Oil pressure problem!

NortonDominator2020

NortonDominator2020

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Sep 12, 2022
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Hey guys,

My Oli pressure light came on.
It came on when I’m on idle when the oil is worm while I was riding around 10 kilometers, when throttle is on the light is of, when pressing the clutch the light comes on.

After I let the bike cool down I checked the oil stick level and it was ok, then I started the bike when the oil was cold and the oil light turned off after around 10 seconds and after 5 minutes when the bike wormed up standing the oil light turned on.

Anyone had this oil pressure issue?
I will greatly appreciate your advise and help in this issue!

Thanks!
Michael
 
The first thing I’d do is change the oil and see if the problem goes away.

You live in a hot climate I guess? Hot climate and air cooled engines give oil a hard time. It breaks down and loses its viscosity.
 
Does it really take 10 seconds on startup before the oil light goes off?
That seems abnormally long for pressure to buildup before the pressure switch turns the light off.
If you have an inline strainer between the oil tank and the pump, I'd check to make sure it's clear.
 
Might need to replace the pressure switch if everything else looks OK and pressure is fine (can it be verified with a test gauge on this bike?).
 
Fast Eddie said:
The first thing I’d do is change the oil and see if the problem goes away.

You live in a hot climate I guess? Hot climate and air cooled engines give oil a hard time. It breaks down and loses its viscosity.
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Thanks.
What is the recommended engine oil?
 
The oil pressure can be checked at the plugged drilling , l/h side , bottom of cylinder. Manual states 1.5 bar (21.7psi) @1000 rpm 130 deg C engine temp.
 
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I had a low oil pressure issue on my Domi and it was a poor gasket install. If I were you, I’d check the oil pressure with a gauge and not risk it.

I removed my oil sending unit and installed an oil pressure gauge to make sure the pressure was good. In my case, I only had 1 - 2 psi at idle and at rpm.

Here’s what I ended up finding on my Domi.
Never assume anything.

This was after two years of ownership. Prior to this, I didn’t have any issues.

It all happened the day I wound the bike out full rpm and top speed to see what she’d do in top end, in return I had the oil light come on the next time I took it out weeks later.

The oil pressure was leaking past the gasket tear and into the cam cover. Easy fix, but unexpected and odd that the first 500 miles not a sign of low oil pressure.
 

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Voodooo said:
I had a low oil pressure issue on my Domi and it was a poor gasket install. If I were you, I’d check the oil pressure with a gauge and not risk it.

I removed my oil sending unit and installed an oil pressure gauge to make sure the pressure was good. In my case, I only had 1 - 2 psi at idle and at rpm.

Here’s what I ended up finding on my Domi.
Never assume anything.

This was after two years of ownership. Prior to this, I didn’t have any issues.

It all happened the day I wound the bike out full rpm and top speed to see what she’d do in top end, in return I had the oil light come on the next time I took it out weeks later.

The oil pressure was leaking past the gasket tear and into the cam cover. Easy fix, but unexpected and odd that the first 500 miles not a sign of low oil pressure.
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Hi Voodoo , I was hoping you would chime in . Thanks !
 
I also live in a warm climate.
I am advices to use the Motul 300V 10w40 as it is the top best engine oil in the world...
 
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This was RickY’s solution! Clock mounted gauge - pretty fancy! Bit of work involved though and classed as a bit of a worry gauge from memory. Do we need to be keeping a regular eye on oil pressure with our 961’s?

Oil pressure problem!
 
Thanks everyone, I will start to check all your advices and hopfuly the problem will be solved only with that and no seriaus damage involved
 
I was reading @RickY post:
I had a situation about 6 months ago when the oil pressure light came on at around 900 rpm hot when I idle off in 1st gear with the front brake on, as the normal idle is 1200 rpm and wasn't coming on at that I would not of known the issue if I had not of got the idle rpm down. I tested the oil pressure, from memory I was only getting around 8 psi at 1200 pm & about 25 psi at 3000. dismantled the oil pump and gave the relief valve a light hit with 1200 wet & dry then put it back together, fresh oil and tested again, bang nearly 40 psi at idle and the relief valve kicked in just below 60psi around 4000 pm.

Didn’t quite understand what he was meant by:
“dismantled the oil pump and gave the relief valve a light hit with 1200 wet & dry then put it back together”, fresh oil and tested again, bang nearly 40 psi at idle and the relief valve kicked in just below 60psi around 4000 pm.

@RickY
Rick maybe you can explain what you did so I will try it also?

Thanks to everyone!
 
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Stephen_Spencer said:
RickY has’nt been on the forum for a couple of years. Not sure he’s still around.
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Too bad.
Maybe someone with more englisg understanding can explaine what he did here.. For me it is Chinese...
“dismantled the oil pump and gave the relief valve a light hit with 1200 wet & dry then put it back together”,
Thanks!
 
NortonDominator2020 said:
Too bad.
Maybe someone with more englisg understanding can explaine what he did here.. For me it is Chinese...
“dismantled the oil pump and gave the relief valve a light hit with 1200 wet & dry then put it back together”,
Thanks!
Click to expand...
First check your oil pressure ! If you don't see a pressure problem , replace the pressure switch . If you see a pressure problem , then continue with checking the oil pump and the timing cover/oil filter cavity. Don't forget to check the oil filter screen in the oil line. The oil pump is easy to work on , remove it from the engine and keep it clean when you disassemble/re-assemble it. The Norton 961 powerplant is wonderfully well thought out for servicing.
 
There's various reasons as to why the oil light may illuminate. First port of call would be an oil pressure check....to see if you actually have an oil pressure problem, or if you just have a shitty SMP supplied oil pressure switch. If oil pressure is clearly low, next place I'd check would be the inline filter to the pump and also the oil pump pressure relief valve. The valve can get scored and jam. I polish these up on the polishing wheel, until they give a silky smooth operation. That failed gasket is a good one though!



Be very careful not to lose the woodruff key, as pictured next to the penny.
 

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Thanks a lot for responding Stu! And thanks for the photos and heads up!
With the friends advices here and with your advice I will of course start with the oil pressure check and continue from there.


Maybe you can advise here also please:
My clutch is engaging at the end of the clutch lever travel…
We know it is self adjusting and my mechanic doesn’t see how it can be adjusted…
How do I adjust it please?

Thank you!
 
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