Hi Ref 1960 B33. Oil drained 15 months ago. Head and barrel removed for refurbishing. Now refitted. Engine oil added to tank. Sump cover removed and ball prodded and sump plate refitted. The other ball and spring has been removed,cleaned and ball reseated. Before refitting ball and spring I kicked engine over and clean oil slowly pumps out. Approximately 1/2 cup of Oil added to both rockers and also in the bottom of the pushrod tube. Kicked over numerous times but no flow return seen in oil tank.
My question. Would I expect to see oil returning to tank on kick over? Or will this only happen after starting engine? What else can I do?
I take the plug out and push it in 2nd. You should see oil. When you say pumps out do you mean from the return union on the engine?
Have you primed the oil pump? It should self prime on the feed but airlocks are possible.
Have you double checked the pipes are on the right way round? You wouldn't be the first to make this error. I don't like starting an engine before I'm sure, the B33 is forgiving as it all roller bottom end but still.
Quote from: limeyrob on 20 Jan, 2026, 15:38 I take the plug out and push it in 2nd. You should see oil. When you say pumps out do you mean from the return union on the engine?
Have you primed the oil pump? It should self prime on the feed but airlocks are possible.
Have you double checked the pipes are on the right way round? You wouldn't be the first to make this error. I don't like starting an engine before I'm sure, the B33 is forgiving as it all roller bottom end but still.
Assume you mean in gear when pushing.not sure what this will achieve over and above kicking over. Main Oil pipes to/from tank not touched so are correct. Oil feed pipe to rockers were removed as was oil return from head. Both cleaned. As was all 4 banjos. When I say flows out I'm referring to the hole after removing screw, spring and ball. When kicking over I'm expecting to see oil flow back into the oil tank when viewed with oil tank cap off. I've kicked bike over 50+ times. Agree could be air lock but how do I disperse? How do I prime pump? Thank you
Pushing with the plug out just gets you a lot more engine turns without wearing your leg out.
Prime the pump, take off the feed line and squirt clean oil into the engine. Of course if you take the line off and oil starts pouring out it should be primed.
Just in case it helps...
I've not seen that before, very handy. Interesting that they suggest a pint in the rockers. That would make for a smokey start but it would also raise the sump oil level high enough that it should prime the return side of the pump. I like that idea.
Also finger over the oil return to get air out the rocker feed.
I used a longish length of clear plastic oil pipe on the feed side.
Filled it up with oil and spark plug out , in gear on the centre stand turned the rear wheel round and engine over.
The oil level on view never moved !!
So I blew into the pipe whilst rotating the wheel and suddenly it moved downwards as my blow pushed the oil into the gears.
After that fine and about 1/4 pint in the sump to splash about and get sucked up to the tank
I think it may be possible to get an air bubble in the feed side gears that means the pump doesn't develop enough pressure to lift the ball valve so it doesn't pull oil through. The OP did bleed from the ball valve but I'm wondering if more air came down the feed pipe if it had wet sumped?
I see that people get paranoid about oil lubrication, to the extent where they flood an engine with the stuff. ( especially the two stroke guys.)
I have several 100 year old motorcycles that have survived on one drop of oil every telegraph pole, with once a week drop of oil on the tappets. We also have many agricultural machines that are only lubricated with the Oil Can, maybe once a month.
Think how often you lubricate your chain, it does not need constant pressure fed oil from a pump.
My bet is that your pump will be working well before five minutes of engine running.
Thanks to all for feedback/suggestions/answers. I've taken all on board. Started bike and oil is flowing back into oil tank - I'm happy :) . I've run the bike for about 5 minutes and will leave to go stone cold before checking tappets, etc
Onto the next problem!!
Glad pumping.
Please remember that the returning oil side of the pump pumps twice as much as the feed side (to ensure the crankcase is always empty) , so this 5 minutes return may be the extra oil you put into the engine sump yourself.
Keep starting and checking oil return until you are satisfied that the oil coming back is what the pump has pushed into the engine itself.
My c15 can take 15 minutes of idling to empty the sump
Quote from: rhyatt on 22 Jan, 2026, 14:47 Glad pumping.
Please remember that the returning oil side of the pump pumps twice as much as the feed side (to ensure the crankcase is always empty) , so this 5 minutes return may be the extra oil you put into the engine sump yourself.
Keep starting and checking oil return until you are satisfied that the oil coming back is what the pump has pushed into the engine itself.
My c15 can take 15 minutes of idling to empty the sump
Thank you for your advice which I will follow