The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop What is the copper oiler tube on top of the head?

I just took off the valve cover on '54 235 ci engine that is installed in my '51 panel.
There is piece of 1/4 " copper tubing brazed to an oil feed line
along the side of the rocker arm shaft in the center of the head.
I don't know what it's called and could not search.
It is curved downward to the base of the head and part of it is broken
off from the horizontal at the curve downward.
So my questions are: Is this tube factory installed?
What purpose is served by the tube?
Does the broken tube need to be repaired? Removed?
Stumped.
Jery

Jerry,

That is the oil-feed link that attaches to the rocker arm assembly.

http://www.1954advance-design.com/W...1948-57-rocker-arm-lubrication.html#1954

Tim:
Once again, thanks for the quick response.
Besides the broken copper tube, I found 3 valves stuck in their bores and
accordingly bent push rods. But, got those working again. New push rods on order.
Do you suppose this was the cause of the stuck valves? The engine has
been sitting idle for years.
I guess the "fix" is to braze the tube back in place. Only a horizontal piece of the tube remains in place. The diagram you supplied seems to show the tube is a complete loop back down to an oil exit hole in the head. Should the repair be as shown or does is really make any difference?
Jerry

Jerry- the tube's main function is to supply oil to the top of the head to allow it to flow outward to the rocker arms- here's another diagram from Tim's website. It's from the bottom of the page he linked for you.

A lot of the tubes were crimped exactly where you say your oil line is broken; look at Tim's website link of the rocker arms and see if this is what you are describing.


Brad

Thanks for the diagrams and pic's from Tim's website.
The oil connector shown in his pic's is not like mine.
His has a 90 degree fitting from the up tube over to the oil connector.
Mine is just a straight, steel up tube brazed to the oil connector and from there
a piece of 1/4" copper tube brazed to that.

Looks like some kind of poor repair in the past.

Tim: If you're reading this can I send you a pic of this set up via email?

Thanks, Jerry

Hi Jerry, is your engine a full pressure oiler? sounds like the same set up as the 216 the oil line runs from the right side of the engine block through the water jacket up behind the pushrod cover, it then goes through the head and should be attached to a brass fitting via a compression joint which it attached to the rocker shaft, its purpose is to oil the rocker gear I would deffinately replace/repair, kits are available good luck

Ken

Jerry,

Please send me photos and I will host and post links.

Tim:
Just checking. Did you get the pic's of the oil connector that I emailed to you?
Jerry

Jerry,

I have not received any photos or links to photos.

I have also searched for messages from: [email protected]

My email address is: [email protected]

Ok Tim..... here come the pic's.
Jerry

skinedknuckles rocker oil-line tube & panel truck

Nice looking panel, Jerry

Thanks, Tim. It is a beauty, at least in my eyes. All is original and best viewed from 20' or more. LOL. Luckily it has spent it's whole life right here in the desert.
JB

Holy Cow Jerry!!! That truck sure looks familiar. I know it's not the same truck since mine was a 55.1 but looking at your pics sure took me back a bunch of years.

Pretty similar.

A MUCH younger me.

If you EVER decide to part company please give me a heads up. I'd like to make an offer.

Tiny;
I see your old truck was an "early" '55. Same color, sorta".........
I have only had the '51 for a few weeks. It's incredable how solid and rust free the truck is. Guess that's a result of being here in the desert all these years.
You will be first on the list if I decide to sell.
Jerry

Tim:
I've got the rocker arm shaft bolts removed to facilitate putting in the new push rods.
Gives me a chance to remove the oil connector and inspect it. Should I get a new oil connector before re-assembling ??
Jerry

Jerry,

Thoroughly clean the rocker arms and shafts (interior passage in shafts). You might as well keep the rockers in original order on original shafts.

Wait for other opinions; however, if oil is flowing to the rocker arm assembly and trickling out the holes at the tops of the arms, I'd say you are OK with what you have.

Jerry,

I just now read my e-mail and found your additional photos of the connector ( they have been added to your album). It is completely broken.

I think I would get a new connector (if possible), rather than trying to repair your connector. There were different styles of connectors - you might have a hard time finding what you need. If anyone has a spare connector like yours, they should contact you by Private Message or by email ([email protected]).

I'm thinking one of you machinists could step up to the plate on this one. Its a piece of round tube with a 3/8 tube melded to it. Doesn't look hard at all if you had machine shop tools. They are problematic and maybe something worth looking into. They are hard to find in good shape.

Thanks Tim and Deve:
I have removed the entire rocker arm assmebly and thoroughly cleaned it in
the parts washer.

Deve: I think I'll try to locate someone adept at brazing a new section of tube back onto the exisiting section of tube on the oil connector.

If anyone reading this has a proper oil connector in good condition,
please PM me or at: [email protected]

Jerry

I found an extra for my '38 on ebay a few years back. I still find them listed on occasion. That might be a good resource for you as well.

Seems like rocker shaft connector oilers are hot in the "Stovebolt" news lately. It also seems as though they are prone to breakage for reasons not entirely evident.

Here is what I did with mine (on a 1958 235):

[img]http://www.surfacezero.com/g503/data/3764/medium/IMG_6755.JPG[/img]
This connector had completely broken and the tube was floating around in the head. Note a second hairline crack to the left of the open crack

[img]http://www.surfacezero.com/g503/data/3764/medium/IMG_6753.JPG[/img]
Cleaned up a little...you can see the other crack a little better

[img]http://www.surfacezero.com/g503/data/3764/medium/IMG_6758.JPG[/img]
Here is the connector after a little welding, notice the little hole at the bottom of the tube. This hole was machined from the factory.

I rebent a new copper tube and brazed it to the collar.

Paul:
The tube on my oil connector is broken at approximately the same place.
The cracks and eventual breakage HAVE to be caused by vibration.
60 + years of vibration. Bending the tube may cause a failure in the
integrity of the tubing.
Just my two cents worth..........
Jerry