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Hello, a buddy just bought a 89 Ultra. The bike was running fine for about 50 miles then began wet Sumping out the crank case breather. It will empty the oil tank. I cleaned the check ball and stretched the spring out a little. Put in another quart of oil and it did the same thing, emptied the oil tank through the crank breather. The bike has an S&S carb and exhaust but no other mods. It fires right up and ran good before the Sumping issue. I appreciate any help.
Most likely the key sheared off the return drive gear in the oil pump and/or a cracked gear.
You can R & R the pump without pulling the cam cover, but it's tedious. I recommend pulling it anyway and check for "foreign objects" and look for anything else out of order like breather gear teeth or pieces of metal.
This issue would not be the check ball...When the engine is running, the check ball is unseated, otherwise oil would not be able to get to the engine from the tank.
It does sound like a failure of the scavenge side of the pump.
Something quick and easy to check:
Check the routing of the oil lines, if the lines to the oil filter are hooked up wrong, and an oil filter with an anti drainback valve is used, the pump will not be able to return oil to the tank.
Last edited by Dan89FLSTC; May 28, 2020 at 09:38 PM.
Removed the cam cover and didnt see anything obviously wrong. I did find a metal piece on the bottom of the chest but that was it. Im guessing the issue is inside the oil pump?
Best guess - and it may not be, but looks like a piece out if the cam bearing. Different angle of pic would help but looks too flat and big for oil pump gear key. It was in the gear side of the cam chest, right?
Don't shoot the messenger but best keep digging... and pull the pump also.
The metal pieces was laying right under the cam on the bottoms of the case. I will pull the oil pump next. I rotated the engine using the back tire and everything rotated like it should. Thanks for the help guy!
The metal pieces was laying right under the cam on the bottoms of the case..........
I figured it was, but forgot to ask. Pulling the pump won't be a waste of your time. If it has adjustable push rods, not a problem to pull the cam, but regardless, better do that too before you get done. (and makes it easier to manipulate the oil pump drive gear on reassembly).
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89 Extreme Wet Sumping (I know I know 🙄)
