Engine won't return oil when hot????
Thread Starter
|
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 2,454
Likes: 58
From: Graysville, AL
Engine won't return oil when hot????
Hello, I am posting this for a friend. He has asked every bike shop mechanic in our area and no one knows what the issue is.
It's a 97 Heritage Softail, when the engine is up to running temp it won't return any oil to the tank and the tank will be empty. If you let the bike cool down and crank it all the oil will return to the tank, ride for about 100 miles and it will do the same thing. The oil tank will be empty.
The engine has a new oil pump, breather gear and umbrella valves.
Thanks for any help!
It's a 97 Heritage Softail, when the engine is up to running temp it won't return any oil to the tank and the tank will be empty. If you let the bike cool down and crank it all the oil will return to the tank, ride for about 100 miles and it will do the same thing. The oil tank will be empty.
The engine has a new oil pump, breather gear and umbrella valves.
Thanks for any help!
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 5,080
Likes: 2,153
From: Ohio
Been thinking about this one, where is the oil going when not flowing to the tank? it has to be flooding the crankcase but would breech into headbreather tube and cause a big mess, since he can ride it for 100 miles that rules out this theory so the other area is the primary thru a bad crank seal.
It would be possible for returning oil into the crankcase can travel into the primary by a bad crank seal when it becomes thinner from heat and levels back into the engine case when shut off allowing the tank to fill up due to the oil pump has something to draw again. I believe the key would be to pull a inspection plate off of the primary when the tank is low to rule this possibility out, the oil is collecting somewhere.
Something else than can support the primary theory is the moving parts in the case allow more room for filling while spinning pulling the oil level down out of the tank and the primary becomes overfull when shutoff sending oil back into the engine crankcase for the oil pump to fill the tank and the cycle starts over, it's a theory but based on mechanical principals
It would be possible for returning oil into the crankcase can travel into the primary by a bad crank seal when it becomes thinner from heat and levels back into the engine case when shut off allowing the tank to fill up due to the oil pump has something to draw again. I believe the key would be to pull a inspection plate off of the primary when the tank is low to rule this possibility out, the oil is collecting somewhere.
Something else than can support the primary theory is the moving parts in the case allow more room for filling while spinning pulling the oil level down out of the tank and the primary becomes overfull when shutoff sending oil back into the engine crankcase for the oil pump to fill the tank and the cycle starts over, it's a theory but based on mechanical principals
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 7,736
Likes: 1,524
From: Coromandel Peninsula New Zealand
He could have a faulty pump with a broken keyway on the return so the gear slips on the shaft when its hot.....saw this on a Shovel last year only it was the main drive key that was missing....bike had oil pressure until it got hot and then it had none.
Last edited by Spanners39; Jan 9, 2013 at 09:32 PM.
Thread Starter
|
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 2,454
Likes: 58
From: Graysville, AL
Thanks for the help! I'm gonna run all this by him this evening.
He told me on a long ride the bike did this and the oil light came on and the bike started running really bad. He pulled over put another quart of oil in it, light went off and the bike ran better. The next day he fired the bike up and checked the oil level and it was 1 quart over. Weird.... Thanks again!!!
He told me on a long ride the bike did this and the oil light came on and the bike started running really bad. He pulled over put another quart of oil in it, light went off and the bike ran better. The next day he fired the bike up and checked the oil level and it was 1 quart over. Weird.... Thanks again!!!
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 4,468
Likes: 12
From: Bluffton, South Carolina
I think spanners is on the right track as I have seen this too. If it pumps oil cold and not hot, that sounds like the right thing to check. Just be sure it is plumbed correctly as well.
John
John
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 38,537
Likes: 6,412
From: Honah Lee
Trending Topics
Thread Starter
|
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 2,454
Likes: 58
From: Graysville, AL
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Verdad Gallardo
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In
Verdad Gallardo
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Verdad Gallardo
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Verdad Gallardo
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026
Verdad Gallardo
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 5,080
Likes: 2,153
From: Ohio
The only other questions that needs asked, was the umbrella valves and breather gear replaced because oil was slobbering out the vent tubes? Was the oil pump replaced trying to repair this problem and never corrected it? Let us know
Last edited by 1997bagger; Jan 10, 2013 at 08:47 PM.
Thread Starter
|
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 2,454
Likes: 58
From: Graysville, AL
was the umbrella valves and breather gear replaced because oil was slobbering out the vent tubes? Was the oil pump replaced trying to repair this problem and never corrected it? Let us know