Hi all,
Ive have an issue with this engine getting noisy top end and at lifters once hot .
The oil pressure from cold is 20psi ( which seems low as it should be nearer 40psi ) but drops to zero unless revved hard once hot. It’s a new engine max 100 miles on it .
( 20 miles or after being warmed up for 15 mins then ridden 5 miles.
These engines have evo crank and external oil feeds to the STD heads. Lifter are like evo ones ( hydraulic)
oil filter is on a fitting which replaces the generator. ( checked filter isn’t the wrong type) and return to oil tank which seems good when running.
I’ve had the pump off and refitted , checked screen filter in case and even stretched the pressure spring after checking piston . Blew air ( manually ) up external feeds to head and heard it in rockers..
Any ideas or best of all a reason which I can fix.
Vulcan Engineering are impossible to get an answer from
Hi all,
Ive have an issue with this engine getting noisy top end and at lifters once hot .
The oil pressure from cold is 20psi ( which seems low as it should be nearer 40psi ) but drops to zero unless revved hard once hot. It’s a new engine max 100 miles on it .
( 20 miles or after being warmed up for 15 mins then ridden 5 miles.
These engines have evo crank and external oil feeds to the STD heads. Lifter are like evo ones ( hydraulic)
oil filter is on a fitting which replaces the generator. ( checked filter isn’t the wrong type) and return to oil tank which seems good when running.
I’ve had the pump off and refitted , checked screen filter in case and even stretched the pressure spring after checking piston . Blew air ( manually ) up external feeds to head and heard it in rockers..
Any ideas or best of all a reason which I can fix.
Vulcan Engineering are impossible to get an answer from
Sorry to hear this & I'm going to be no help at all really, but I too wanted buy one of these motors from Vulcan, but they just never replied to any of my emails when I enquired. In fairness S&S have never replied to any of my enquiries either.
It's really sad that these days of the internet & bearing in mind how easy it should be to reply to emails that companies just can't be bothered to reply, even just to say "yes, we've received your enquiry & we'll get back to you".
Normally I'd say take the motor back to the supplier or go vist them, but considering the distance involved here that's not an easy option.
I hope you do get you issue resolved, but by the sounnds of it & going off your description of your problem, it doesn't sound like an easy/quick fix.
What ignition are you running, not a G5 Morris magneto by any chance ?
These units have a spring mechanism in them that triggers to give a big spark at low revs & they make the engine sound very tappety, if that makes sense.
I have a S&S 93" Panhead with a G5 Morris fitted so I know what I mean !!
Also, what are you using to show the oil pressure, is it just a "normal" oil pressure switch or one of those small oil pressure gauges you can fit to these type engines ?
Hi Cat,
Thanks for replying , I wasn’t sure anyone could understand my accent by the lack of response 😂
to answer your questions
mag is as supplied by Vulcan
oil pressure gauge is there own , but replaced with oil pressure switch under advise from others.
im wondering if the oil way from pressure side is slightly over sized so when hot the oil flows to crack mainly rather than push to lifter blocks and rockers?
clutching at straws as I have no idea what Vulcan have done. Couple of mates over here have same engine and not had this with there’s..
frustrating is no where near where I’m at with it or Vulcan Engineering/ motorway
I have both an oil pressure switch & a small pressure gauge on my engine. Is it worth swoping out both your existing parts with replacements just to be sure one of them is not faulty.
If you just have a pressure switch currently, does the low oil pressure light come on ?
What oil pump is on your engine, is it a S&S one ? Could you swop out the oil pump.
Obviously you don't want to be running the motor any more than you have to until you know for sure what the problem is.
I was considering that but it’s the very obvious noise once hot.
The light, like gauge shows low pressure once hot .
oil pump is Vulcan’s own version, again this is what’s so frustrating about their lack of response to requests for help.
beautiful engine which looks so well engineered let down with shite customer service.
Mate in Scotland waited 2 years for engines he ordered and had paid for.
They finally turned up after he threatened to fly over personally to collect them and get compensation plus expenses.
I was considering that but it’s the very obvious noise once hot.
The light, like gauge shows low pressure once hot .
oil pump is Vulcan’s own version, again this is what’s so frustrating about their lack of response to requests for help.
beautiful engine which looks so well engineered let down with shite customer service.
Mate in Scotland waited 2 years for engines he ordered and had paid for.
They finally turned up after he threatened to fly over personally to collect them and get compensation plus expenses.
I was looking at the Vulcan site the other day after you brought this up and it looked like Motorway Engineering was the builder. I think they had a site of their own, but I might be lying. At least they appear to be separate.
This blurb was on the Vulcan page:
All Engines Blueprinted, Balanced, & Assembled by Motorway Engineering
Thanks Rootin,
I’ve tried contacting them via shop contact order form, emailing the various addresses and even calling them from the UK during their open hours ( phone wasn’t even connected 😳).
It would be great if there’s someone on here that could e
walk in their workshop and ask them direct , but is there any one near their shop on here who be willing?
I’ve emailed them the engine number for reference . The weird thing is the ten tooth oil pump gears rather than 14 or 9. I just wonder if the oil way to crank is too big, so it looses pressure to lifters and rockers as temp increases?
Hi Hillcat,
yeah i saw that, As you can guess, I’ve been trawling through all the sites looking for answers.
on this one it would be great to know where and what size the hole is supposed to be .
Can't comment on aftermarket Pans, but being an owner of several Harley Pans, they were famous for not having much, if any oil pressure. Even after spending 6 grand on a complete rebuild, still no pressure. Found a guy in Daytona that had a jig to redrill right engine case to accept Shovel high volume oil pump. Bike would ride ALL day in 100 degree Florida heat, and hold a steady 40 psi.
So finally talked to Joe Johns.
He suggested restricting feed to heads to increase pressure in system 🤔
pump is 92 up so stock evo is compatible .
Next plan is to put restrictors in head feeds (78thou) or try a evo pump
So finally talked to Joe Johns.
He suggested restricting feed to heads to increase pressure in system 🤔
pump is 92 up so stock evo is compatible .
Next plan is to put restrictors in head feeds (78thou) or try a evo pump
Well today I changed pump back and used 50 weight oil
put a spacer under pressure valve , primed the pump and had return run into a clear bottle to monitor return .
start up pressure 50psi+ Eventually dropped back as before .
ive now moved the return pipes further away from exhaust which helps but still fkin hot so an oil cooler might be best . That or only ridding in snow 😏
what size is the feed hole in the pinion shaft as if they used Jims pinion shaft i think they had a metering jet maybe its not fitted. Edit! just went back and saw the picture off your pinion shaft does it have a side oiler? If so does the cam cover have correct pinion bush
Had a few beers but you will have oil pump drive gear ratio to year 72 5 at pump drive to 25at pinion 73 on speed up oil pump 6 - 24 to 25 percent more if my ole brain is worken maybe a miss match?
yup the return comes from the scavenger side of the pump to the filter then to tank.
both sides of the pump are running the same sized toothed gears (10. Not the standard 14 or the upgraded 9)
flow is ok I did wonder if slightly pressurising tank would help “ push” oil to feed side of pump (pressurised) , but if you have too much it will pop bung out .
this engine has a standard breather to tank from near the pump on timing case and another larger breather from crank case to atmosphere.
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