/5 oil flow issue

[Craig Barnhart]

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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