Triumphrat

rmak · 09-12-2009, 04:53 PM

When I bought my bike a few months ago the original owner says that the bike will sump a little oil and that's typical. I've drained the crankcase twice since owning the bike and get about 1/4" in the bottom of a coffee can. I've taken the bike out about 2-3 times a week (the times it was running) so it hasn't just sat.

Do all 78 Triumphs wet sump?
If so, is the amount I get OK or too much?
If too much, is there a fix? I believe I've been reading in the manual that there is a valve in the oil pump that's supposed to take care of that.

Thanks

rambo · 09-12-2009, 05:17 PM

they are not supposed to wet sump at all.the pump balls are not seating very well.it is normal for a small amount of oil to be in the crank case.about an egg cup full

rmak · 09-12-2009, 05:37 PM

Thanks, Rambo
I never got into the pump yet. Is there a way to seat the ball valves or should I look at a new pump?

rambo · 09-12-2009, 05:47 PM

never had to seal one but it appears that you have to strike the balls into their housing which forms a new seal in the casting.its a 4 valve pump on a t140.i have a 4 valve fitted to my t120.been untouched for 25,000 miles now.just be aware,that,if you only get an egg cup full out of the cases,there is nothing wrong.wet sumping is when you get the cases really full ! if it does have an excessive amount leaking by,a lot of smoke will be apparent while the scavenge side tries to pump it all back to the frame.the scavenge side pumps more than the feed so always wins

jimballard · 09-12-2009, 08:16 PM

More years ago than I care to remember, a Triumph mechanic told me to always pour about 200cc of oil into the crankcase when doing an oil change, if I drained the crankcase, through the timing plug hole behind the cylinder block. This was to "prime" the return side of the oil pump. If you're only getting 1/4" of oil from the sump, I think I'd leave well enough alone and consider it a "prime". There has to be some oil in there and some has probably dripped down from the upper part of the engine when the bike isn't being used.

That's just the "village idiot's" take on it: Jim

RetroRod · 09-13-2009, 06:08 AM

rmak,

I'd support the "village idiot's" take on this. RR

Plewsy · 09-13-2009, 09:06 AM

Hi rmak,

I'm with RR and JB, it's ok, you will always have oil in the crankcase about 1/4 of a pint,
the motor needs this oil for initial starting, also the scavenge pipe does not reach the very bottom of cases.
Wet sumping would be half a crankcase full maybe 2-3 pints and an empty oil tank.

daveforty · 09-13-2009, 09:36 AM

Concur with previous posts (it's not a Norton!!!!)

rmak · 09-13-2009, 10:23 AM

Thanks guys. So is it wrong to drain it? I'm asking because I have topped off the oil a few times and I wouldn't want too much oil in the system.

daveforty · 09-13-2009, 10:36 AM

The scavenge side of the oil pump is much larger than the feed, so it has plenty of capacity to return oil to the frame. If the oil level in the frame drops when the engine hasnt been run, e.g. a few days of non use, then it would be worth investigating otherwise I'd leave it. Probably worse to drain the crankcase, if there is no oil in there, then there is none to scavenge and thus no oil being circulated to the valve gear and down the oushrod tubes to the cam followers etc.