I pulled the plug on the crankcase and got exactly 8 oz of oil out. Is this a sumping condition or not? I'm certainly over the 6oz that most places cite. BTW: I'm chasing a top end noise problem.

 

It could be residual from a previous fill. Ride another fifty or so miles, and pull the plug again. The amount should be less. If not, then may be.

 

I would think if there was oil left over from before, it should have pumped it out. Once the oil gets to a certain level in the crankcase, it should pump it out. 8 oz. is really on the edge. I just checked mine last week and I was a hair under 6 oz.

To play it safe, do as RK09RK said and try it again. Maybe your findings will be better. Let us know how you make out.

Keith

 

Not trying to hi jack your thread, but could someone explain sumping. I've read alot of old post on it. So when you sump all your oil doesn't come back to yor oil pan? Causes you to lose power? Does it ever get back to the oil pan?

 

Well let me ask this question. The 8oz was after letting it sit for a while and the bike level. Could this be back drain from the oil filter because of leveling the bike and opening the crank case. I kept the plug open waiting for it to stop draining then I noticed an extremely slow drip of oil coming out. I assumed it was the oil filter slowly draining back. The initial amount was 6 ounces and it slowly dripped to 8 oz. That being said the reason I am chasing this down is because I have a top end noise problem and I don't recall aligning the oil pump when I did the cams, but I don't think I disturbed it either.

 

Second test run 7 ounces.

 

You said you were chasing a top end noise after a cam swap. May I ask what kind of cam you installed? Maybe the style of cam is causing you all the noise. Also, did you check your lateral play on your rocker shafts? This can also cause alot of noise issues.

And that 7 oz. is better, but still on the edge, if you know what I mean.

Pine twp., Pa.? What major town is that near?

 

According to Harley normal can be anywhere from 6 to 12 ounces. Take it for what its worth!

 

Classic53, My cam is an SE255. The top end was fairly quiet prior to the cam install. I have already shimmed the rocker arms. It did quiet things a bit but I am still getting a lot of top end noise from the front jug at between 2500 and 2800 RPM. Quiets back down at around 3k.
Pine TWP is near Pittsburgh.

 

Good day.
Do you have an oil temp gauge?
An INDY redid my cam tensioners and after putting everything back together my bike ran 30 degrees hotter on a cool fall day.
He said it was the oil temp gauge failing. He was wrong.
The oil was sumping, about 10 oz. drained out. When some of the oil sumps; the pressure remains the same but the temperature increases because not as much oil is circulating.
But I'm sure you know that...


Ride In Peace