oil loss from sitting over winter
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From: Honah Lee
I assume you have a Softail, but you do not post year or miles. You see this mentioned quite often but not the whole tank (oil bag) If that is in the engine sump, I would turn the engine with rear wheel before starting it to see how free it is. Hydraulic lock can do real damage. However if it just below stick, no big deal. It does indicate your oil pump is rough, and the o-ring is probably damaged. Might want to screw an oil pressure gage into the light indicator fitting and check it at idle and 2000rpm. Harley's can live with pretty low pressure but if it's too low it will take out the crank piston pin bushing, start tapping and the later (after 06 or so) are not repairable. Big buck repair. Oil pump replacement is no big deal. Interesting how this can happen since the only way it can do this is the oil is being syphoned to the pump side and getting past the o-ring I think.
Last edited by Jackie Paper; May 6, 2013 at 08:33 PM.
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From: Rochester, NY
Dry sump oil systems, like the one in our bikes, are notorious for this and all Harley's do it to one degree or another.
Its not a serious problem under normal circumstances just starting the engine up for a few minutes will let the scavenge pump get the oil back in the tank where its supposed to be.
The main cause is the location of the tank in relation to the engine and its pump.
If it was mounted below the crankcase it wouldn't be an issue at all.
But being above the engine pump the oil is always trying to seek its own level.
Even brand new seals and pumps are not perfect and will eventually let it leak down the lines into the crankcase.
Its not a serious problem under normal circumstances just starting the engine up for a few minutes will let the scavenge pump get the oil back in the tank where its supposed to be.
The main cause is the location of the tank in relation to the engine and its pump.
If it was mounted below the crankcase it wouldn't be an issue at all.
But being above the engine pump the oil is always trying to seek its own level.
Even brand new seals and pumps are not perfect and will eventually let it leak down the lines into the crankcase.
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