| Author | Message | ||
     Mikef5000 |
Supposedly there is an easy way to take a peak at the oil pump gear while I'm changing the oil. Anyone able to elaborate for me? Do I need to replace a gasket or anything when I do this? Thanks! | ||
| Reepicheep |
Yup. You will need a new oil pump gasket. Actually, you might not need it, you might be able to reuse the old one, but it would be prudent to have one on hand. Drain the oil as usual, and drop the oil pump (2 or 2 bolts and some cut cable ties). You don't have to remove any of the oil pump lines as I recall... or if I did it was so easy I don't remember doing it. So you probably want some teflon sealing tape as well. You can then crawl under there (or use your digital camera in macro mode) and take a look at the gear that is up in the cam chest. It'll wear at different rates on different sides, so rotate the engine and re-check a few times. You will generally see *some* wear, so don't panic. | ||
| Djkaplan |
I have to take off the oil pump feed line that goes to the filter when I remove my pump. I'm about to do this fairly soon again. If there is bad wear, I might be screwed for MB... maybe I shouldn't check it. Be prepared for a few ounces of oil to come out when you drop the pump. I'll reuse the gasket once, then replace it. The gaskets are cheap so I got 5 of them the last time I was in the Harley store. | ||
| Jos51700 |
The gaskets are cheap, so you reuse them once? Ok. | ||
| Jos51700 |
Toilet paper is cheap. Do you reuse that, too? (Message edited by jos51700 on March 13, 2008) | ||
| Djkaplan |
The gaskets don't leak when I reuse them. Your analogy about toilet paper was rude and inconsiderate. I expected better. But that's apparently my problem. | ||
| Mikef5000 |
If there is bad wear, I might be screwed for MB... maybe I shouldn't check it. That is going through my mind also. Maybe I'll check it... next time. (Message edited by mikef5000 on March 13, 2008) | ||
| Jos51700 |
It was rude. I offer my apologies. I appreciate your tolerance, and not responding in kind. Bravo! And no, not your problem. | ||
| Stingaroo |
Mike, thanks for asking that question! I just ordered a few parts, what all I need to check, inspect, etc for this riding season. I just wrote it down about checking the pump and thought, I will just check BadWeb...\clipartbiggrin2} | ||
| Sloppy |
I guess the analogy isn't quite right -- as you can fold the toilet paper over and use the other side still -- but I don't think it's wise to fold gaskets... | ||
| Smoke |
humor doesn't translate well in writing sometimes. what seems hilarious can be easily misconstrued. go ahead and look DJ,it only takes a day or two to replace that gear. see ya in couple of weeks!! tim | ||
| Oldog |
Mike the concequence for ignoring it is a toasted motor if the driving gear fails, you have 10days? changing to the bronze gear is an afternoons work, If you can get the gear quick. off the tank, rocker boxes, and gear cover, drop the pump and change the driving gear. new gaskets with assy reverse of disassm. | ||
| Ratbuell |
I'm with DJ - ask my wife. She uses words that aren't anywhere near as kind as "cheap" to describe me sometimes, lol. If a gasket looks good the first time I pull something out for inspection...sure, I re-use it. If it leaks, well...I have the one I bought before I took it apart sitting in the garage, and now I know how to take it apart quickly. Hey, I tried...it didn't work...now I get to change it. Simple. Yes, gaskets are cheap. Victory over the engine that comes from taking it apart, putting it back together again *my* way, and not having it leak? Priceless! | ||
| Wile_ecoyote |
Just to ask....is the gear in my '02 X1 an updated gear? I have less than 5k on it so it should be fine. Was wondering about that gear though. Thanks......Mattu  | ||
| Rich |
I should check that. | ||
| Sloppy |
I'd say that unless you regularly use your bike for drag racing that you'll be fine with a 10k mile inspection. And even then make sure it is truly wear to failure rather than just having the gears wear in. If you're concerned (or anal) inspect the gear every other oil change. I had 30k miles on my bike, mostly commuting but some track days and the oil pump gear started to show some bright wear spots. So I replaced the oil pump gear for fear of failure and I found absolutely nothing wrong with it. And it takes significantly more than an afternoon -- don't forget that the job ALSO entails trips to the store, making sure you have the proper tools and facilities to do the job, getting the right gaskets, don't forget the loctite, timing your cam plate (do you have a breakout box?), etc. And don't forget you need to order special tools for the job too. While the work isn't all that hard, it's still a pain in the butt to do and there's plenty of other stuff I'd rather do than wrench, find the right parts, drive to the store, deal with the idiot behind the parts counter, wait for parts, wait for the UPS truck, etc. And by the way, you HAVE to order the part from a Buell seller -- you can't get it at your local HD only shop... | ||
| Smoke |
American Sport Bike- door to door service on the parts. Al will fix you up. tim | ||
| Mikef5000 |
Just to ask....is the gear in my '02 X1 an updated gear? Nope, they didn't upgrade the gear till 06 I believe. I'll be changing my oil/filter/primary fluid/spark plugs tomorrow. We'll see what happens with the gear. (Message edited by Mikef5000 on March 15, 2008) | ||
| Natexlh1000 |
I was curious... Do new sportsters use that fancy gold gear too? Did the 1998-2003 sportsters have oil pump drive issues? | ||
| Oldog |
And it takes significantly more than an afternoon I'm pretty slow it would take [ TOOK ] me about 8 hours with every thing in hand. I measured and inspected every thing while it was apart. If all you are doing is changing the gear 5~6 hours should do it and YES get the pieces first have it all in hand then start. Also get the stuff from AL if the local dealer is an Ass Hat. | ||
| Reepicheep |
I think the sporties rev lower, which seems to help their gear live longer, but yes, they wear also. FWIW, on the XB's, you can static time by listening for the fuel pump to kick on, you don't need a break out box. it does end up a pretty involved job, but its all fairly straightforward. | ||
| Hippyjoe |
My .02... if you're gonna swap out the gear on your M2, ya might consider a cam upgrade while yer in there. For sure check the wear on your Cyclone cams' hardened surfaces if you're doing the OPD gear. KV has some Cyclone cam wear horror stories along with the OP gear. | ||
| Reepicheep |
 What Hippy said! (my pitted cam is sitting right on my desk beside the worn pinion gear ). | ||
| Hugie03flhr |
HIPPYJOE, your saying if I see any wear on the oil pump gear that I should pull the cams? How much wear is too much wear? | ||
| Reepicheep |
I wouldn't go that far... If you swap the gear, inspect the cams carefully for surface pitting. I had one pitted and replaced just it. If the gear is not that bad, I would not take the cam cover off, and so you can't check the cams. | ||
| Mikef5000 |
I chickened out. To much stuff to do, not enough time. I'll check it when changing the oil again after MB5, when I have no time constraints, and warmer temeratures. | ||
| Djkaplan |
I dropped my pump last night, but didn't look yet. Too much dribbling. I'm hoping for the best when I peer into it tonight. If it looks questionable... Al's gonna get a call very early in the morning. | ||
| Hughlysses |
Djkaplan, It's damned hard to look up in there and see much. Most of us had much better luck taking photos with a digital camera. You can download them to your computer, blow them up, change the contrast, etc. which makes the gear teeth MUCH easier to see. | ||
| Reepicheep |
Almost too easy... I was fairly alarmed looking at a 100x zoomed 6MP high contrast photo... then I actually looked at the thing in person, and saw... "thats it? That ain't bad". The camera is great. If you have a Nikon Coolpix, you don't evne have to lay on the ground! | ||
| Wile_ecoyote |
Thanks Mike, all of you . I have talked to a few guys who said they know bikes, few compare with anything I have heard here. Experience is the best instructor. | ||
| Oldog |
Sounds like a good plan Mike. | ||
| Djkaplan |
"It's damned hard to look up in there and see much." I don't have a problem seeing the gear. I just use a drop light and peer inside. I put the bike in top gear with the sparkplugs out and spin the engine over to give the gear a good examination. Everything looked fine and I buttoned it up today. I'm happy! | ||
| Reepicheep |
Excellent! Now you know you can safely ignore it! Some bikes eat 'em, some don't. | ||
| Djkaplan |
This is the fourth time I've checked it. I have over 40k miles on the bike... I guess if it was going to happen, I'd know by now. I still plan on upgrading it when I do a top end job. |
