Oil pump failure??
Road Warrior
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 1,296
Likes: 3
From: Cheltenham, UK
From a hydraulic perspective this is interesting. The fact that it happened quickly (suddenly) without apparent degradation of oil pressure over time is something to be optimistic about.
Engine and / or pump wear leads to increased clearances between moving parts. Remember a pump does not deliver "pressure", it delivers flow. Pressure builds up as a result to resistance to flow. With engine were this takes place over years so you see a slow degradation with time. You also see more dramatic temperature related pressure swings as viscosity changes.
In essence, my initial instinct is an internal catostrophic (immediate) mechanical failure in the pump. Your response was perfect and should go a long way to limiting the damage
Good luck
Engine and / or pump wear leads to increased clearances between moving parts. Remember a pump does not deliver "pressure", it delivers flow. Pressure builds up as a result to resistance to flow. With engine were this takes place over years so you see a slow degradation with time. You also see more dramatic temperature related pressure swings as viscosity changes.
In essence, my initial instinct is an internal catostrophic (immediate) mechanical failure in the pump. Your response was perfect and should go a long way to limiting the damage
Good luck
Road Warrior
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 1,889
Likes: 104
From: Mississippi
If your lifters are not raising hell and clattering...Your oil pump is pumping oil...The lifters will let you know when you lose oil pressure...With the mileage that you have on the bike...I would definitely have the tensioners checked.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 2,488
Likes: 30
From: Maryland near DC
first thing I would do is put a oil pressure gauge on it to see if I really has no oil pressure...the bike might be fine, just a bad sending unit or broken wire...the pop you heard may just have been you running something over or even a fuse going bad....
Cruiser
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 121
Likes: 0
From: Fredericksburg VA
Had a high performance oil pump that went bad. When it went, it split the pump impeller, lock the impeller gear against the pump gear. the crank was spinning inside the impeller gear - NO NOISE - no oil pressure, oil light on. Luckly didn't do any damage to the engine other than scar up the crank shaft where the oil pump gear mounts. Tooks some sand paper / emery cloth and smoothed that out and put the stock oil pump back on. No problems so far.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 2,216
Likes: 102
From: Central Illinois
If it does turn out to be an oil pump, when you get it apart see if it is all torn up. If so, you MUST do a run-out check of the crankshaft. You will need a dial indicator and a way to mount it, then you will need a way to spin the crank to see how much run-out you have (wobble of the shaft). If it is more than a few thousands, then the flywheels may have "scissored", or became misaligned, which tore up the oil pump. If this is the case, then splitting the cases is the only alternative, and remove the flywheels assembly and get them repaired. Make sure you replace the crankshaft bearings at the same time.
A friend of mine just did this to an '03 Heritage.
A friend of mine just did this to an '03 Heritage.
Stage I
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
From: Wi
Listen to Shooters. Be sides that it is kinda rare for a oil pump to just **** out on you. RIP it apart and look . Gears rod 2 keys not much to break. I always run my bike when I change my oil. Never no problems. But then I only been riding Harleys since 1978. And in that short time not once have I ever known anyone who's pump went out. Yes I did say 1978 little b4 Harleys were cool and yuppies and wannabes rode Hondas then got a Harley t-shirt and leather jackets and became a biker. 1%NFG.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 2,464
Likes: 50
From: Rouses Point, N.Y.
Listen to Shooters. Be sides that it is kinda rare for a oil pump to just **** out on you. RIP it apart and look . Gears rod 2 keys not much to break. I always run my bike when I change my oil. Never no problems. But then I only been riding Harleys since 1978. And in that short time not once have I ever known anyone who's pump went out. Yes I did say 1978 little b4 Harleys were cool and yuppies and wannabes rode Hondas then got a Harley t-shirt and leather jackets and became a biker. 1%NFG.
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