Triumphrat

tkedge1

How long does it take for the oil return to start dripping oil back into the tank, i've ran the bike only for a few minutes during testing, say +/- 5 minutes and the little hole has yet to produce a drop of oil nor has the oil level seemed to have changed at all.

tkedge1

sorry, 1967 T120 engine...

starts up just fine, but i'm not sure what's up with this oil thing, maybe i'm just being overly nervous and not letting it run long enough.

RetroRod

Yep, you may have good cause to worry on this one. You don't say if its a new startup, but it is always advisable to prime these engines with the kickstarter to be sure.

My '72 pumped to the tank using the kick start in about 15 mins, with oil added to the sump. If you have drained the sump, then you will have a delay as the pump intake passes some oil to be scavenged. 5 mins at idle is about 5000 revolutions, and I would guess a good working pump would have gotten oil back to the tank in this time.

The risk here is having those big ends without oil for any time.

If in doubt, pour a little oil into a rocker cover, then get those plugs out and start kicking!!

Others here with more direct experience, might have some advice on this lag between delivery and scavenge. RR

Webby

5 minutes sounds like a very long time. When I rebuilt my engine the oil was squirting out by the time I opened the oil filler cap.
Prime the engine with about 1/4 pint of oil in the crankcase and then kick it over for a good couple of minutes with the ignition off. Then try starting it and see if you're getting any oil.

I hope this helps

Webby

dogtired

Wonder if it is worth just slipping the rubber hose off the outlet where it leaves the engine from the scavenger pump and seeing just what volume is coming out of there?

I know this will sound silly, but when you have the rubber hose off, have a quick blow through it to make sure it is not blocked by something stupid like a paper wasps nest in it. I chased a chainsaw round and round for ages once only to eventually find a wasp nest in the exhaust.

I hope for your sake tkedge1 it is something as simple as this.

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hobbit

Also check the pipes are the right way round.

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Caulky

Dont start the engine without ensuring the scavenge is working.
(too late?)
Do what others said...kickstarter with plugs out, etc.
If its not working, you`ll have to check the oil-pump.

tkedge1

thanks everybody, so I removed the plugs and kicked and kicked etc... I got nothing going inside the oil tank, no burping, no bubbles, nothing... and nothing coming back from that little return hole at the top.

i'll be taking it apart soon to check it out.

it's not a new build, but it might as well be, has been sitting for a long time with no oil in it, so i was expecting it to be a bit till oil came out, but really 5 minutes of running is plenty...

Snakeoil

Not a good idea, Dog. That hose is also the oil feed to the valve train.
regards,
Rob

394c

Try priming the engine oilways by removing the pressure relief valve, turn engine over until oil is seen coming out the pressure relief valve hole, refit valve and turn engine over until oil is seen getting back to the tank.