The Banjo Bolt
By Tom Mason
What's a Banjo Bolt? And while I think about it, how many of you know what "MOWOG" means? That funny little stamp on a lot of British parts.
I had a call about a stripped banjo bolt, and it brought back a flood of memories of when I had the same problem. If you look in the Valve Train section of your service manual, or a Moss or Victoria British catalog, you will see that oil is fed up to the valve rocker shaft. A small oil pipe brings oil from a stud on the cylinder head through the pipe to a ring and the ring is fixed to the valve rocker shaft with a banjo bolt. If you are removing the valve rocker shaft for any reason, I would strongly recommend that you loosen the pipe fitting when removing the valve rocker shaft. Leave the banjo fitting alone, if possible.
The banjo bolt is made of steel and it is fitted to aluminum. This has a tendency to stick and strip. It is also very easy to cross thread this bolt when replacing it. I have vivid memories of the terrible time I had fixing this problem. I believe that I had to get a new aluminum support and retap it. If the banjo has to be removed, it is easier with the rocker shaft off the car. Lastly, in checking around for the part, it seems to be made of that curious British alloy called unobtanium.
So now that we know that I have not been taking music lessons, what about "MOWOG?" Morris Oxford Woolesey On Garage.
It's summer, Happy Healeying.
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