According to the manual, the OIF A65 holds 5 imperial pints. I have just drained mine and refilled it, I couldn't get more than 4 pints in. My bike was built May 71. Can anyone shed any light on this? I know it's not a problem, but I have had issues with oil being blown over the rear tyre (interesting) and wanted to be sure I wasn't overfilling it.
The Breather pipe comes out at the top by the steering head and if overfilled, oil will find its way up there and into the pipe. Best to check where your breather pipe ends. If close to the rear tyre, it may be best to move it out of harms way.
The reservoir was/is prone to cracks at the base so check to see if any is weeping from that area and splashing on to the tyre. Unfortunately, if it is, it would mean a total strip to get it brazed/welded.
Let us know how you get on.
It's a long story....I recently fitted an SRM oil pump mainly to overcome severe wet sumping, which it did, and oil pressure was really good. Went to the Norfolk group meeting on Tuesday, involving 15minutes at 70mph down the A47 and back....no problems. On Sunday went out, a much hotter day, after about 12 miles oil pressure dropped to about 10 psi at 3000rpm, then a massive rear end slide on a bend...pulled over and the whole rear tyre was coated with oil. When we drained the crankcase it was full of oil, none in the tank. I think it was being pumped out of the cam breather on the left rear of the engine, as the engine clearly wasn't scavenging properly. My theory is that the new pump is pumping oil through the slightly worn main bearing faster than the old pump, and the scavenge side can't cope for some reason...its returning to the tank fine at idle, SRM advise not to fit a filter in the instructions that come with the pump, maybe the oil filter I have plumbed into the return line may be causing a slight restriction in the return line....I'm weighing up either taking the filter out or putting the old pump back on, but I am not keen on either idea really.....
hi nigel,
what is the oil return flow to the oil tank like when cold and when hot?
if your oil pickup is blocked then check the pick up pipe with ball free and whether the oil pump gasket is blocking the return hole. lots of other possibilities as well.
I rebuilt my Lightning engine in 2009 and fitted both an SRM pump and filter in the return line. After around 20,000 miles using Golden Film 20w50 I've never had any issues.. Did you check the crank for both end float and radial movement when you swapped the pumps?
Does anyone now the right reason why SRM don't recommend a filter in the return line. Have it more than 30 years now and works fine .
Thanks for all the replies....the return flow to the tank looks normal, hot or cold, it looks the same as it was with the old pump. I haven't checked the ball valve yet, but that's my next job when the gaskets arrive. The crank has the correct end float but the timing side bush has 20,000 miles on it. The oil pressure with the SRM pump was very good, i could get 20psi just on the kickstarter with the plugs out. I fitted a new SRM gasket to the pump so I'd be surprised if it was blocking the return. It seems that the filter isn't the issue as so many people have had no problems like this. I'm going to try reverting to the old pump and see what I find. I'll keep you posted....