Forum

[Ginetta lad]

My bike has the alloy barrel conversion but I find after a run I get what looks like clean oil Between the fins and near the head joint. I don't think the head gasket has gone compression wise as she runs fine. Could the weep be coming through porous alloy as the oil looks cleaner than the engine oil as if filtered? Could the gasket let oil out without compression? It's not a big issue but it looks a bit messy so any ideas or common issues with the barrels? H

[Lee]

Oil on fins could be from banjo bolts on rocker feed pipe, which gets spread all around by forward motion.

[zippy]

...or from the pushrod tunnel joint...

[wilf]

Had what sounds like the same problem with my iron barrel. Head gasket was leaking at the push rod tubes. Just a bit messy, compression still good.In the end I changed the head gasket, a first for me. No problem if you take your time and follow Mr.H's tech notes.

[Ginetta lad]

Ok had thought a partial gasket failure may be the issue but the oil seems clean? I will change the head gasket at some point but worry I'll find a load more work or break a stud or something!

[John M]

I find that curious passers by are often disappointed if they don't see a bit of a leak on a Royal Oilfield, it helps to reinforce their preconceptions.

[Scalyback]

I have often found this to be true, People do expect to see a mess under the bike and I am considering carrying a squeezy bottle of old engine oil in the panniers, so that when I park, I can squeeze a good pile plus a few strategic drips on the ground underneath!

[zippy]

Did that already scalyback, but I used to put it under the jap bikes I was parked next to

[zippy]

... or if they were making a real job of looking down their nose at me and mine, - A second disc lock

[guru]

Ginnetta, is the leak on the banjo bolt side? if it is try a new set of banjo washers (is the cheapest and easiest thing to do first) just make sure there the correct ones tho, However if they are the right washers and there the copper type stick a blow torch on them get em glowing red hot then plunge em in water while still red, try the cheapest first, if dont work aint cost owt.