Shovelhead A place to talk about Shovelheads.

help with oiling problem

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jul 2, 2013 | 09:29 PM
  #21  
jimaw2's Avatar
jimaw2
Thread Starter
|
Intermediate
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 28
Likes: 0
From: n california
Default

that 30 psi was warm. it did peg the gauge when stone cold. the last time I rode it the light did not start "flickering" until after 15 or so miles. the only # I see on the cover is 25218-70. a 19/64" drill bit will fit in the end of the crank. I've been an auto mech for 32 years, but if it comes to a full tear down, that'll be on my son's nickel . I don't hear any bottom end noise, no vibration, actually runs pretty good. explanation of an end-oiler and the screw possibly being a Band-Aid fix is interesting. thank you again for your time
 
Reply
Old Jul 2, 2013 | 09:45 PM
  #22  
johnjzjz's Avatar
johnjzjz
Seasoned HDF Member
15 Year Member
Top Answer: 3
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 12,878
Likes: 5,448
From: la la land jerzey
Default

Originally Posted by jimaw2
that 30 psi was warm. it did peg the gauge when stone cold. the last time I rode it the light did not start "flickering" until after 15 or so miles. the only # I see on the cover is 25218-70. a 19/64" drill bit will fit in the end of the crank. I've been an auto mech for 32 years, but if it comes to a full tear down, that'll be on my son's nickel . I don't hear any bottom end noise, no vibration, actually runs pretty good. explanation of an end-oiler and the screw possibly being a Band-Aid fix is interesting. thank you again for your time
i am not in my shop and i dont remember everything about everything BUT that covers changed in 1973

1970 to 1972 was a side oil motor it has a different pinion shaft and a different cam cover than the 1973 to 1980 i believe

the 1973 cam cover UP is an end oiler -- you could have the incorrect can cover and its been moded i dont know BUT you need to post up some pictures if possable and tomorrow i am going to look and see i have a box of old cam covers --

now 19/64 is around .3000 and the restrictor could have been removed again i will look at that also -- yea i own a shop and do this every day but thousands of repairs later i suffer from CRS < hahahhahahah -- jz
 
Reply
Old Jul 2, 2013 | 10:07 PM
  #23  
jimaw2's Avatar
jimaw2
Thread Starter
|
Intermediate
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 28
Likes: 0
From: n california
Default

again, many thanks. its back to work tomorrow, but I will take some pics of the cover and try to post them on thurs.
 
Reply
Old Jul 4, 2013 | 10:12 AM
  #24  
jimaw2's Avatar
jimaw2
Thread Starter
|
Intermediate
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 28
Likes: 0
From: n california
Default

I measured the clearance between shaft and bushing and , as best I can tell it looks to be .001 to .002". I ran a rod through the pinion to see if I felt a restriction and it slid through to what appears to be the center of the case. here are the pics, thanks again!

help with oiling problem-158.jpg

help with oiling problem-159.jpg

help with oiling problem-160.jpg

help with oiling problem-162.jpg
 
Reply
Old Jul 4, 2013 | 03:29 PM
  #25  
johnjzjz's Avatar
johnjzjz
Seasoned HDF Member
15 Year Member
Top Answer: 3
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 12,878
Likes: 5,448
From: la la land jerzey
Default

Ok lets start this way

the bike is a 1970 with a cam cover that has a 1970 part number 25218 - 70 -- this is a side oil set up from harley

the correct pinion shaft is and it fits 1958 to 1972 part number 24006 - 58 -- and its a side oiler ( Not an END oiler like you have )

the pinion shaft you have in an end oiler part # 24006 - 73 fits 1973 to early 1981

they changed the enging design at that year point 1973 / on to 1981

i think someone has put a 1973 / on -- end oiler set of flywheels in the 1970 motor and yes it fits but the shafts do not interchange between motors flywheels

than they tried and fix it ( the mistake ) they put a screw in the pinion bushing lower half - to keep the side oil cover from spiling off the excess oil pressure that it does normally as a side oiler ( NOTE end oilers dont do that and dont have the hole in the cover like the side oiler does ) -- i also see they changed the bushing < the chunk missing from the side of the cover ) thinking that was it as well

this is my guess - if it was in my shop we would know what the deal is but with the internet thing and thousands of miles between us

i would go to an older guys shop that actuall does the work ( young guy wont even know what hes looking at ) with the bike apart and show him what i wrote and see what he sayes - his eyes on the parts you have and whats been changed / see what he thinks -- before you start spending money -- jz
 

Last edited by johnjzjz; Jul 4, 2013 at 03:32 PM.
Reply
Old Jul 4, 2013 | 04:27 PM
  #26  
Jackie Paper's Avatar
Jackie Paper
Seasoned HDF Member
Community Builder
Community Influencer
Liked
Top Answer: 1
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 38,309
Likes: 6,328
From: Honah Lee
Default

johnzz..some heavy history stuff.
So that round head screw is a plug for a bleed orifice and not someones attempt to lock the bushing in? Is that spur gear at 9:00 o'clock part of the vent system?
 

Last edited by Jackie Paper; Jul 4, 2013 at 04:30 PM.
Reply
Old Jul 4, 2013 | 08:47 PM
  #27  
jimaw2's Avatar
jimaw2
Thread Starter
|
Intermediate
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 28
Likes: 0
From: n california
Default

again, many thanks for the time and effort you've spent on this! just so i'm clear, a side oiler pinion won't work with end oiler flywheels, and, a restrictor in the end of this pinion shaft will not help either? the weather is beautiful out here in ca. would you consider moving your shop out west? these must be tough old engines to have run like this with mismatched parts! he's going to talk to his boss, maybe he can get his (my) money back (hahahahahhahahaha).
 

Last edited by jimaw2; Jul 4, 2013 at 08:49 PM. Reason: forgot to ask another question
Reply
Old Jul 4, 2013 | 08:48 PM
  #28  
jimaw2's Avatar
jimaw2
Thread Starter
|
Intermediate
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 28
Likes: 0
From: n california
Default

sorry, one more question (yea, sure) an end oiler cone will not correct problem either?
 
Reply
HD Forum Stories

The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders

story-0

7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-2

10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-3

Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

 Verdad Gallardo
story-4

Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

 Verdad Gallardo
story-5

Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

 Joe Kucinski
story-8

10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

 Verdad Gallardo
story-9

Southpaw Super Glide: A Left-Hand-Drive 1979 Harley FXE Built to Fit the Rider

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Jul 5, 2013 | 07:52 AM
  #29  
johnjzjz's Avatar
johnjzjz
Seasoned HDF Member
15 Year Member
Top Answer: 3
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 12,878
Likes: 5,448
From: la la land jerzey
Default

i would if it were in my shop look into that BUT / the oil pump and the nose cone will have to be swaped out - if you have an aftermarket catalog you would see 1973 on as a oil pump spot for a change

the directions for the normal pump mod does not cover the end oil / side oil confusion that goes on when this sort of thing happens / and some of the oil holes that are normally drilled may or may not be needed and some of the ones not listed for the year might / i have not compaired this to see

you will need a shop / or a shovel guy from the AMCA an old timer in the business

do a search for a local chapter of the AMCA > antique motorcycle club of america - in the years i have been involved with them i have found they are the best friend you can have if you own - collect - or work on old bikes - someone and they all look to help each other out will help with the correct experence and or will know exactly the right GUY to bring it too - i have no doubt about that --jz
 
Reply
Old Jul 5, 2013 | 08:06 AM
  #30  
johnjzjz's Avatar
johnjzjz
Seasoned HDF Member
15 Year Member
Top Answer: 3
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 12,878
Likes: 5,448
From: la la land jerzey
Default

Originally Posted by RIPSAW
johnzz..some heavy history stuff.
So that round head screw is a plug for a bleed orifice and not someones attempt to lock the bushing in? Is that spur gear at 9:00 o'clock part of the vent system?
my guess what you call a spur gear is actuall the breather via the engines exit and vent / it is timed to the engines turning circle to spray oil at parts that do not have positive oil pressure - it would take a while to explain

the early oil pump motors 1958 to 1972 were side oil to the crank / a small hole was drilled into the side of the pinion shaft to feed the pinion / via the connecting rods with an ajoining hole in the bushing via the oil pump / the screw hole was used for the excess oil if it were not in the bottom of the cover beyond the bushing the oil pressure would Push the bushing out on a cold start / sort of the way you would remove the same bushing blocking the port and filling the end with grease and using an old pinion when you hit it into the grease the bushing walks out / its something you learn in a full shop that actually fixes things - my problem today the young guys TALK about wanting to learn and maybe what you show them friday they remember monday but no chance they remember what you show them monday will they remember friday -- jz
 
Reply



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 01:51 AM.

story-0
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-1
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-2
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-3
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-4
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-5
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-6
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-7
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-8
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
story-9
Southpaw Super Glide: A Left-Hand-Drive 1979 Harley FXE Built to Fit the Rider

Slideshow: Graeme Billington's left-hand-drive Shovelhead is as much about problem-solving as it is about classic Harley form.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2025-12-30 11:27:08


VIEW MORE