Oil light
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Joined: Sep 2010
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Oil light
Ok, I was warming up my bike. Wanted to take some heat reading. The bike ran for about 20 minutes at idle speed (which I have done before with no problems) and while I was getting my temp readings the oil light came on. Right away I stood the bike up straight and gave it a LITTLE gas to get the oil flowing. The light went off. Everything seemed fine.
I shut it down, sat for about an hour of so, went to satrt it up again and noticed the oil light was on (before starting). Turned it over a couple times and got a big puff of black smoke.
10 minutes later I tried it again and the oil light was on again, but this time it took a couple crankes to start. Ran fine after, the oil light went off, but the oil light being on before starting is conserning me now.
any ideas?
I shut it down, sat for about an hour of so, went to satrt it up again and noticed the oil light was on (before starting). Turned it over a couple times and got a big puff of black smoke.
10 minutes later I tried it again and the oil light was on again, but this time it took a couple crankes to start. Ran fine after, the oil light went off, but the oil light being on before starting is conserning me now.
any ideas?
Last edited by RG462; Oct 23, 2010 at 05:43 PM.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 38,309
Likes: 6,328
From: Honah Lee
20 minutes of idle
Not sure what kind of Harley or bike you have but most bikes I have seen even when they have a radiator is just on the heads. I would never idle a air cooled bike. What are you trying to do with idling head temperature? Prove how tough it is. Sounds like it was ready to seize. One reason it may have been hard to restart is at high heat(overheating) Harley cuts off the rear spark plug.) At idle Harley oil pressure is rather low and high heat could bring the light on. Also the oil is a lot of cooling and idle is not a good thing. If it runs OK now I would not worry about it but I would not continue this. Thee time may just break it heart.
Last edited by Jackie Paper; Oct 23, 2010 at 06:20 PM.
Road Captain
Joined: Sep 2007
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Oil light is always supposed to be on before the bike starts, and then shuts off once the bike is started and oil pressure is present. If the light is on with bike running, you either are low on oil, or have bigger, more serious issues. The pressure sensor (on my '02 at least) will trigger the light if the oil PSI gets below 3 psi.
Again, check your oil level, and having the light come on with the key, before the engine starts, is normal and good.
Again, check your oil level, and having the light come on with the key, before the engine starts, is normal and good.
Tourer
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 301
Likes: 7
From: NORTH CAROLINA
i must be missing something also. The light is supposed to come on when you turn the switch on before cranking...
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2008
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From: Jamestown, CA
............... Yes , the Oil light will stay ON until it Starts
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