Uthud
Member
1997 FLHTCU 150,000 mi +/- original owner
Always something.
After much tinkering, I finally got the cruise control fixed ( separate post).
So, we are running down the road feeling fine, and I notice the oil pressure is much lower than usual. I also saw that the volt gauge registered low. Bike continued to run fine and sound fine on the way home.
The short story is that I have an appointment to have the timing chest checked and repaired. The long story follows, if you’re interested. The moral of the story is that you should replace your lifters on an evo more often than you think it is necessary.
Checked pressure relief valve. Tried (unsuccessfully) to remove screw plug to inspect tappet screen filter. Changed oil and filter- HD 20W-50 and OEM filter (as always).
Oil pressure still ran lower than normal, especially when normal operation temperature was reached.
Read some things and saw some YouTube videos saying HD changed their oil formula and their filter media? So, I changed the filter for aftermarket one- no joy. But before I dumped the freshly changed oil, I wondered if my gauge was just wrong.
Since the wiring diagram shows both the oil pressure gauge and the volts gauge involved a black wire and an orange wire, and both gauges began behaving strangely, I started looking at electrical. I used my digital multimeter to see that the charging system was ok, got the ground system cleaned and checked, moved on to power side. I replaced the main breaker just because, tracked the voltage drop problem to the relay in the fairing. I replaced the relay and socket with a nicer weather-resistant one that I found on Amazon. That fixed the volt meter, and improved the oil pressure gauge, but didn’t restore it “normal”.
I removed the oil pressure sensor to connect an oil pressure test gauge. There was a small shard of metal in the orifice. Uht-O. Installed tester, started engine, got around 55 psi. Let it run a while and pressure started dropping. Still no lifter noise. Idled down to around 700 rpm still making around 8 psi. On my test gauge. So, I’m starting to think that the dash gauge is wrong, or maybe the sensor. I was able to push a button on the test gauge to allow some oil to run out into my (clean) catch pan. Still thinking about that metal shard.
Sure enough, more small wiry shards in that oil. Shut her down and made appointment with the man.
FWIW, the lifters have around 75K miles; the cam has around 135K, other related parts have around 150K miles. Hopefully, I dodged a bullet and stopped before too much bad happened. I guess we’ll find out when the man opens up the cam chest.
Always something.
After much tinkering, I finally got the cruise control fixed ( separate post).
So, we are running down the road feeling fine, and I notice the oil pressure is much lower than usual. I also saw that the volt gauge registered low. Bike continued to run fine and sound fine on the way home.
The short story is that I have an appointment to have the timing chest checked and repaired. The long story follows, if you’re interested. The moral of the story is that you should replace your lifters on an evo more often than you think it is necessary.
Checked pressure relief valve. Tried (unsuccessfully) to remove screw plug to inspect tappet screen filter. Changed oil and filter- HD 20W-50 and OEM filter (as always).
Oil pressure still ran lower than normal, especially when normal operation temperature was reached.
Read some things and saw some YouTube videos saying HD changed their oil formula and their filter media? So, I changed the filter for aftermarket one- no joy. But before I dumped the freshly changed oil, I wondered if my gauge was just wrong.
Since the wiring diagram shows both the oil pressure gauge and the volts gauge involved a black wire and an orange wire, and both gauges began behaving strangely, I started looking at electrical. I used my digital multimeter to see that the charging system was ok, got the ground system cleaned and checked, moved on to power side. I replaced the main breaker just because, tracked the voltage drop problem to the relay in the fairing. I replaced the relay and socket with a nicer weather-resistant one that I found on Amazon. That fixed the volt meter, and improved the oil pressure gauge, but didn’t restore it “normal”.
I removed the oil pressure sensor to connect an oil pressure test gauge. There was a small shard of metal in the orifice. Uht-O. Installed tester, started engine, got around 55 psi. Let it run a while and pressure started dropping. Still no lifter noise. Idled down to around 700 rpm still making around 8 psi. On my test gauge. So, I’m starting to think that the dash gauge is wrong, or maybe the sensor. I was able to push a button on the test gauge to allow some oil to run out into my (clean) catch pan. Still thinking about that metal shard.
Sure enough, more small wiry shards in that oil. Shut her down and made appointment with the man.
FWIW, the lifters have around 75K miles; the cam has around 135K, other related parts have around 150K miles. Hopefully, I dodged a bullet and stopped before too much bad happened. I guess we’ll find out when the man opens up the cam chest.