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Am I missing something or can I just leave the oil tank empty at the end of the year? I’d dump the oil when it’s fully hot like any oil change I do, but refill when I’m taking her out next year for the first ride. Seems innocent enough and I’m not dumb enough to forget she’s dry. This spring was first startup after a long layover since it was completed last year. It sat from November 27, 2022 - May 20, 2023…we are sunbirds and I don’t take the shovel to Florida. The first start produced maybe 10 Oz maybe a bit more. I could hear and feel the bike working hard to start with that fluid resistance in the bottom end.
Since the build the bike has never sumped and spit, even after several weeks. Just after that long almost 6 month rest. The ball, seat, spring etc all redone like the rest of the bike.
My instinct says this is no problem.
No Problem that I can think of...I personally have an FLH that I "inherited" from a dear friend.. sumps horrible...so I bought a Cheap pair of smallish needle nosed Vice grips... clamp the feed line...not too hard, and walk away!!!!!
I simply fitted an S&S oil pump as it would fully sump on my shovel in a week if i didnt ride it for whatever reason,
never had it sump at all since, but then again, here in England we ride all year round anyway,
about the longest I left it after fitting the S&S pump was 3 months last year after having a hip replacement, & not a drop came out on startup,.
I am NOT a fan of S&S carbs, but i gotta admit their oil pumps are bloody great, should have done the swap years ago instead of living with it leak so long.
I simply fitted an S&S oil pump as it would fully sump on my shovel in a week if i didnt ride it for whatever reason,
never had it sump at all since, but then again, here in England we ride all year round anyway,
about the longest I left it after fitting the S&S pump was 3 months last year after having a hip replacement, & not a drop came out on startup,.
I am NOT a fan of S&S carbs, but i gotta admit their oil pumps are bloody great, should have done the swap years ago instead of living with it leak so long.
Haven't used S&S pump since I got one that was Not machined (properly anyway) at the Check ball...Worse Sump (er), I have ever encountered...Soured me..a bit.
Have several of these in the tool box , been very helpful over the years.
Ok, so the idea is with this clamped on the return line to the pump it prevents oil getting by the check ball? Nice idea. My oil lines are all new. I’d be concerned in general about cracking the rubber lines over time, faster wear?
I never had any problems forgetting to turn the valve on since I have two of these flags; a small one on the valve and a large one on the handlebars.
I saw this posted before and it’s really practical, with the obvious caution. My oil system is completely configured as stock. This is slick.
Love the tags, I do similar things to remind me of the Stop-n-Lock in my rear shovel brake. Also when I use a front disc lock on my sporty.
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Sumping workaround for long layovers…
