/5 oil flow issue

Sun Jul 4 14:31:05 EDT 2021

Afternoon Craig,

Congratulations on getting the problem resolved. I liked the way you documented your progress. The advice that is provided on this forum is excellent. Definitely pays to be an Airhead.

Cheers Chris

From: Craig Barnhart [mailto:barney12231963 at gmail.com] 
Sent: Sunday, July 04, 2021 6:36 AM
To: PA Airheads; mdairheads at casano.com
Subject: Re: /5 oil flow issue

Hello,

This is the last update on my /5 oil flow issue. 

Oil pump spinning on camshaft: https://youtu.be/AvWdLQlvCMQ

Woodruff key missing: https://photos.app.goo.gl/3n8tM8BgbXNPiAVTA

Woodruff key replacement with Elmer's glue: https://photos.app.goo.gl/ZnM9uZQssCahuDWNA

Oil pump prime and test: https://youtu.be/bs2eNaaPEuU

Thank you everyone.

Craig

On Sat, Jun 19, 2021 at 10:10 AM Craig Barnhart <barney12231963 at gmail.com> wrote:

Take Two: https://youtu.be/0OiJpaVJyH0

No Joy.

Note: I forgot to remove (and ground) the spark plugs this time but I had the green coil wire off. The battery was strong enough for the test anyway.

It's on YouTube this time so feel free to comment there if you like.

On Fri, Jun 18, 2021 at 4:42 PM Tom Cutter <rubberchickenracing at gmail.com> wrote:

oops, I made a typo! SHOULD SAY " If no joy, you know the pump is NOT working"

--
Tom Cutter
Yardley, PA
www.RubberChickenRacingGarage.com

"Normalize telling your friends that you love them. Tell them a lot. Make it weird." --unk

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On Fri, Jun 18, 2021 at 4:00 PM Tom Cutter <rubberchickenracing at gmail.com> wrote:

I’d put it on the centerstand with a 1/2” shim under the right hand leg of the stand. Hold a pan under the filter cavity, because this test gets messy if everything is working. If no joy, you know the pump is t working, probably because the tiny key slipped out. I glue the key in with Elmer’s glue so it doesn’t fall. The glue dissolves in the hot oil and is harmless. 

Tom Cutter

Rubber Chicken Racing Garage 

Yardley, PA USA 

RubberChickenRacingGarage.com

On Jun 18, 2021, at 3:19 PM, Craig Barnhart <barney12231963 at gmail.com> wrote:

I just got some feedback.

Someone said I leaned the bike over too much for the pickup to get oil to the pump.

If so, should I just put the bike on the side stand and do it again?

On Fri, Jun 18, 2021 at 2:52 PM Craig Barnhart <barney12231963 at gmail.com> wrote:

Looks like I'll be disassembling from the rear to get to the oil pump.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/STcPCtZkrEEWXM9G6

You can ignore my unedited speech bloopers at the end.

Craig

On Wed, Jun 16, 2021 at 12:39 PM Craig Barnhart <barney12231963 at gmail.com> wrote:

Thank you sir!

That's exactly what I wanted, a direction to go.

Maybe I'll take a video to determine what "A LOT" means.

On Wed, Jun 16, 2021 at 11:45 AM Tom Cutter <rubberchickenracing at gmail.com> wrote:

Craig-

I use a system called Divide and Conquer. In this case this means look at the system in parts. To do this first remove the oil filter cover (bike laid partly over to left) and see if it is full of oil. A tap on the starter (plugs out/grounded) will tell you if the oil pump is working. If you don't get a LOT of oil coming out of the pump cavity very fast, (this will be messy) then the pump is the problem. On a /5 that means the woodruff key slipped, so you know where you have to go to fix that. VERY common fault with the /5 which uses that tiny key. 

Check that, report back. 

--
Tom Cutter
Yardley, PA
www.RubberChickenRacingGarage.com

"Normalize telling your friends that you love them. Tell them a lot. Make it weird." --unk

On Wed, Jun 16, 2021 at 11:35 AM Craig Barnhart <barney12231963 at gmail.com> wrote:

Greetings Airheads,

I have an oil flow issue on my newly assembled 1972 R50/5 project bike, and I'm scratching my head trying to determine the next steps.

This is the first time I ever attempted to start the bike, and I am not getting oil from the sump to the cylinder heads, and only a residual amount to the oil sensor (oil pressure light stays on).

Background:

As part of this three-year (part time) project, I replaced all seals including the fuel pump's o-ring and cover, the woodruff key, and visually inspected (no measurements) the fuel pump. I also replaced the pickup gasket.

What I've done since the issue, not necessarily in this order:

1.	Read thru this thread: https://advrider.com/f/threads/airhead-oil-priming-problem-ha.746898/. The Bill Harris, Dec 5, 2011 entry is the best summary on the page.
2.	Studied Snowbum's diagram and notes: https://bmwmotorcycletech.info/oilsketch.htm
3.	Tested the oil sensor switch.
4.	Filled the oil filter cavity with oil to prime it (laid the bike on its side to fill--learned this trick from Tom Cutter).
5.	Hand pumped (as best I could) oil into the oil sensor hole to prime it.
6.	Visually checked the pickup, bolts, and gasket 
7.	Blew air (with an air compressor) into the pickup and felt air coming out of the right cylinder.
8.	Blew air into the oil sensor hole.
9.	Blew air into oil filter cavity holes.

Outcomes after turning over the engine (spark plugs out; green coil wire off) for 90 seconds at a time:

1.	I got a tiny bit of oil into the left head (right side of the left head) at one point of the process.
2.	Oil is coming into the oil filter cavity.
3.	There is residual oil in the oil sensor hole (seeps out when sensor is removed), but it doesn't flow out when turning over.

AFAIK this is what is left to check:

1.	Oil pump - Visually inspect again and take measurements this time (remove flywheel, etc.)
2.	Oil pressure relief valve - Make sure it's not stuck open (remove timing cover)
3.	Ensure front main bearing cap oil passage hole lines up with engine block hole - Not sure if I can do this visually without removing the main bearing or cap  (remove timing cover)
4.	Something clogged in the system - I don't know how to check this other than blowing air through it.

Questions:

1.	Can I narrow it down to one area before disassembling the rear and/or front end?
2.	Is there any way to test the system after disassembling besides a visual inspection and measurements?
3.	I can tow the bike to Chris' tech day if anyone thinks it would help to see it in person. Does anyone think it would be helpful to bring it?

Thank you!

Craig

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