Hello there
just an update on my issue .I have moved the breather to the later position where the boss was already there but not drilled ,and blanked off the lower position . this has improved things a great deal with no oil coming out of the breather so i am quite happy with this solution .

I bought this bike last year ,it had been unused since 1999 and required some light recommissioning now back in full use .

i have this bike it is in my shed and is now back on the road .

Hello Pete ,yes i have checked the valve chest breather and the drain hole into the timing case is clear .the only other option is to move the timing cover breather to the later higher position as used on later singles . its easy to do as the cast boss for it is already there .at this point i have ...

The oilways in the crank shaft are clean and easily allow oil to the big end and there was no sludge in the sludge trap , i have reassembled the engine carefully but with sae 40 engine oil i still am getting considerable amount of oil reaching the magdyno .i have blanked off the lower breather as it ...

I have the early pump and i have replaced the balls and springs overall it seems in good condition ,i am currently using sae 40 oil. The quill is straight and parallel and unworn and protrudes 40mm

I have removed the sump filter and removed the oil sludge trap in the flywheel and there was no sludge or material that would restrict oil flow to the big end . The quill looks unworn so i will reassemble and try using 30 grade instead of the current 40 and see if that helps with the timing cover ...

Hi there ,that is a very good point about the heavy viscosity of oil causing the oil retention in the timing cover i will try a lighter grade and see if it helps

Sounds familiar. Pre-38 timing cases have the oil drain holes much higher than later engines. This is my 37 inner timing cover:
IMG_20260331_135512.jpg
There are also correspondingly higher drain holes in the crankcase. Do you have the higher drain holes? Later covers have just one drain hole much ...

Hi i have a 1936 Ariel vb600 after starting despite good scavenge back to the tank i get excessive amounts of oil in the outer timing cover .it eventually leaks out of the lower breather and magdyno shaft seal . i have good oil pressure and i have replaced the balls and springs in the pump after ...