Rode 12 miles on 1995 fxstc, checked the oil, after ride, tank feels hot, oil feels warm.

Question is there circulation?
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Can't see any movement in tank when running. Bike hasn't ran in three years.

 

It doesn't really circulate that fast. It kinda looks like it is just moving if you look in the tank as the bike is running.

 

I'm thinking it has to be moving, put a total of 25 miles on it today, the lifters sound a little noisy, then it has a V-thunder 5010 cam and Jim's wide body tappets, so I expect them to make some noise. Carburetor spits a little at low rpm, but once going seems to run good.

Maybe need to take the carburetor off and clean it, since I cleaned all the old fuel out of tanks, petcock, and lines.

 

If you rode 12 miles then 25 miles, with no strange engine noises and no low oil pressure warnings, I would suspect that you have oil flow through the engine.


But you can check for sure if you want to....

Been about 30 years since I worked on my '89 EVO Heritage. Plus, hopefully those who still have an EVO will chime in...

Do you have a service manual....?? It'll show the oil flow for your year/model. Through the years I believe there was a slight change in the EVO oil system...

You can disconnect the oil return hose that runs from the oil filter back to the oil tank, at the oil tank. Be ready to put a temp plug on that tank fitting, the oil will drain from the tank when you remove that hose...

Then start the engine, with the open end of that return hose in a pail/deep pan/bucket... You'll know fairly quickly if the oil is being returned to the tank...

If oil is not flowing out that return line, it's time to take the oil pump off and go through it...

Again, confirm the oil flow chart for your year/model before trying this..

 

I rode a total of 25 miles, 12 the first time, and 12 the second time and that's when I checked the oil, which felt warm, not really hot, the tank felt hot on the outside. With going 12 miles with no oil flow it should have seized, I think, and the tappets sound loud, but I'm sure that is the cam lobes.

 

On a Harley engine, without oil flow, the lifters will usually first sound very loud, and often will then collapse causing performance issues...

However, if you have a lifter or two going bad or blocked with debris, that could affect the oil flow to the top end of the engine...

Only you can decide what is normal and what is not for this engine...

If you believe the lifter noise to be normal for this bike, I'd ride it...!

But, there are ways to check anything out, if you suspect and issue...

Enjoy the bike..!

 

I haven't heard this engine in awhile, it seems to me it has always made lifter noise, what is normal or not normal hard to tell. I've always felt like it getting ready to quit, that's been over a 100,000 miles...

Just trying to make sure the oil is flowing, hard to see any movement in tank on jiffy stand, if it's moving it's very slow.

 

I'm thinking that there must be circulation, since the tank was warm to touch, and like I said hard to see if it's moving when running the engine with the dipstick out.
The lifters only have 500 miles on them since a top end rebuild.

 

Ride it, then check the tank while warm, oil is frothy and you get some vapor when you pop it open the flows fine. Whatever you do don't add any oil till you are sure of things when it's hot.

 

Not sure what you mean "get some vapor when you pop it open?