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[nordicgloom]

Hello! Seem to be posting here far more often than I'd like at the minute. Whilst ordering and fitting a new throttle cable recently I thought I'd use the postage and get a new oil filter in as well. I changed the oil and the filter and ever since have been getting a pretty disturbing clacking noise from the engine, the bike also seems fairly sluggish and is hunting whilst it idles. It's the first time I've seriously considered handing it over to the garage I bought it from to have it looked at which is a disappointment as I hoped to be always fixing it myself. The reply from the garage did mention something regarding the compressor, is there any way of checking this or anything else obvious before I wave the white flag? The tappets are adjusted nicely by the way.

[Norm]

Before you go any further you may have caused an airlock when changing the filter, crack the quill bolt, decomp open and kick it over to see if you have oil going to the big end

[nordicgloom]

Hi Norm, I took the quill bolt out quickly yesterday and plenty of oil came through, is this what you mean? Its also right on the maximum fill line, it's pretty full really, would this also cause an issue? Cheers

[nordicgloom]

Just reading Snidal and I see what you mean, just a half turn and it should show some oil. What happens if there is an air lock, how would this be corrected?

[Norm]

Ok first prove to yourself that oil is going to the big end by kicking it over with the quill bolt loose. Then crack one of the banjo bolts on the head and see if you are getting oil there when kicking it over. Once you have these answers come back and we will look at the next step

[trevorch]

Congratulations on fixing the throttle problem. I Remember also having to make some adjustment to the split collet at the twist grip end on mine also. Theoretically fitting new filter and changing oil should not make a any difference to account for new noise, but you do mention filled right up. Commonly, needs only to be filled max half way between low and high mark, but will this cause any new noise?

Did the engine run perfectly well after you changed the throttle cable or did you do the filter at the same time? I was just wondering if you have dislodged the de-compression cable and now it is stuck slightly open. This could cause loss of power, hunting and maybe some noise. Just a stab in the dark. Cheers and best of luck. TrevorCH

[nordicgloom]

Cheers Trevorch, it was working great after the throttle cable change, I took it out to warm the engine but after the oil change it wasn't so smooth. The decompression looks to be returning properly externally. I have oil from the quill but not even seepage from the banjo bolts? Is this the fabled air lock? I am going to drain the oil and refill to make sure the levels are fine this time, what is the estimated oil capacity? Honestly any advice is very much appreciated. My major concern here is that I have damaged the engine running it across town if there was in fact an air lock. Cheers!

[nordicgloom]

Right... I think its ok? I drained the oil, I refilled, I had one terrible moment of panic where I almost cross threaded a banjo bolt, I adjusted the tappets and took it for a spin. It was sluggish at first, fairly typically though of course. The noise was undoubtedly one of the tappets shaking itself loose which is a schoolboy error of course but I overlooked it because I'd literally just spent the most amount of time getting them right. Oil was dribbling out of a not so well tightened banjo bolt reassuring myself that oil was circulating properly before retightening, I adjusted the idle a fair few times, it's stopped hunting now thankfully and aside from it being an enfield I think it might all actually be fine? Many thanks as always to the reassurance of advice. The ride to and from work over the next few days will put my mind at ease as to whether the thing might finally be ok. Thanks again.