Hello
I know that this has been the subject of many threads, and I’ve been searching, but can’t find the information I need to feel confident about my way forwards.
A while back, I was becoming increasingly concerned about wet sumping – the tank was emptying in a couple of days. I refurbished the oil pump, and fitted an oil pressure gauge to monitor the result of my work. Wet sumping was much improved with no appreciable drop in level over a couple of weeks, which I regarded as success.
However, oil pressure was not what I hoped to see. On start up, it is showing 60 psi, but pottering around in cooler weather drops this to around 15-20 psi and, of even more concern is that pressing on, and particularly in hot weather, this can fall even further to around 10 psi with the gauge firmly on its stop at tickover.
I’ve verified that the oil feed holes in the rocker spindles are facing outwards, and have just removed the timing cover to verify that all the seals are still sound (they were renewed when I did the pump). The only question in my mind is how I can be sure that the conical oil pump seal is actually in contact with the timing cover. There doesn’t seem to be any difficulty in pushing the timing cover right home, even without a gasket in place.
I don’t want to consider a bottom end rebuild unless it is absolutely necessary. The bike is going superbly (tempting fate here) after much recent work with no worrying noises that I can detect.
The bike is a 72 Combat, oil is Castrol XL 20w50, and the bottom end has never been touched. Sorry this is so long winded. Thanks in advance for any suggestions.
Ray
I know that this has been the subject of many threads, and I’ve been searching, but can’t find the information I need to feel confident about my way forwards.
A while back, I was becoming increasingly concerned about wet sumping – the tank was emptying in a couple of days. I refurbished the oil pump, and fitted an oil pressure gauge to monitor the result of my work. Wet sumping was much improved with no appreciable drop in level over a couple of weeks, which I regarded as success.
However, oil pressure was not what I hoped to see. On start up, it is showing 60 psi, but pottering around in cooler weather drops this to around 15-20 psi and, of even more concern is that pressing on, and particularly in hot weather, this can fall even further to around 10 psi with the gauge firmly on its stop at tickover.
I’ve verified that the oil feed holes in the rocker spindles are facing outwards, and have just removed the timing cover to verify that all the seals are still sound (they were renewed when I did the pump). The only question in my mind is how I can be sure that the conical oil pump seal is actually in contact with the timing cover. There doesn’t seem to be any difficulty in pushing the timing cover right home, even without a gasket in place.
I don’t want to consider a bottom end rebuild unless it is absolutely necessary. The bike is going superbly (tempting fate here) after much recent work with no worrying noises that I can detect.
The bike is a 72 Combat, oil is Castrol XL 20w50, and the bottom end has never been touched. Sorry this is so long winded. Thanks in advance for any suggestions.
Ray
