Oil feed to rockers

[R65North]

Hi Guys,

A query about oil feed to the rockers. As we know this is delivered to the rockers along the top two studs from oil galleys in the engine casting.

On my bike there seems to be more oil fed to the LHS than the RHS. I can tell this as when I go for a ride and then park up on the centrestand and remove the rocker covers there is a nice pool of oil in the LHS and not more than a few drops in the RHS.

Don't get me wrong there is oil on the RHS and the parts are shiny with oil film there's just not a lot swilling around.

Is this normal or is there maybe an issue with oil feed like possible partial blockage in the oil feed galley?

Thanks
Dave

[montmil]

Sidestand is on the left side. Bike is tilted to the left. Oil collects in the left rocker box rather than draining back into the sump via the push rod tubes. There is often a healthy puff of smoke on startup coming from the left exhaust pipe... or both muffs if you have the x-over header pipe/s.

If leaving the bike parked for an extended time, it is a good habit to develop of placing the bike on the centerstand. Airhead cognoscenti note this unique trait as the smokey starts can mark an owner as being among the unwashed.

 

[Tony Smith]

Mine exhibits the same trait.
 
I would classify the oil delivery as

RHS - more than enough
LHS - way more than enough

[Barry]

I just  took the valve covers off mine today to check the clearances and there was not a lot of  oil in either cover but it had been standing overnight so most will have drained back to the sump.  Over the years I can't say I've noticed a significant difference from one side to the other but then I haven't been looking for one.

Best bet would be to scatter plenty of newspaper about and start her up with the covers off.

[Bob_Roller]

Does it make a difference how you put the rocker arm shafts back in ?
There's a drilled passageway, that goes at an angle in the rocker arm shaft .
I've always put the end with the lower passageway on the stud that has the oil feed .

[nhmaf]

I believe that the shafts have a stamp/punch/mark that is supposed to go on top, and toward the head (inside edge, not outside edge toward the valve cover), when you install..... or maybe I am misremembering   (but NOT like Brian Williams!)

[Barry]

Remembering that it's important is the main thing then we can look it up. This is from a service bulletin in 1986. Surprisingly it's not in the BMW Repair Manual or at least it didn't jump out at me from a quick scan. Haynes has it covered though with a similar diagram.

[montmil]

I believe that the shafts have a stamp/punch/mark that is supposed to go on top, and toward the head (inside edge, not outside edge toward the valve cover), when you install..... or maybe I am misremembering   (but NOT like Brian Williams!)

You're correct, Bob, but having just this month completed a ring job on the '81 R65, I can say that one needs to look closely for the small "dots" as they are quite shallow and could be easily missed by someone working without a good shop manual.

[R65North]

Ah, well there's something worth checking. Thanks Guys, great info!
Cheers
Dave

[R65North]

So I checked mine this morning - different design and no orientation stamp I can see. Loads of oil though - (I wiped the shaft before taking the photo) so I'm putting my paranoia to bed! I did align the shafts when I assembled it a while back and since have held them in place with cable ties when removed to keep the orientation - not a bad tip.

Cheers
Dave

[nhmaf]

Did you look on the bottom side?

[R65North]

Hi yes I did just looked smooth on the bottom
I think this is explained by Clymer that states to position the rocker arm shaft so that the punch mark is facing away from the engine for 1980 on bikes, so early ones don't have it.

[Barry]

I think this is explained by Clymer that states to position the rocker arm shaft so that the punch mark is facing away from the engine for 1980 on bikes, so early ones don't have it.

That adds up. The picture I posted above was from a 1986 service bulletin so perhaps it only relates to the 81 on models. That would also explain why I couldn't find any reference to the punch marks in the BMW repair manual because the one I have only covers the early models.