front cylinder sounds like its running dry

[se2 deuce]

have a 1991 softail with a system 95 from head quarters in it . the front cylinder started squeeking a little and ticking , when i took the oil dipstick out of the pot to see if oil was cerculating the noise went away almost right away . later when i was driving ,it started again so i took the dip stick out again and it got quieter . i changed the relief spring reset the valves changed the breather filter and it still ticks sometimes louder then others and then goes away or almost all the way when i take the dipstick out , any ideas oh ya when i took the dipstick out oul shot out so the oil is moving

[Dan89FLSTC]

Could be a lifter getting lazy...If you were not getting oil to the lifters you would not hear a little ticking, you would hear a loud clatter.

[TheNowhereman]

You need to stop thinking with your dipstick..
Oil caps have no impact on valve train noise.
Intermittent ticking can only be one thing, a pain in the ass lifter.
Or maybe a slightly bent pushrod.
Change oil weights to see if that eliminated the tick.
Is it ticking when its warmed up, cold?

[se2 deuce]

removing the dipstick shouldn't effect anything but it does because i have tried it a few times when it is really clacking and the noise goes away when i pull the dipstick out . have built many bike and worked on hundreds so i am pretty sure i know what i'm talking about .was wondering if anybody ran into this before because i haven't . could oil pump be getting weak and when i take dipstick out it takes presure away from the pump allowing it to flow better . if it was a faulty lifter would the noise go away when i take the stick out i wouldn't think so but not sure . the first time this happened, everytime i started the bike it was clacking and a little sqeeking would be there i let it run for a few min each time and the noise was there when i pulled the dipstick to check oil right away the noise went away and each time it makes the noise and i remove dipstick i get the same results . not sure why hoping someone could shed some light on this problem . and it clacks when its warm sometimes and when its cold . had top of rocker box's off everything looks good except top of front intake valve stem had sharp edges on it the rest looked good rods were straight