Wet sump and starting

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Dec 8, 2014 | 08:44 PM

#11

Snowyone

Road Captain

Joined: Jun 2010

Posts: 604

Likes: 22

sumpin fishy

Bought two bikes at an auction for cheap because one had no oil and the other looked like it had tar in the oil tank. The one with no oil was a Heritage and only had 28 miles showing so added a new battery and oil and filter and fired it up. Got a face full of oil and a hell of a mess on my shop floor. Not room for 6 quarts in that oil tank. It had all sumped to the cases in an almost new motor. Seen no repercussions afterwards but the new owner had to replace the pump a year afterwards.

Dec 8, 2014 | 09:05 PM

#12

98hotrodfatboy

Seasoned HDF Member

Joined: Mar 2010

Posts: 21,116

Likes: 7,639

From: Poolville

exactly......

I would not have an engine without one..........

Quote:

Originally Posted by tbonetony06

A side note that is not really off subject but food for thought. THIS IS A PERFECT EXAMPLE AND REASON FOR AN OIL PRESSURE GAUGE!!!

Dec 8, 2014 | 10:40 PM

#13

Gommee

Devil's Advocate

Joined: Jun 2010

Posts: 2,070

Likes: 36

From: Alberta, Canada

HD Tech warned me if there was no oil on the dipstick in the spring not to add any. He said a good deal of it would drain out into the sump after sitting all winter. Just fire it up in the spring, let it idle until it gets up to temp and check the oil again. It will pump back into the tank. Once it has filled the tank back up, ride.

He laughed at me while he told me this as he knew my last bike was a Dyna.

Dec 9, 2014 | 01:19 AM

#14

tperk

Intermediate

Joined: Jan 2014

Posts: 33

Likes: 4

From: Wyoming

I own three softtails, a2004 & two 2008,s. All three of them do this & have done since they were new. Totally normal after sitting long periods. Scavenger pump will return oil back to tank very quickly.

Dec 9, 2014 | 03:50 AM

#15

Stiggy

Seasoned HDF Member

Joined: Nov 2010

Posts: 17,548

Likes: 7,197

From: Oxford, Nc

Quote:

Originally Posted by 98hotrodfatboy

I would not have an engine without one..........

Unless you stare at your oil pressure gauge (you don't,) the only way you're going to know when you've lost oil pressure is when the liters start clacking.

Same difference IMO.

Dec 9, 2014 | 08:46 AM

#16

tbonetony06

Outstanding HDF Member

Joined: Oct 2011

Posts: 3,492

Likes: 19

From: Illinois

I dont stare at my oil pressure gauge but I do check it often and at every light or stop sign. It can also warm of bad things to come. I run about 47psi going down the road, about 27psi sitting. If I look down and it's 30 while going down the road, or 10 sitting I still have pressure but I know I have something going on that's not good. Nothing will help or protect you from catastrophic failure but its a window into the motor and whats going on. I have way to much in this motor to not monitor it. It's like a blood pressure cuff, a hell of a tool to save you.

Dec 9, 2014 | 09:10 AM

#17

Jackie Paper

Seasoned HDF Member

Joined: Mar 2010

Posts: 38,593

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From: Honah Lee

May get away with that much oil pressure in the North but in the hot south, you need to keep a TC idle oil pressure well below 18 psi idle (probably below 12) or you will cook the oil and flood the cylinders from the oil jets. The oil cooling jets under the cylinders are not intended to open till 12-18 psi above idle speed. Did you have modified the 35 psi relief and boosted the oil pump to get that idle oil pressure or is your motor not a TC?

Dec 14, 2014 | 04:05 PM

#18

Jackie Paper

Seasoned HDF Member

Joined: Mar 2010

Posts: 38,593

Likes: 6,435

From: Honah Lee

Quote:

Originally Posted by RIPSAW

If it has oil in the tank, you should be OK. Pump will catch up and return it. Let it idle a few minutes and keep the speed down for a mile or so. Maybe I just seldom keep up with checking it after sitting. When mine sets months, when I start it, all I want to do is go. Just went out and checked it. Been couple weeks since I rode. As a scale I know it was about 3/4 up from the lower line about a month ago. Been over a year since I changed it and I had topped it off when it was hot hot to the top line. It has use this small amount in a year. However two weeks of setting has dropped it to 1/4" above add. I never really ever park it but it will set 3 months shortly Jan-March. Be interesting to see where it is then. Obviously it does leak back. Guess it's leaking all the way up thru filter..Harley probably designed it that way to keep the crank main bearing oiled...in fact, I am sure that's what they did? HA..mine has 45K on it and other then me checking, has never even had tensioners changed.

Well took a ride today. Oil temperature only at 150 but the level is back up to about 1/8 from the top mark. Obviously, mine leaks back more then 1/2" in a few weeks. Since it does it, not sure what would keep it from all running thru.