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Hi all. New member, new Morini owner, first post. I've never owned ( or ridden, for that matter ) a Morini until now. I recently 'acquired' a Morini 3.5 Strada ( I think ?, definitely not a sport ). When I say acquired it was amongst some bikes I purchased from a deceased estate. Interesting bike with lots of work required, which I'm really looking forward to. But my first conundrum is the oil filter arrangement. When I first saw it I thought 'bit weird, but must be how it was done back in the day'. But since scouring the internet and looking at literally hundreds of Morini's I'm now curious. Anyone ever seen one that looks like this :-
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/510 ... bfec_m.jpg
I'd be interested in peoples views.

Diamond Dave wrote:Hi all. New member, new Morini owner, first post. I've never owned ( or ridden, for that matter ) a Morini until now. I recently 'acquired' a Morini 3.5 Strada ( I think ?, definitely not a sport ). When I say acquired it was amongst some bikes I purchased from a deceased estate. Interesting bike with lots of work required, which I'm really looking forward to. But my first conundrum is the oil filter arrangement. When I first saw it I thought 'bit weird, but must be how it was done back in the day'. But since scouring the internet and looking at literally hundreds of Morini's I'm now curious. Anyone ever seen one that looks like this :-
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/510 ... bfec_m.jpg
I'd be interested in peoples views.

It's been modified to add an external full flow filter. Various people have done it over the years and I think Heim Racing in Germany used to offer a kit. Most Morinis have been running around for decades without a full flow filter, just change the oil at regular intervals. The exception would be on 500 engines where non OEM big end bearings have been used. Morini appear to have used white metal or 'Babbit' bearing material, which is very 'kind' to crank journals, even when debris is embedded. The same is not true of Renticular Tin, or especially Lead Tin Indium (Vandevell) bearings.

Diamond Dave wrote:Hi all. New member, new Morini owner, first post. I've never owned ( or ridden, for that matter ) a Morini until now. I recently 'acquired' a Morini 3.5 Strada ( I think ?, definitely not a sport ). When I say acquired it was amongst some bikes I purchased from a deceased estate. Interesting bike with lots of work required, which I'm really looking forward to. But my first conundrum is the oil filter arrangement. When I first saw it I thought 'bit weird, but must be how it was done back in the day'. But since scouring the internet and looking at literally hundreds of Morini's I'm now curious. Anyone ever seen one that looks like this :-
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/510 ... bfec_m.jpg
I'd be interested in peoples views.

It's been modified to add an external full flow filter. Various people have done it over the years and I think Heim Racing in Germany used to offer a kit. Most Morinis have been running around for decades without a full flow filter, just change the oil at regular intervals. The exception would be on 500 engines where non OEM big end bearings have been used. Morini appear to have used white metal or 'Babbit' bearing material, which is very 'kind' to crank journals, even when debris is embedded. The same is not true of Renticular Tin, or especially Lead Tin Indium (Vandevell) bearings.

I have fitted external full flow oil filters to all the morinis I have had after beingasked to rebuild a 500 with a one knackered big end. Owing to the lack of filtration the holes in the big end feeds were blocked, the big end journals being hollow and acting a centrifugal sludge traps such that when the gallery is full no oil to the big ends. The filters I use are from a Vauxaull Astra 65mm dia x 65mm long, can't see the filter number as mine are mounted vertically but is made by Coopers, but anyone from the Astra or about the same dimensions will do, as the oil capacity is about the same as the Astra engne. I did have one from a Golf fitted for a while proving the system but interferes with the aesthectics of the engine! The other filter mounted in the sump, cover on right side, 2 allen screws is a gause one and only realy fit to stop bits of piston being sucked into the oil pmp as the bottom of the pistons are known to break up.
Regarding big end shells if you do have to replace then get ones originally made and fitted to the Fiat 500 cars, the location tang is not quite in the right place so you have to move it but the bearing width is slightly wider than the Morini one so less load on the bearing surfaces plus if you can get Vandervell or Glacier ones which I have 'just in case' they are superior to the crap available from Mdina. Try 'Piston Broke' in Bristol where I get mine from.
You are lucky to have this mod as big ends on average only last up to around the 30,000 mark, though some people have manages to get double that. On my first 500 the bloke kept a diary of all the things that he replace, modified or broke, the big ends mmaifesting themselve on the way out as the noise got louder whilst on a touring holiday on the north coast of Scotland. I run my engines on Valvoline VR1 10-6o but nay of those varients have original and high levels of zinc in the oil which stops the cam followers from wearing or fretting and then making the cams go round. Low zinc oils are made and most common for modern engines that have roller rockers with catalytic converters, these things don't like zinc are are wrecked in a short space of time if the high zinc oils are used. I think I have the Valvoline VR1 Racing 20-50 in mine presently, I use different grades for other engines but if out of one use another variant but all compatable.

harrymuffin, can you share the details on the installation of an external filter please?

Cheers,

Kamel.

I can expect my 507 engine to emulate a BSA B50 at some stage.All I have done is to change the oil perhaps overly frequently and to fit a very strong neodymium magnet on the sump plug to try and pull damaging metal particles out of the oil.
John

harrymuffin wrote:Regarding big end shells if you do have to replace then get ones originally made and fitted to the Fiat 500 cars,

As we have been over several times, the compatible Fiat big end shell is from the four cylinder 600, but only the version of the made up to 1959.

Basic part numbers are B4242 for the Glacier version and VP247 for the Vandevell.

Many of the Abarth engines were based on the early Fiat 600 block and crank journal sizes and demand from Fiat and Abarth rebuilds has made NOS shells hard to find.
Pistonbroke had been out of stock for many years on last inquiry. Middle Barton Garage may have reproduction shells, but at over £100 a set.

Maybe the 500 is more loaded, but there are enough 350's with 100,000 miles on them to suggest that the external filter 'fix' is completely unnecessary.
As has been said, regular oil changes saves ruining both the engine AND saves the beautifil looking engine looking like it has been savaged. If it 'ain't broke, don't fix it!
Mine? 43 years, 98,500miles with regular oil changes all is well. Checked crank 'sludge trap' at 70,000 and nowhere near to being blocked.

It's often forgotten how much better modern fuel is for engine longevity. It may not be the best for old fuel systems, but oil stays much cleaner and when was the last time you had to do a de-coke? The Lead additives were really bad for oil and wore engines out, they were just a quick and cheap way of boosting octane, with a side benefit of allowing the use of cheaper valve/seat materials.

A very interesting and clean solution to improve oil filtering efficiency is this one from danish guru Soren Hansen.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nqH6iLK ... 8renHansen

from min.1:37 ( anyway all his videos are interesting.)
I made my own version. A little simpler.

3potjohn wrote:I can expect my 507 engine to emulate a BSA B50 at some stage.
John

It'l never vibrate that badly. Possibly the least pleasant bike to ride that I've ever owned!

Hi all. Thanks to everyone who has joined this one. Harrymuffin, have you got a photo of how yours looks with the conversion. I think mine looks a bit 'heath robinson' and I'm sure there's a way to tidy it up a bit. Now it's been done I guess I'm stuck with it, but it could look better. Least I now know mine is not the only one that has this. Cheers. Dave.

I’ve had half an eye on Soren’s oil filter for some time. The filter on my Sport is beginning to show it’s age so maybe I should investigate. My 350 revs and to me feels really happy whereas the 507 just feels a bit more “ angry” for want of a better description but the sheaf of receipts in the folder would be enough for a row of houses with a pub at each end. I have had a BSA single but it was only a ceefer so not unpleasant or overstressed. No metal to be seen on either bike’s filter.....yet.
John

P&S wrote:A very interesting and clean solution to improve oil filtering efficiency is this one from danish guru Soren Hansen.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nqH6iLK ... 8renHansen

from min.1:37 ( anyway all his videos are interesting.)
I made my own version. A little simpler.

That's nice. Can you tell me the details for the filter please?

Cheers,

Kamel.

Yes of course Kamel:
This is the filter: and where I bought it.
Good for you is in England!!!