Oil pump failure due to Cam tensioner residue?
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Road Master
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 809
Likes: 3
From: Honduras, Central America
Oil pump failure due to Cam tensioner residue?
2005 Dyna Super Glide
57,800 miles on the clock, ridden daily (well, until now)
Primary chain tensioner just replaced,
Cam tensioner shoes (old spring loaded style) NOT yet replaced.
So I was about to ride out of town when the usual clattering noise got stronger and the bike started to lose power, I signaled my friends that I would make an emergency stop. Upon stopping, I tried starting the bike again, this time a big clanking metal-against-metal sound was clearly audible, which prompted me to stop the bike and not attempt to start it again. We loaded it on a minivan and it's now sitting at a friend's garage, waiting for disassembly.
My uneducated guess is that the cam tensioners finally wore down, and the pieces blocked the oil pump (I'm hoping it's that simple) truth is I won't know till I tear the engine apart with a qualified mechanic who agreed to help me on his off time.
Ironically, I had already ordered lifters, cam tensioner shoes, part of the engine gaskets, and inner cam bearings prior to the breakdown, so I guess I have a headstart now. I'll be making a thread with pics when wrenching time comes. Stay tuned!
57,800 miles on the clock, ridden daily (well, until now)
Primary chain tensioner just replaced,
Cam tensioner shoes (old spring loaded style) NOT yet replaced.
So I was about to ride out of town when the usual clattering noise got stronger and the bike started to lose power, I signaled my friends that I would make an emergency stop. Upon stopping, I tried starting the bike again, this time a big clanking metal-against-metal sound was clearly audible, which prompted me to stop the bike and not attempt to start it again. We loaded it on a minivan and it's now sitting at a friend's garage, waiting for disassembly.
My uneducated guess is that the cam tensioners finally wore down, and the pieces blocked the oil pump (I'm hoping it's that simple) truth is I won't know till I tear the engine apart with a qualified mechanic who agreed to help me on his off time.
Ironically, I had already ordered lifters, cam tensioner shoes, part of the engine gaskets, and inner cam bearings prior to the breakdown, so I guess I have a headstart now. I'll be making a thread with pics when wrenching time comes. Stay tuned!
Last edited by FXD_noob; Apr 26, 2014 at 01:03 PM. Reason: font too small
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 10,114
Likes: 29
From: Vancouver B.C. Canada
Last year I had a friend changed the inner cam bearings, drop 2 rollers in the crank and left there. After 20mins running, power loss and noise. Removed oil pump and the gears cracked. As far as I know, the oil pick up doesn't have a screen. Any small particles picked up from the tube will go to the oil pump directly. I suggest you to drop the pan for inspection and cleaning, otherwise you are causing troubles. Good luck!
Road Warrior
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 1,554
Likes: 52
From: Ottawa Canada
Sounds like an oil pump, the loss of power comes from sumping in the crankcase, it happened to me last summer, except in my case it was the front inner cam bearing that let go and took out my oil pump, like others have said remove oil pan also and flush the engine
Tourer
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 290
Likes: 1
From: LI NY
The tensioner shoes are made of plastic...the oil pump would likely pulverize any bits that got in there. But if your tensioner blew apart and metal bits got to flying around thats different.
You say you did the primary tensioner....did you pull the cam plate when you did the job?
After seeing your pics....disregard my question.
You say you did the primary tensioner....did you pull the cam plate when you did the job?
After seeing your pics....disregard my question.
Last edited by C.J; Mar 23, 2014 at 09:36 PM.
Thread Starter
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Road Master
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 809
Likes: 3
From: Honduras, Central America
Update 1: March 23rd
Day 1: Dissasembly
My bike sits at a friend's garage. I get a loaner bike in the meantime, a 100cc Yamaha Crux, probably not the fastest bike [60kph, tops] but enough to get around town. I loaded my tools and 5miles, 20 minutes later I get to my friend's house
Disassembling my Dyna, I find out that the cam tensioner is toast, and floats around the oil when I opened up the cam chest. The horrifying discovery is there is also a BEARING floating around, all ground up from flying through the engine!
So my theory is as follows:
1. The tensioner gave out and cracked
2. The chain ran freely, removing the bearing from it's place
3. The bearing, now loose, stalled the engine/blocked the oil pump along with the remains of the worn out tensioner...
I'm guessing it's the cam bearing that goes on the cam plate...so that means I'll have to order those as well...oh boy...
I ended up taking the bike apart as much as I could, drained all the fluids, put it on a Sears jack and gave my friend the gas I took out of my tank...
Stay tuned for more updates!
My bike sits at a friend's garage. I get a loaner bike in the meantime, a 100cc Yamaha Crux, probably not the fastest bike [60kph, tops] but enough to get around town. I loaded my tools and 5miles, 20 minutes later I get to my friend's house
Disassembling my Dyna, I find out that the cam tensioner is toast, and floats around the oil when I opened up the cam chest. The horrifying discovery is there is also a BEARING floating around, all ground up from flying through the engine!
So my theory is as follows:
1. The tensioner gave out and cracked
2. The chain ran freely, removing the bearing from it's place
3. The bearing, now loose, stalled the engine/blocked the oil pump along with the remains of the worn out tensioner...
I'm guessing it's the cam bearing that goes on the cam plate...so that means I'll have to order those as well...oh boy...
I ended up taking the bike apart as much as I could, drained all the fluids, put it on a Sears jack and gave my friend the gas I took out of my tank...
Stay tuned for more updates!
Last edited by FXD_noob; Mar 23, 2014 at 09:33 PM.
Cruiser
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 171
Likes: 2
From: Local
Sorry to hear about your woes mate, that bike doesn't want you to finish college, probably scared it will get sold!
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Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2008
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From: Out on Deranged
Doesn't he need to have a lower tolerance on the mainshaft bering for gear cams IE: .003 or less?
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Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2006
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From: Vancouver B.C. Canada
Of course he has to check runout, cross my fingers. 