Detroit Diesel/Norton Motorcycles - Kindred spirits...

[MikeP]

My 1971 Norton 750 Commando leaked oil out of everywhere except the headlight. Of course the light and switchgear was Lucas so, although it didn't leak oil, it also didn't work most of the time. I find the my 8V71Tis have much in common with that Norton.

I noticed a bit of engine oil seeping from the fuel pump. Imagine my surprise to find in the service manual that it is normal(!) for the fuel pump to seep engine oil. There are also seeps dripping off the undersides of the exhaust manifolds. I haven't looked into where it's actually coming from yet. Then there are the minor drips from the myriad assorted fittings that attach to hoses, sensors, and pipes, some of which seem to head out into some alternate universe.

One of my low level "to-do's" is to see if I can actually stop all the little drips and seeps. But it's not encouraging to read that the factory didn't even bother to try; they just wrote it off as "normal." I'm going to check the engine closely to see if there is any codes that would show it was made in Wolverhampton!

[Pascal]

i came to the same conclusion about DDs and Jaguar V12s... don't know which one leaks more oil... and they are both basically bulletproof engines.

[Traveler 45C]

I have the same alternative universe on my boat. Maybe our lines are connected somehow… My port fuel pump leaks, not the stbd.

My stbd. manifolds leak, not the port.

Pascal,

Nice toys!!!

[jim rosenthal]

Neither of my Triumphs nor my Norton leak oil. I better check to see if the sumps are dry

[RSYacht]

I have a time tested solution for your "normal" oil leaks. It's probably a reality that the little buggers need a paint job anyway. Bring home some IMRON (DuPont) - color of your choice, I prefer white, wipe em down with enamel thinner to get the petroleum residue off. Scrape where you need to, and sand the smooth surfaces. Get a good brush and a good charcoal breather mask (or better), mix up a batch and spend a rainy weekend in the engine room. Two to three coats will stop all of the weaping and they will look like a million bucks to boot. This is the forth set I've done - it works.

[MikeP]

Jim,

Check that sump! If your Norton isn't leaking oil, it's because there isn't any in it! You shouldn't run it without oil like that! I can't speak personally for Triumphs but they are British...