My 3c has developed a slow drip from its primary chain adjusting bolt. It has a copper washer, nut and then 3 copper washers, and a domed Stainless nut on the bottom. It hasn't been adjusted for at least a year, not much riding lately. I don't anneal these washers, they have been replaced maybe 2 years ago. So any tips to stop this, thread tape, sealing produces. How often are these damaged from touching the bike down? It's spread the oil to the center stand and got a big stain on my new boots.
Drip
- Thread starter Vince
- Start date
Dellortoman
Hero member
- Location
- Tasmania, Australia
Vince said:
Well, there's your problem. Anneal the bloody washers Vince.
I do it every time I use a copper washer, even if it's new and has never been used before. It's often the new ones that need it most. The manufacturing process of punching them out of copper sheet leaves them work hardened.
I do it for all copper washers, whether it be the primary adjuster, brake system banjos, fork drain plugs, whatever. It only takes a few seconds with a butane torch. I almost never get leaks from annealed copper sealing washers. On the rare occasions when I do find a leak, it can usually be cured by disassembling, annealing the washer(s) and reassembling.
Legs
Hero member
- Location
- Adelaide Hills
And make sure the domed nut isn't bottoming out.
:-*
When I changed from 2 simplex to duplex (SF3), it was so much tighter the bolt stuck out a mile, so I made a new shorter bolt. Very easy to do, cut the head off a bolt, grind the top into a dome and cut a slot. It means I use only 2 copper washers instead of maybe 7 or 8.