anti wet sump valve

[maddogmargetts@yahoo.co.u]

Does anyone know if fitting an anti-wet sump device into the oil system can cause less oil to pass into the engine? Since fitting one, in the correct pipe and the right way round I noticed a knocking noise in my engine. I am worried that the oil pressure has fallen and oil is not reaching the little end bearing.

[Derek996]

I have an automatic one fitted to my B32. It's been on for over 3 years with no issues. There is next no oil pressure in a single with roller and ball bearings throughout but they depend on a good flow. Can you see oil returning to the tank in regular spurts?

[limeyrob]

What bike is it?
How large is the hole in the valve you fitted?  Obviously it should match the oil line but assume nothing!
The usual cause is forgetting to turn the valve on, no chance of that is there?

[rhyatt]

There is no pressure feed to the little end , only splash

[Andy Kay]

Unfortunately I have read numerous horror stories regarding automatic anti wet sumping valves on other forums.
Apparently, one dealer stopped selling them!
It's a pain in the arse, but I always remove the oil tank cap after firing up to check the oil return. It's a small price to pay for peace of mind and cheaper than an engine rebuild.

[limeyrob]

I keep a clean lidded jar and drain the sump back into the tank if the bike has been standing more than a few weeks. I understand why people fit valves in the oil feed but I won't do it.  I've had reasonable success getting the oil pumps to seal, a new pump on the A10 reduced the flow from about 1/2 jam jar in a couple of days to the same in a month.
The issue for me is the inherent risk in fitting a shut off valve in an oil feed line. Its almost never done in industry if one has to be fitted it would be padlocked open with 2 keys and an isolation permit required to close it.  Fitting something like that to my bike that I can just shut off makes me too uncomfortable.  I know you can get "automatic" ones that are interlocked to the ignition, but as someone who used to investigate oil refinery accidents, all most interlocks do is add another failure mode.
To go back to the OP's question: the fitting of the valve may reduce wet sumping but at the cost of introducing another doubt and uncertainty about the oil flow that was not there before.  Is the new noise related to the new oil shut off valve? Who knows?

[scifi]

I hope you fitted the valve the right way around..?

[Gibbs]

I'm new to bikes that wet sump, I now have 2. A 42 Harley and a 47 BSA. I never drain the Harley even after long spells in the garage, I drain the BSA if I haven't ridden it for a week. The other day I rode the BSA without draining the sump and it all seemed to go well. What risk am I taking by not draining a wet sump?
Rob

[V500]

It's not about "not draining a wet sump" but more about draining a sump where the oil has drained down through standing. Not all do. My A7 and Goldie stood from last November to this March and neither filled their sump. It's the luck of the draw with 70 year old engines.
If the sump has filled and you start the engine you'll create a smokescreen and an oily garage floor...

[Gibbs]

Thank you, maybe I don't have a problem  after all!

[limeyrob]

I've had many BSAs over the years and some wet sumped and some never did.  My current A10 which had a serious wet sump issue has been virtually cured by fitting a new oil pump.  In my case I believe the oil path was from the tank around the worn pump gears and out along the pump drive into the timing case, it wasn't passing the anti-wet sup ball valve in the crank case.  Obviously the pump set up on the singles is different.  Even at its worst the problem was cured by running the engine once a week.

[Tigerfeet]

I used to drain the sump of my A50 before every use. But then I read someone saying that they used a simple rule - if the oil was still showing on the dip stick, ride the bike and the scavenge pump will do its job. And if the oil level has drained to below the level of the dipstick, drain the sump and top up. This has worked fine for me for the past five years.

[limeyrob]

Me too, I take a look and make a guess on how much oil has drained.  Most times after anything up to 2 weeks running the engine is enough.

[cdsdorset]

Do all of you park with your engine at TDC?

[limeyrob]

No, mine stops where it stops.