18 Oct
2025
18 Oct
'25
5:56 a.m.
On 18/10/2025 10:47, Tony Duell via cctalk wrote:
On Sat, Oct 18, 2025 at 8:02 AM bluewater
emailtoilet.com via cctalk
<cctalk(a)classiccmp.org> wrote:
> Oil leaks and Lucas Electrics are issues with British cars and motorcycles, and
pretty much not an issue with anything else.
I don't recall cars having oil leak problems, but many motorcycles did,
because of the design. Normally the crankcase is split vertically and
and inaccuracies results in a drip.
Harley Davidsons also have oil leak issues. Japanese designs tend to
have the case split horizontally so the bottom half is solid.
British engines for both cars and motorcycles tended to be narrow bore,
long stroke design because the tax was based on he "RAC rating"
https://www.designchambers.com/wolfhound/wolfhoundRACHP.htm
When Japanese short stroke engines appeared the revolutionised
motorcycling in the UK
I've never learnt to drive, but I did all the
servicing and repairs on
my late father's cars for over 40 years. My father would typically
keep a car for 10 years or more. Some of the cars were British with
Lucas electricals, others came from other European countries with
electrical parts from all over the world,
In that time I had 2 alternators fail (both regulator assembly
problems), One was Lucas, the other Mitsubishi, One starter motor
failed (worn brushes), I forget who made it but not Lucas. Obviously,
bulbs, etc failed from time to time.
But I do not regard Lucas as significantly less reliable than other
manufacturers.
Their (mechanical) fuel injection systems as fitted to the UK Triumph
TR5 and TR6 were really bad.
When I first came to work in Manchester I lived in a shared house. The
owner had a TR6 with Lucas fuel injection.
He was always having it serviced, but it still seemed to take ages to
get it running on a morning.
To get this sort-of on-topic Lucas Industries (same company) owned
Nascom at one point I think.
I didn't know that!
-tony