Oil circulation?
Thread Starter
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Cruiser
Joined: Jul 2023
Posts: 143
Likes: 22
From: California
Oil circulation?
Rode 12 miles on 1995 fxstc, checked the oil, after ride, tank feels hot, oil feels warm.
Question is there circulation?
Can't see any movement in tank when running. Bike hasn't ran in three years.
Question is there circulation?
Can't see any movement in tank when running. Bike hasn't ran in three years.
Thread Starter
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Cruiser
Joined: Jul 2023
Posts: 143
Likes: 22
From: California
Maybe need to take the carburetor off and clean it, since I cleaned all the old fuel out of tanks, petcock, and lines.
Last edited by mikey95hd; Aug 10, 2023 at 09:13 PM.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 14,158
Likes: 11,249
From: San Diego, CA
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..
Last edited by hattitude; Aug 10, 2023 at 09:36 PM.
Thread Starter
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Cruiser
Joined: Jul 2023
Posts: 143
Likes: 22
From: California
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..
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..
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 14,158
Likes: 11,249
From: San Diego, CA
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..!
Thread Starter
|
Cruiser
Joined: Jul 2023
Posts: 143
Likes: 22
From: California
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..!
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..!
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.
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Thread Starter
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Cruiser
Joined: Jul 2023
Posts: 143
Likes: 22
From: California
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.
The lifters only have 500 miles on them since a top end rebuild.
Last edited by mikey95hd; Aug 11, 2023 at 05:17 PM.
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From: Niles Canyon Ca.
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.
Thread Starter
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Cruiser
Joined: Jul 2023
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From: California
Not sure what you mean "get some vapor when you pop it open?