I feel for you mate after all your effort at stopping the oil leakage. However much you try i feel there will always be some coming out. I also like your low tech approach. keep the videos coming, stay safe
Jeff, thanks again for taking the time to comment. My C15 engine is like a watering can but for oil! Maybe it's the low tech approach that's the problem. I hope to put a couple of very short videos up soon.
Hello Roger and thanks for the advice. Rupert Ratio and the BSA C15 Restoration & Preservation Group on Facebook advise against using silicon RTVs. I gather this is due to the possibility of an excess breaking off inside the engine and blocking an oilway. But I am getting desperate. You have experience of RTV use and I may fall back on your experience.
@@hughferrier5837 use rtv sparingly. As the c15 restoration group says, it can if overdone clog things up. Also make sure the oil return holes next to the cam followers are clear.
My M20 always leaked from more places than I could track down. Our roads are a lot safer since bikes and cars stopped leaking oil. Classics are great but progress is also great.
Hi Hughie, just bought myself a C15, probably obvious to some but not me, how do you check level of oil in primary chain case and where to add oil if required.
Hello and congratulations on owning a C15. You are going to know moments of great joy and moments of great despair. To fill the primary chaincase is easy - there is a big filler plug in the middle of the case with a slot in it. A cold chisel can act as a screwdriver to fit the slot. Mine is sealed with an O-ring. The level is different. Two of the Allen bolts at the bottom front of the chaincase should have fibre washers on them. The bottom front is the level plug, the one just behind is the drain plug. Open the bottom front and add oil till it comes out that level plug. I don't often do that. I have a piece of fence wire that I put in the fill plug and just kind of make sure the oil comes up to about 1cm on it. I'm more or less checking there is some oil in it! I just use 20W50 oil in the engine, gearbox and primary chaincase. I am not a great expert but I hope that helps.
@@hughferrier5837 That is a great help Hughie, thanks very much for your reply. There's every chance I may pick your brains in the future without becoming a nuisance. Take care. Dave
These engines left the factory with leaks. It's part of the design. It's also why most of the parts are distorted. People pull the bolts down too hard trying to stop the leaks.
Yes I've heard that's a problem with overtightening. This may shock you but most of my life I have been a Yamaha man! I've had an XS250, XS750 and XS650. I now have a Yamaha Majesty scooter. They just don't leak. Well the XS650 leaked for a wee while but got sorted easily. I even had two wee Chinese bikes - never leaked a drop. But the BSA is beautiful. It is also quite a clever wee design but just not done well enough.
I've been having an argument with some idiots who think there should be no gasket or seal between the crankcases. There wasn't one when I took the engine apart so that's a red flag in itself. And they called me stupid. There also seems to be a section of the casing having a filed off area in the place where a screw fits in every C15 and B40 engine I've seen. The later B40 WD don't have that. It's pretty obvious to me with a limited knowledge of plumbing skills that oil is going to slip past a screw which is why the areas where the screws fit into the side casings are sealed up and secured by a gasket. Having a hole is going to let out the oil.
@@EIKLURAM Thread tape seals threads. Hylomar was originally used between crank case halves. Today we would use Loctite 518. My Fiat has a bearing block on the bottom of crank case. All bearing caps in one lump. It is sealed with 518. The Sump pan uses Silicone RTV only. It only leaks when the pan has rusted through.
Hello and thank you for bothering to take an interest. I was experimenting with that Mikuni copy. I may try again. I couldn't get a correct jet for it to idle nicely and give a nice colour of spark plug afterwards. To use the bike I am back with the Amal, though it is a concentric. Originally it had a monobloc. It came to me with the concentric. If I get the Mikuni to work out I will post a video. My carburation is not right. I do get a grey plug so that is good but my fuel consumption is less than 80 miles per gallon. I think a wee single should do better than that.
@@hughferrier5837 That's it. When it stops leaking, the oil has run out, and then you worry. Your bike sounds ace. I hope you locate the leak; plug it, and then enjoy many miles of drip-free riding.
@@hughferrier5837 just check in with me and my dad,...we have had most issues on our 2 c15 rebuilds over last 18 months...wish i could post some pictures of ours
Hello Dave. I am just going to take it for runs as it is. I hope to go a bit further afield as the rate of oil loss is less. I'm still going to try and do a bit more to reduce the losses. I hope to post a travel video soon.
@@hughferrier5837 yep I’ve decided to chase oil leaks from my C15 was distracting from the pleasure of actually owning it. Mines far worse than yours though. But one of 11 classics. I’d say measure the loss against the pain of not being able to ride it as summer approaches. Perhaps ride this summer. Enjoy and make plans to sort this coming winter ? But don’t live to fix live to ride and make memories. Oil leaks are frustrating
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Oh the joy of biking British! Got a Cub always an oil leak!
Thanks for the interest and the sympathy!
I feel for you mate after all your effort at stopping the oil leakage. However much you try i feel there will always be some coming out. I also like your low tech approach. keep the videos coming, stay safe
Jeff, thanks again for taking the time to comment. My C15 engine is like a watering can but for oil! Maybe it's the low tech approach that's the problem. I hope to put a couple of very short videos up soon.
RTV sealer works well. Used it on my c15.
Hello Roger and thanks for the advice. Rupert Ratio and the BSA C15 Restoration & Preservation Group on Facebook advise against using silicon RTVs. I gather this is due to the possibility of an excess breaking off inside the engine and blocking an oilway. But I am getting desperate. You have experience of RTV use and I may fall back on your experience.
@@hughferrier5837 use rtv sparingly. As the c15 restoration group says, it can if overdone clog things up.
Also make sure the oil return holes next to the cam followers are clear.
My M20 always leaked from more places than I could track down. Our roads are a lot safer since bikes and cars stopped leaking oil. Classics are great but progress is also great.
You love the classics, you admire the modern.
@@hughferrier5837 Well as an engineer you've got to appreciate history and progress right?
Hi Hughie, just bought myself a C15, probably obvious to some but not me, how do you check level of oil in primary chain case and where to add oil if required.
Hello and congratulations on owning a C15. You are going to know moments of great joy and moments of great despair. To fill the primary chaincase is easy - there is a big filler plug in the middle of the case with a slot in it. A cold chisel can act as a screwdriver to fit the slot. Mine is sealed with an O-ring. The level is different. Two of the Allen bolts at the bottom front of the chaincase should have fibre washers on them. The bottom front is the level plug, the one just behind is the drain plug. Open the bottom front and add oil till it comes out that level plug. I don't often do that. I have a piece of fence wire that I put in the fill plug and just kind of make sure the oil comes up to about 1cm on it. I'm more or less checking there is some oil in it! I just use 20W50 oil in the engine, gearbox and primary chaincase. I am not a great expert but I hope that helps.
@@hughferrier5837 That is a great help Hughie, thanks very much for your reply. There's every chance I may pick your brains in the future without becoming a nuisance. Take care. Dave
These engines left the factory with leaks. It's part of the design. It's also why most of the parts are distorted. People pull the bolts down too hard trying to stop the leaks.
Yes I've heard that's a problem with overtightening. This may shock you but most of my life I have been a Yamaha man! I've had an XS250, XS750 and XS650. I now have a Yamaha Majesty scooter. They just don't leak. Well the XS650 leaked for a wee while but got sorted easily. I even had two wee Chinese bikes - never leaked a drop. But the BSA is beautiful. It is also quite a clever wee design but just not done well enough.
I've been having an argument with some idiots who think there should be no gasket or seal between the crankcases. There wasn't one when I took the engine apart so that's a red flag in itself. And they called me stupid.
There also seems to be a section of the casing having a filed off area in the place where a screw fits in every C15 and B40 engine I've seen.
The later B40 WD don't have that.
It's pretty obvious to me with a limited knowledge of plumbing skills that oil is going to slip past a screw which is why the areas where the screws fit into the side casings are sealed up and secured by a gasket. Having a hole is going to let out the oil.
@@EIKLURAM Thread tape seals threads. Hylomar was originally used between crank case halves. Today we would use Loctite 518.
My Fiat has a bearing block on the bottom of crank case. All bearing caps in one lump. It is sealed with 518. The Sump pan uses Silicone RTV only. It only leaks when the pan has rusted through.
I thought you did a great job with the copper gasket.
Cheers, Peter.
The home made copper gasket seems to seal OK. I wouldn't do it again. I think Rupert Ratio can supply thicker gaskets. Thanks again.
Looks like you're back with the original carb...'experimental' Mikuni didn't work out?
Hello and thank you for bothering to take an interest. I was experimenting with that Mikuni copy. I may try again. I couldn't get a correct jet for it to idle nicely and give a nice colour of spark plug afterwards. To use the bike I am back with the Amal, though it is a concentric. Originally it had a monobloc. It came to me with the concentric. If I get the Mikuni to work out I will post a video. My carburation is not right. I do get a grey plug so that is good but my fuel consumption is less than 80 miles per gallon. I think a wee single should do better than that.
When British bikes stop leaking, that's when you worry.
I would love it not to leak. I could empty the gearbox in 15 miles - that made me worry!
@@hughferrier5837 That's it. When it stops leaking, the oil has run out, and then you worry. Your bike sounds ace. I hope you locate the leak; plug it, and then enjoy many miles of drip-free riding.
All testing done with fuel tank empty 😗, it runs on the smell of a oily rag !
Kind of like a heavy oil marine engine!
Rupert sells the thicker head gaskets
I wish I had known that. Maybe next time. I'm sure there will be a next time!
i had same problem :)
@@hughferrier5837 just check in with me and my dad,...we have had most issues on our 2 c15 rebuilds over last 18 months...wish i could post some pictures of ours
@@audioorigami That is so kind. I believe you have contacted me before and have a place in Glasgow able to do BSA engineering type repairs. Thank you
@@hughferrier5837 yes i left my number back then...you dont have a contact email
TBH whilst I admire your efforts their comes a time where you’ll just have to ride her.
Hello Dave. I am just going to take it for runs as it is. I hope to go a bit further afield as the rate of oil loss is less. I'm still going to try and do a bit more to reduce the losses. I hope to post a travel video soon.
@@hughferrier5837 yep I’ve decided to chase oil leaks from my C15 was distracting from the pleasure of actually owning it. Mines far worse than yours though. But one of 11 classics. I’d say measure the loss against the pain of not being able to ride it as summer approaches. Perhaps ride this summer. Enjoy and make plans to sort this coming winter ? But don’t live to fix live to ride and make memories. Oil leaks are frustrating