To some degree, I’m posting this as a note for myself…but I thought it might help someone else, so here it is.

Oil Feed and Return Pipes

My 1963 AJS Model 16 off road bike project keeps getting delayed because I’m using an Andy Bamford frame, with a 1963 short stroke engine, aluminium primary chaincase and NOT the small WD style hubs, but the later ‘cotton reel’ half width hubs; I keep having to modify and make parts.

I’ve also decided to fit full lighting as I want a general purpose bike for green-laning and heritage trials events.

Part of the process involves fitting a central oil tank which is mounted between the aluminium engine plates. This means I cannot fit the standard oil pipes and tubes. My bike originally had the pipes as per the picture: 023401 oil feed pipe, 0233309 oil return pipe, 011924 oil feed union and 015528 washer for 011924.

For reference, the smaller diameter threads that screw into the engine have a 1/4″ BSP thread and the larger diameter thread on the oil fee union measures as 5/8″-20 BSC; hopefully the latter is accurate.

You’ll notice that both pipes have sleeves soldered over the ends of the copper pipes. This had to be for no other reason than it allowed AMC to standardise on 1/2″ internal diameter neoprene pipe. The oil feed on my bike goes between the engine and gearbox to the central oil tank, which means I’ll need to carefully remove the sleeves on both pipes and shorten the copper pipes themselves. The pipe I’m using is 3/8″ diameter and will fit over the two copper pipes directly.

A variety of oil pipes are specified for the 1963 singles:

Part Number     Function                   Models Fitted To
023401               Oil Feed Pipe            G3, G80, 16 and 18   – mine is a 16
025254                   ”            ”                G3C, 16C
023463                   ”            ”                G3CS, G80CS, 16CS and 18CS
023309               Oil Return Pipe        G3, G80, 16 and 18   – mine is a 16
022582                   ”            ”                G3C, 16C
023464                   ”            ”                G3CS, G80CS, 16CS and 18CS
011924                Oil Feed Union        All models
015528                Washer for 011924   ”          ”

The original oil feed pipes are pretty much unobtainable, although I know someone who is waiting for a batch to be made. Before I cut them, I’ll make sure I have the pipe for my 1964 project.

I hope this post was useful to you.