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Buell Forum » Old School Buell » Archive through September 24, 2014 » Oil light on oil light off « Previous Next »

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1250_x1
Posted on Wednesday, September 03, 2014 - 05:02 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Cruising down the road only a few weeks after having my x1 fully serviced and i look down to see my oil light on and the bike starts to sound awful. Quickly pull the clutch kill the bike and coast to the side of the road. Check the oil yea its low, on the lower half of the dipstick. Made a few calls everyone was busy couldn't pick me up or bring me oil. Let the bike cool down for 15-20 minutes, realize I'm close to a gas station and risk it. Started the bike no oil light on and it sounded ok. Topped off the bike with basic oil, rode home less then 5 miles away, changed the oil with Mobil 1 20w50 thought everything would be ok. just got back from work (a 26 mile round trip) and the bike seems to have a bit of a tick. Did I destroy my engine?
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Stev0
Posted on Wednesday, September 03, 2014 - 08:03 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

They're a dry sump, so a low oil level in the tank shouldn't cause you issues... I used to run mine very low so the oil would heat up quickly when I was racing it...


The oil light is connected in the circuit after the oil pump...


What did the "noise" sound like ??
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1250_x1
Posted on Wednesday, September 03, 2014 - 09:09 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

It was like a knocking sound. How low would you run your oil?

And what do you mean by it's connected in the circuit after the oil pump
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Kalali
Posted on Wednesday, September 03, 2014 - 09:17 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

The oil warning light is for low oil pressure not low oil level and you'd have to get really low (level) before you lose oil pressure. Find the source of the noise.
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Kc_zombie
Posted on Wednesday, September 03, 2014 - 09:17 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Bit of a tick? Sounds normal to me, especially if you heard the "tick" with your helmet off.

I am with Stev, on the oil level (unless excessively low). Keep an eye (ear) on it and note the conditions when/or if the light comes on. I recommend doing you own service whenever possible. PM me for a copy of the service manual.

Good luck!
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1250_x1
Posted on Wednesday, September 03, 2014 - 11:56 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Define excessively low, it was pretty bad.
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Stev0
Posted on Wednesday, September 03, 2014 - 08:29 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

The tank would have to run dry and there be no oil in the feed line for the oil light to come on..

This could happen if the oil level was low and the bike had sat for some period and the oil had bled into the sump.

The tank would fill back up once you'd been stunning for a few minutes tho..

This is also the reason you check the level when the bike is warm, or you can overfill.
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Imadog
Posted on Wednesday, September 03, 2014 - 09:11 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Could be loosing oil pressure from oil pump (pinion gear), or restriction in oil lines. I am not sure the best way to verify the oil pressure.
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Two_seasons
Posted on Thursday, September 04, 2014 - 05:58 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Check your oil pump drive gear.

There is a goofy wear pattern on some X1's.

If you need a new drive gear...http://americansportbike.com/newdir/Item/17126
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1250_x1
Posted on Friday, September 05, 2014 - 11:33 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Very curious as to where all the oil went! Just had it serviced by a very reputable shop and a former Buell owner. Currently having a compression check done to see where the oil could be leaking from.
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Buellistic
Posted on Friday, September 05, 2014 - 12:01 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

OIL SYSTEM Class 101, just PM me of a copy ...
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Cyclonecharlie
Posted on Friday, September 05, 2014 - 12:11 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Maybe they forgot to put fresh oil back in. Never take anything for granted.
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Buellistic
Posted on Friday, September 05, 2014 - 02:36 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

It is surprising the tech's that work on BUELLs and do not have a clue on the oil system !!!
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Rocket_in_uk
Posted on Saturday, September 06, 2014 - 07:03 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

To add to the above, the tick you heard might be a follower lacking oil since it ran low. If it is more of a knock worse case scenario you might have damaged the crank pin/bearing/rod assembly (big end). You could certainly lose oil pressure from wear here. Depending on how much or little wear, when the oil is cold and thicker than when hot, this could explain what appears to be oil pressure enough to out the light but once hot the oil thins enough the wear in the crank is great enough the thinner oil won't keep the pressure up as it passes through the assembly (so leaks out of the worn area).

Where did your oil go?

If you have engine wear, particularly in the cylinder piston area which could occur anytime for many reasons (high miles one of them, hard use another) thus not be detected at service, this is potential enough to burn oil. If the wear is not particularly bad the engine seems to run ok, it still could be worn enough to burn oil. More so on a run with sustained RPM's.

A compression test might be helpful but I'd rather place my faith in a leakdown test if it were my engine.

At best all you can do now is inspect, test etc, refresh oil and filter, then run if nothing is obvious. If the problem persists you need to dig deeper and soon to avoid a potential catastrophe.

You might also want to drain the oil in there now into a clean bowl and inspect it for debris. Likewise you can cut the oil filter open and inspect the paper element to see what if any debris has collected in the folds. Sounds scary but it's all knowledge and a step toward preventative maintenance all the same.


Rocket in England
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Buellistic
Posted on Saturday, September 06, 2014 - 09:48 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

One of the THINGS that are not understood about the OIL SYSTEM is the RETURN OIL LINE goes directly to the OIL TANK and not the OIL FILTER !!!

"SO" any METAL from the engine goes directly to the OIL TANK and what does not continue to FLOAT in the OIL settles to the BOTTOM of the OIL TANK before it ever gets to the OIL FILTER !!!

One of my PRODUCT IMPROVEMENTS was to install a RETURN OIL LINE to the OIL TANK with a OIL FILTER before the OIL TANK to get any METAL "FIRST" !!!

For RACERS, that means any METAL only goes thru the OIL PUMP on the RETURN SIDE of the OIL PUMP which works out to a 50% cut in OIL PUMP "DRAG" !!!
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Essmjay
Posted on Saturday, September 06, 2014 - 12:45 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

and check the oil level in the primary..... it will hold quite a bit of oil that gets past the crank seal, before it starts coming out the vent.
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Rocket_in_uk
Posted on Thursday, September 11, 2014 - 05:49 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Found this in relation to a similar topic.

Note the valve seat issue.

http://www.v-twinforum.com/forums/sportster-buell- engine-mods/153996-no-oil-top-end.html

Have you progressed any?


Rocket in England
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