Subject: RE: oil pressure
Author: joe jump
Date: May 11, 2005, 6:34 AM
Post ID: 1718846309
Greg,
I would say those oil pressure numbers are excellent, even for a
machine with half the mileage as yours. The thing your engine really
needs is a constant flow of oil to the bearings. The pressure doesn't
float the bearing off the journal; the film strength is what prevents
metal-to-metal contact. A pressure indication proves that you have an
oil supply to the bearing - the oil does the rest.
I installed a pressure gage on my Commando 20k miles ago during
the rebuild (both top & bottom end). I worried terribly when I noticed
the oil pressure would drop from 70 psi at cold idle to under 10 psi
when hot at 4000 rpm, and go close to zero at extended riding above 4500
rpm. This was with straight 50 wt racing Valvoline or 20-50 Castrol -
made no difference. I did everything I could - checked & replaced seals,
orifaced (sp?) the rocker feed banjo bolts, blueprinted the oil pump,
messed with the pressure relief valve; nothing worked. I finally wrote
to the Intl. Norton Owners Assn. tech advisor (Brian Slark) who used to
be a a factory rider. He told me to take off the gage and ride it - they
all did that. In fact, when Norton started producing the twin, they came
with an oil pressure gage mounted in the tank, but they soon removed it
because of all the hand-wringing it caused when owners saw their oil
pressure go to nada. Brian was right - 20K & no problems. Your oil
pressure sounds great!
Joe in St Louis
850T-Powered Ambo
"Junkyard"
Greg Bender wrote:
I successfully installed the oil pressure gauge this evening and went for a 25 minute ride to see what would happen when the oil warmed up fully. |