Paul Jameson's KH Article

[simon.holyfield]

I've just finished reading the very interesting article Paul has written for Cheval.

In it, he mentions a 'wire type oil feed restrictor'.

Paul, could you, or someone else if you don't happen to read this, educate me as to how this works? I imagine you are introducing a wire to reduce the flow area of an oil way somewhere, but where, and how is it fitted?

I posted here rather than using a PM, as I'm sure this will be of interest to others.

[adrie.degraaff]

It's standard in a Vincent, you make a wire like a spring with the end sticking in a oil hole of a bolt or a axsel, the thicknes is important for the amount of oil going true.

[markus.nikot]

Paul,

when running my KH with 15/40 the reading in idle was near zero when hot and at cruising speed only around 15lbs.
Single grade 50 oil solved the problem very easy, idle 15, running 25lbs, as described in the maintenance book.

Keep the pressure up
Markus

[paul.jameson]

The wire type oil feed restrictor consists of a hole though which the oil goes, say 3/8" in length and 1/16" in diameter and a wire, the same length but half a gnat's less in diameter, inserted in the hole. The oil finds its way through the annulus between the hole and the wire, in suitably small quantities. Precise dimensions of the gnat's in this case can follow once I have found suitable dimensions through trial and error! At present, the KH(A) is in running order but the VH hubs came back from powder coating today so until I have built those wheels I shall not touch the KH(A). Meanwhile I am trying to build my '36 Sq 4 and a KHA for a friend so don't expect anything soon. Incidentally, I started that article in 2009.......

[simon.holyfield]

Paul,

when running my KH with 15/40 the reading in idle was near zero when hot and at cruising speed only around 15lbs.
Single grade 50 oil solved the problem very easy, idle 15, running 25lbs, as described in the maintenance book.

Keep the pressure up
Markus

Markus, I bel you have a rather nice Mk1 SQ4. What oil do you run in that, and what pressures do you see?

[nevhunter]

The wire through an orifice achieves a restriction with a bit more reliability than a small hole which is more subject to blockage..
AND.... Since I am amongst expert KH people here, is there anyone who knows for sure what the balance factor is for a 52 KH crankshaft. Mine has standard original pistons but has been part dismantled. It wasn't the smoothest 500 vertical twin from memory and I made a mental note to rebalance it. Hoping I get the info chaps. Nev

[markus.nikot]

Markus, I bel you have a rather nice Mk1 SQ4. What oil do you run in that, and what pressures do you see?

Simon,

in Summer all my Ariel were ridden with 50 single grade oil. The only difference, bikes with an oil filter getting oil with detergents the two others without.
My MkI is equipped with a Morgo pump, cold pressure is strike, hot and cruising around 50lbs. Against over oiling the head i've stuffed a wire into the feed and mounted valveguide seals at the inlets.
If i don't take care while warming up and only during a short period of time oil splashes out between head and cylinder in the area of the pushrodtunnels on both sides. Think the head bents and opens a gap. When warming up slowly and in hot condition everything is tight.

The bike came with the Morgo but i think a good plunger pump would be better and produces less trouble with too much oil.

Markus

[simon.holyfield]

Sorry Markus, what pressure do you get cold?

[markus.nikot]

Sorry Markus, what pressure do you get cold?

The needle goes towards end of scale.

Markus

[simon.holyfield]

Aha! Off the scale! Strike! I see what you mean now...