Wet sump and starting
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Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2007
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From: South of Dallas Area, Texas
Wet sump and starting
05 Fatboy here. Changed the oil prior to storage. Been sitting about 2 months now and the dipstick is dry. No oil on the floor and I am sure its all drained into the crankcase.
No sense running it now but in spring do I just start it and let it idle and pump up into the tank? I have read about leaving the plugs in the cases alone.
I have an old Norton that does this all the time and I drain the sump before starting.
Will just starting the HD and idling do any damage? Blown seals etc? Will the oil seep into the primary over the winter?
Anyone?
Thanks
No sense running it now but in spring do I just start it and let it idle and pump up into the tank? I have read about leaving the plugs in the cases alone.
I have an old Norton that does this all the time and I drain the sump before starting.
Will just starting the HD and idling do any damage? Blown seals etc? Will the oil seep into the primary over the winter?
Anyone?
Thanks
Road Master
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 970
Likes: 19
From: Philippines
Oil seeping into the crankcase is normal. Just start the bike and keep an eye on the oil pressure indicator light on the dash. A few points:
-Engine oil will not seep into the primary as long as the crank seal is in good condition.
-If you occasionally start and idle the bike, allow it to run long enough to reach full operating temperature to expel condensation.
-It's normally not necessary, but if the bike has sat for a very long time, say 6 months, I like to pull the spark plugs, pull the fuel pump fuse, connect a battery charger and spin the engine over a few minutes to circulate the oil.
-Engine oil will not seep into the primary as long as the crank seal is in good condition.
-If you occasionally start and idle the bike, allow it to run long enough to reach full operating temperature to expel condensation.
-It's normally not necessary, but if the bike has sat for a very long time, say 6 months, I like to pull the spark plugs, pull the fuel pump fuse, connect a battery charger and spin the engine over a few minutes to circulate the oil.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2010
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From: Honah Lee
I have never seen one do it all the way below the the stick. Did you do oil change. Remember to top off for filter? When you peer into the oil bag, can you see oil? If it truly did this, probably be OK if it take a while to do it but my guess is the o-ring in the oil pump is bad maybe from broken metal damage. How many miles? Has oil pump been out? If you check for sumping, you do it after a run..not setting weeks and even then, I have yet to figure out what is too much. They have about 20 oz in the bottom counting the cam galley since the sump oil lubricates the inner camshaft bearings slung by the flywheels of the crankshaft. Leave the tapered plugs alone. If it does this regularly, I would check oil pressure with a screw in gage at the sending unit.
Last edited by Jackie Paper; Sep 14, 2018 at 11:09 AM.
Thread Starter
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Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 5,577
Likes: 138
From: South of Dallas Area, Texas
I have never seen one do it all the way below the the stick. Did you do oil change. Remember to top off for filter? When you peer into the oil bag, can you see oil? If it truly did this, probably be OK if it take a while to do it but my guess is the o-ring in the oil pump is bad maybe from broken metal damage. How many miles? Has oil pump been out? If you check for sumping, you do it after a run..not setting weeks and even then, I have yet to figure out what is too much. They have about 20 oz in the bottom counting the cam galley since the sump oil lubricates the inner camshaft bearings slung by the flywheels of the crankshaft. Leave the tapered plugs alone. If it does this regularly, I would check oil pressure with a screw in gage at the sending unit.
Its at about 30,000 miles and has had the cam tensioners replaced. Nothing done to the pump. There is oil low in the tank. I am just concerned about the first start. Long as I run it every few weeks, the oil stays where it belongs.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 17,548
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From: Oxford, Nc
I have seen it below the dip stick after sitting for a long period. Be prepared to hold the bike at a fast idle and maybe see some blue smoke while its pumping the oil back into the tank on bikes with that much oil in the crankcase.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2010
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From: Honah Lee
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.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2011
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From: Illinois
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!!!
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Outstanding HDF Member
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From: Illinois
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Cruiser
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 218
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From: NE Illinois
Deadman,
There needs to be enough oil in the tank to continue to feed the oil pump. For what it's worth I noticed less oil in my sump when I add Lucas oil treatment. A parts manager at my local dealer suggested it and it seems to help.
There needs to be enough oil in the tank to continue to feed the oil pump. For what it's worth I noticed less oil in my sump when I add Lucas oil treatment. A parts manager at my local dealer suggested it and it seems to help.
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Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2007
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From: South of Dallas Area, Texas
Where does the oil pressure guage go in the engine?
It wont be started til most likely March at the earliest. No reason to mess with it now. I just dont want to cause any damage that I can prevent.
I would drain the sump and reload the oil tank if i could but I see bad mojo about messing with the plugs in the cases.