Shovelhead A place to talk about Shovelheads.

Oil Pump for '69

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Nov 4, 2014 | 01:10 PM
  #1  
Daves'81FLHS's Avatar
Daves'81FLHS
Thread Starter
|
Intermediate
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 28
Likes: 0
From: San Francisco Bay Area
Default Oil Pump for '69

Have a shovel with low oil pressure. Everything looks good but...
Want to install a new oil pump but all require the hole to be drilled for the new style oil pump. Are there any alternatives? What is the hole for?
Thanks,
Dave
 
Reply
Old Nov 4, 2014 | 03:07 PM
  #2  
Racepres's Avatar
Racepres
Seasoned HDF Member
Community Builder
Loved
Community Favorite
Top Answer: 1
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 8,603
Likes: 3,374
From: Cental, MI
Default

Ain't a Shovelhead in the world that has oil pressure...Unless something is Wrong!!!
Is it Cycling Oil OK?
 
Reply
Old Nov 4, 2014 | 03:23 PM
  #3  
Daves'81FLHS's Avatar
Daves'81FLHS
Thread Starter
|
Intermediate
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 28
Likes: 0
From: San Francisco Bay Area
Default

Ain't a Shovelhead in the world that has oil pressure...Unless something is Wrong!!!
Is it Cycling Oil OK?


Oil between head is barely dribbling out. Checked against my bike and its shooting out. The bike sounds great at startup but sounds like rocker arms are dry while running. We just rebuilt motor after rear cylinder cracked at the base.
 
Reply
Old Nov 4, 2014 | 05:04 PM
  #4  
johnjzjz's Avatar
johnjzjz
Seasoned HDF Member
15 Year Member
Top Answer: 3
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 12,878
Likes: 5,449
From: la la land jerzey
Default

Originally Posted by Daves'81FLHS
Ain't a Shovelhead in the world that has oil pressure...Unless something is Wrong!!!
Is it Cycling Oil OK?


Oil between head is barely dribbling out. Checked against my bike and its shooting out. The bike sounds great at startup but sounds like rocker arms are dry while running. We just rebuilt motor after rear cylinder cracked at the base.
the -68 first original oil pump had a couple of special issue, the second one was the pin that stays the 2 oil pump idler gears would become loose < plenty of reasons why it did that - than what would happen is the oil pressure side, ended up bleading off into the return side of the gearing that does not have a pressure relief valve and that lowers the pressure even more -

than add that too the fact that the pinion shaft that carries the oil to the lower unit does it as a side oiler not an end oiler like everything from the cone motor in 73 up to the end of the evo in 99 -

so now we get to why the oil hole is drilled - being a side oiler the lower unit was secondary to oil pressure not primary, And the blead off is much greater than the later pump so what we have is a lean top end oil. to fix that the the hole goes from the pumps main pressure to the feed hole in the cover for the lower unit

now too make this clear - the screen in the block just above the oil pump - with the old pump is low pressure - with the drilled hole the new pump feeds Hi pressure to the screen via the top end / and splits to the lower unit all is feed Hi pressure - hence the reason for valve seals and smoaking after an oil pump conversion

hope that helps - some one else might have a different take on this but after doing close to a 1000 lower units this is what i know to be true - jz
 
Reply
Old Nov 4, 2014 | 11:53 PM
  #5  
FilthyLucre's Avatar
FilthyLucre
Road Master
15 Year Member
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 1,078
Likes: 39
From: NW Florida
Default

Try you HD dealership they still may be able to order you the OEM pump. I got one for my 72 (same pump) not that long ago.
 
Reply
Old Nov 5, 2014 | 08:15 AM
  #6  
Racepres's Avatar
Racepres
Seasoned HDF Member
Community Builder
Loved
Community Favorite
Top Answer: 1
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 8,603
Likes: 3,374
From: Cental, MI
Default

Originally Posted by FilthyLucre
Try you HD dealership they still may be able to order you the OEM pump. I got one for my 72 (same pump) not that long ago.
I have been having better luck with OE ...
Certainly Lately.
 
Reply
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
skbrown
Oil Archive (no new posts)
4
Dec 17, 2012 08:47 PM
jogoldba
Shovelhead
4
Aug 18, 2012 06:10 PM
milkbone
Exhaust System Topics
8
Apr 22, 2012 07:41 AM
bikerdad5
EVO
4
Apr 15, 2008 07:37 PM
MikesDad
Sportster Models
9
Aug 21, 2007 08:20 AM




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 01:49 PM.

story-0
7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson built its reputation on nostalgia, but every so often, the company took a hard left turn into the future.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-20 11:18:19


VIEW MORE
story-1
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

Slideshow: The bar-and-shield logo shows up on far more than motorcycles, some of the company's most unexpected products have nothing to do with riding.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-29 16:50:35


VIEW MORE
story-2
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: Not every Harley gets it right, but these are the ones that genuinely earned their reputation.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-15 14:23:21


VIEW MORE
story-3
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-01 20:01:09


VIEW MORE
story-4
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

Slideshow: Killer Custom's "Jail Breaker" build focuses more on stance and visual aggression than mechanical overhaul.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-18 19:20:32


VIEW MORE
story-5
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

Slideshow: The Swiss custom shop has taken a Harley Softail and stretched it into something so long and low that it looks closer to a rolling sculpture than a conventional motorcycle.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-07 16:15:30


VIEW MORE
story-6
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's new RMCR concept revives the café racer formula with modern hardware-and it may be exactly the reset the company needs.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-04 12:23:37


VIEW MORE
story-7
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

Slideshow: A standard cruiser becomes an intricate metal canvas in the hands of a Swiss custom house known for pushing Harley-Davidson platforms far beyond their factory brief.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-02-24 18:19:44


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There is no shortage of great motorcycles to buy, but we would avoid these ten.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-02-19 14:50:51


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's challenges aren't abstract; they show up in dropping shipments, shrinking dealer traffic, and strategic decisions that aren't yet translating into growth.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-13 18:33:17


VIEW MORE