Oil Pressure???

[Roaddawg]

Yesterday bike was running fine, stopped at my destination and suddenly the oil light comes on and the bike starts making this loud "ticking" sound from the front cylinder.

Shut the bike off, check the oil level and all is normal. Start the bike up, the ticking sound is there for a few seconds, then all is good. Ride home without a problem (70-75 mph for 50 miles), no oil light, no unusual sounds.

Get home and as soon as it goes to idle, oil light on, ticking sound returns.

Just changed all the fluids, oil included less than 2,000 miles ago.

Any ideas?

[scubaman15]

If it was me I would change oil and filter ..the older dogs have lower oil pressure then the newest ones ."change in oil pump design " What oil are you running ? Also check idle could be low ? .... How many miles on this 05 ?

[Mickeetwo]

Sounds like its low of oil. Do you have a oil dip stick or is your 05 like the 06 K9's that you just look down into the oil tank? Sounds like your low of oil and the lifters are loosing there prime. On the 06 K9s you just look down into the oil tank and the manual states that if oil is at the bottom of the tube your good. The only problem is that the tube has a bend in it were it goes into the oil tank and you'll have residual oil setting in the bend. Makes it look like you've got plenty of oil. If you don't have a dip stick add some oil.

[Big B]

Mine used to do this at an idle. I turned the idle up a hair and has not happened since. I am not sure iif mine has an oil light, but all of the tach lights would start blinking. The dealer told me what caused it and what to do.

[TheDeadOne]

Dawg,
Check check your "Tappet Oil Filter Screen". Needs to be cleaned every oil change.

[Mickeetwo]

Originally Posted by TheDeadOne

Dawg,
Check check your "Tappet Oil Filter Screen". Needs to be cleaned every oil change.

Good call Dead forgot about that

[Raywood]

Originally Posted by TheDeadOne

Dawg,
Check check your "Tappet Oil Filter Screen". Needs to be cleaned every oil change.

You beat me to it. I would clean this screen and it will probably end your problems.

As for the oil pump all 05's and above have the Hi-output pump from S&S.

[N8KAM]

Originally Posted by TheDeadOne

Dawg,
Check check your "Tappet Oil Filter Screen". Needs to be cleaned every oil change.

Exactly what i was going to advise.... Good call.

[07bigdog]

I had the same problem with my 07 K9. The oil light would come on at idle only after i had about 2700 miles on the engine. Your idle should be set at about 1100 rpm. I also switched to using Lucas 50 WT motorcycle oil. No more problems. If you want to run the 20w50 oil, you can run an oil cooler. This should help prevent the oil light from coming on. The light trips on when the oil pressure gets below 4 psi.

[Roaddawg]

Well, this was the first time in about 25K miles that the oil light has ever come on. The idle has been consistent at or just above 1K. I do have the oil tank where you just look down, which is what I did. There is no dipstick. The oil was recently changed when I brought the bike in for service. When they replaced my starter, they also did a 5K lube, oil and filter.

I will reference the tappet screen in the how-to section and respond back. Thanks for the responses and good advice

[Mickeetwo]

The tappet screen is easy. Just remove it and remember which way the spring goes and use some break clean to clean it and install. If this does not do it, I would add some oil. They may have not put enough back in on the oil change or your bike is using some. Its easy to tell how much you have in the oil tank. The oil should be about a 1/4 to 1/2 inch from the bottom of the bend in the tube going to the tank. Bigdog now makes a dipstick for the K9's. May be the same for the choppers. Here's a pic

[Roaddawg]

Okay got home today after work and made the following discoveries;

1. obvious oil leak under bike. A small, but substantial leak leaving oil on the floor about 5 inches long and three inches wide. Not the nickel size when the starter O-ring went.

2. really dirty, cruddy undercarriage.

3. Checked oil level and it still looked good.

4. Pulled tappet screen (looked good) cleaned off and replaced

5. Brought bike outside and washed under frame, engine area to try to find leak. At first I figured the new starter must have really let go. Once it was cleaned off (Okay fairly clean), I could see a good drop of oil every thirty seconds or so.

6. Jacked bike up and found the following;

a. Oil was leaking from the stainless oil line itself. Even though I could not see a puncture, it was dripping from the same place.



Here is a close up pic



If I wiped the oil line, oil would quickly appear in the same spot. Consistent drip for this spot.

The oil line went from the bottom of the oil tank



to the top of the area on the right side behind where the cam cover is (right side, lower)



Here is a closeup of where it goes;



So, tomorrow I will contact the dealer and see if they have a replacement line.

Would this be sufficient to cause a loss of pressure at idle, but have enough pressure at higher rpm?

Thanks in advance for any responses.

[Eric]

that should be the oil feed line from the oil tank, I guess if it were to get air in the line it would affect the oil pressure

[N8KAM]

Wow that was a great post..... Nice pic's and descriptions... Nice job...
Will this cause the light to come on????? Not sure.... How hot was the bike.. and are you running any oil coolers...? K&P oil filter/cooler looks and preforms great.... If you don't have one contact MadDog (forum member)
I had mine come on when at an idle last year but i was in traffic at the Woodward Cruise... (HOT)... Never again on a bike..... now with the filter/cooler and synthetic oil... No problems...
And i got caught in traffic last Tuesday going to Tony Packo's for lunch Rollover accident on I-75, HOT day and bike never got too hot....

[Roaddawg]

No oil cooler, didn't think one would be necessary in MN. But if it increases the oil pressure, maybe it is a good idea. When the light came on it was after a 50 mile cruise at about a constant 80-85 mph. While cruising at those speeds, no light, no unusual noise. The oil indicator came on when I got off the highway and stopped at a light, then upon arrival home.