brazing) an extension to the drive worm nut to sit inside the oil seal, plus weld and re-drill the timing side case so realign the oil passages out of the timing cover.


Alternate is to re-machine the timing side flywheel to accept the Electra X timing side shaft? (parallel v's tapers fit)


PLUS you will need a proper Oil pressure relief valve if you are planing on utilizing the Floating-bush BE bearing...


And NOT the inboard timing side shaft Ball & Spring OPR! They are a POS and do not cope well with increased flow...


Far simpler to fit the High OutPut oil pumps and open up the oil-ways by 1 drill size larger...


And a better OPR; I use a Swagewlok 1/8 npt OPR fitting off the Oil filter gallery, vent back to oil tank.

[Mark M]

REOC member, good allround chap and engine rebuilder Andy Berry of Preston has done this. I don't know all the details but that might help your search Alan?

REgards, Mark

[Adrian]

If you have a late set of crankcases they can be modified to suit the Electra-X timing cover, you have to drill one oil hole to suit into an existing oil passage and plug the original (e.g. tapping for a 5mm grub screw so that the process is reversible). This is on the scavenge side.



I don't know if you'd be using a floating bush big-end or a roller bearing, but much as I love the AVL engine the oil pump chamber is a bit of a design weakness, if the Electra-X big end fails it dumps a load of abrasive steel swarf into the crankcase where it gets picked up by the scavenge oil flow. The strainer plug will only remove the largest chunks, smaller but still damaging particles will go through the scavenge pump and score up the pump chamber a treat. As this is all part of the timing cover casting you could be left with a scrap cover until someone (our hosts?) gets around to offering a re-conditioning service.



To be honest I'd go with Tim's suggestion of a set properly set-up high capacity pumps for your classic, with the usual caveats about making sure the oil pump spindle rotates easily and that the rocker oilways are all letting the oil pass freely. Or buy a well-sorted Electra-X with some extra sump magnets fitted.



A.

[Bullet Whisperer]

This may raise a few eyebrows, but for road going 'classic' Bullets I have always found the standard lubrication system adequate, even when thrashing them, as long as the vital components are in good shape. We have the high capacity pumps in our racers, as a bit of 'insurance' and both machines are still running the pumps they were originally built with, in the mid 2000's and they are still going strong - although I have lost count of how many spindles and worm nuts I have replaced! Each to their own, but if it ain't broke etc ... Regards, Paul.