The Knowledge - Velocette Owners Club

# 6310 If you own a Velocette, or any other motorcycle of venerable age, you have to accept the
undeniable fact that there will be times when your beloved machine, instead of distributing surplus oil to
the 4 winds, will show a smear on the outside somewhere, & unfortunately if you are stationary instead
of riding & enjoying it, -- it will shame you visibly at times unless you are prepared to park on loose dirt,
or carry some sort of collapsible drip tray, or a roll of modern 'magic' house tissue. On the other hand it
is possible to eliminate some of the traveling vent holes, but in the end it will do little more than
concentrate the black mark in one spot. Normal fettling, ( & washing & riding) pretty much ensures that
surplus gearbox oil & water will finish up in the primary chain case as noted, & there isn't much that can
easily be done to prevent a healthy engine from breathing into the same place ! & it all ensures an
overfull case in my experience. Although I have never had cause to consider it, it seems to me that a
simple 'overfull' drain from the chaincase with the associated length of neoprene drain hose ( that many
modern wonders use !) would allow surplus liquid to either be dropped on to terra firma while riding, - or
into the drip tray that I assume we all use to keep our garage floor pristine. This would at least prevent
the build up of liquid to the point where it dribbles from the drive shaft openings, & if you fit a drain plug
to the chaincase as previously mentioned, you can at least ensure that anything in the chaincase is
mostly oil at the correct (?) level !!! On the other hand maybe a couple of tips on curing leaks elsewhere
?? On my Mk. 2 KSS machines, I have adapted the front of the inner chaincase fitting, to take an 'O'
ring that snaps oiltight over the driveside crankcase bearing housing boss, so this eliminates the dribble
of oil at this point. I first did this on my 'Special' where as a result of my bottom frame tube lengthening
operation, ( approx 3/4 inch) the optimum engine/gearbox drive centres increased by about half that
amount, & surprisingly there is enough room around the standard engine drive sprocket, ( assuming no
chain disintegration !), to allow the drive shaft hole to be moved this distance. The removal ( &
destruction) of the original tinplate bits, required that a new one was machined from solid stock, & it
became obvious that the original oil containment at this point could be greatly improved by the addition
of an 'O' ring. The result, -- no more leaks here ! This mod. should (?) apply to the M series as well.
Another annoying spot is that spacer tube between the 2 cases, -- but this is an easy one ! -- forget
about all the sealants & junk, & simply do a neat cut in a piece of stock radiator hose, to make a rubber
tube that is a little longer than the steel spacer tube, & fits over it. Bear in mind that I have been using
this trick since the days of canvas reinforced natural rubber hose, -- & yes, - I know that the oil will
attack it & soften & swell it all up, -- but this only makes the seal better ! In these days of neoprene, it
will be necessary to make sure that the ends of the tube are accurately cut square, or smoothed square
on the linisher belt, or the judicious use of the grindstone, (not really a good idea !) What ever, -
properly done, this is simple to fit & results in the elimination of another annoying smear of oil. As for
the rest of the leaks, -- you are on your own fellows !!
# 6312 These ideas are very useful and practical but for those with access to the UK VOC spares
scheme they do a very neat alloy spacer with o rings in each end. This gives a good oil seal and still
separates the two chain case halves correctly. I once saw a Velo racer with a "nappy" to catch the oil
drips. Not as bad as it sounds as it was a neatly made sheet metal plate, similar to the military/trails
bash plates seen on other bikes but with an absorbent foam layer to catch/hold any drips! Never tried
myself .I think I would rather be shamed by oil drips than admit to being a forty five year old who still
uses nappies!
L # VOCNA 122 A friend of mine bought a 1936 KSS at the Vegas auction. I went over tonight
and we got it fired up, made sure it had oil pressure to the cam, etc. After it ran for a minute a large
puddle formed under the primary. No problem I said, the primary has filled from sitting, just have to
drain it off. We couldn't find a drain plig anywhere! Did they not have them back then? It has the
normal fill hole with spring clip. You guys ad drain plugs?
# VOCNA 123 Obviously a KSS needs no drain plug, as it all comes out on the ground anyway! I'm not
sure if I still have a KSS primary laying around, but adding a drain and level plug is always a good idea,
as is silcone sealant!
# VOCNA 124 The KSS does not come with a drain plug. It is not really worth the effort to fit one
because there is no seal and provision for one around the clutch. Run the bike for a few miles and it will
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