Engine back together. Questions about oil flow.

JE4570

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I finally got my engine together last weekend and I may (if I get the time) put it back on the frame this weekend. Before I do, is there a way to check oil flow before I put it back on the frame? I keep spinning it over with a wrench and am not seeing anything in the rocker box. Will I have to put it in the frame and turn it over with the electric start to see oil flow?
 
Good Question. I’m about to pop mine over for the first time and am very concerned about that. My other bikes have a oil light that turns off when oil pressure is achieved. My XS2 has nothing. I’m thinking of pulling the plugs, taking a exhaust valve inspection off and spinning it wit the starter a bit. Maybe even put a oil pressure gauge on it somewhere. If possible. Hopefully the gurus will chime in.
 
No guru here, but I did what I remember reading here somewhere. I never tried to check oil flow until the bike was all back together and ready to start for the first time. Frankly I never even considered it. I just popped a valve cover off and I kicked the bike through about 15-20 times, I wanted to make sure I had all the oil galleys full. I checked the rockers and everything was wet with oil in there, I fired it up and the rest is history. :)
 
On an engine that has been run recently it can take 30 seconds or more for oil to reach the Head.
On an engine that has sat for long so all the oil has grained back into the sump it may take a minute or more.
On a fresh rebuild it may take a bit more.
On your rebuilt engine the oil pump has to pull oil from the sump. Once it reaches the pump it flows out to the oil filter, from the filter to oil galleries across the front of the engine that feed the crank bearing and spray oil on the rod big ends, to galleries to feed oil to the transmission shafts, shift drum and forks. Once all these are filled oil starts to flow up the tube to the head. At the head the oil flows to the rocker arms and sprays on the end of valve stem.
You can add adapters for an oil pressure gauge. A gauge that tops out at 10 or 15 PSI is plenty.
If you do you will find a bit of pressure at idle, 3-5 psi, a bit more at higher rpms 5-10 psi on a cold engine. Once the engine warms up you won't read much pressure at idle. 0-2 psi and very little at higher rpms. Maybe 3 psi.
The open cage ball and roller bearings used in these engine don't allow much pressure to build up. they need a good oil flow . The pump can supply plenty of flow.
If you used plenty of lube when you assembled your engine you don't need to worry much about oil flow on first start up.
You can pull a vale cover off start the engine but be sure to keep a finger on the kill switch. It won't take long to make mess.
If you have your engine mounted in a stand, you can hook up a battery to the starter and crank it over. Start with the side cover oil filter open. Crank till you see oil there. Replace filter cover. Now remove one of the banjo bolts on the top of the head, crank till you see oil there. Replace bolt. Now you know you have oil to the head.
If no starter you can try kicking it over in the stand. It might be easier to wait till the engine is back in the frame.
Leo
 
I managed to get two friends to help and mounted the engine with the bottom bolts and spun it with the kick stand. Loosened the top banjo bolt and got oil flow. At first I got a lot of oil flow into the floor because I forgot my push rod for the clutch. But once I put that back in, I got oil flow up top. Ill go ahead and finish buttoning the rest up and make sure we don’t have any more leaks once it’s running. Thanks Leo.
 
When pulling my XS out of 8 years hibernation, I pulled both spark plugs, removed both exhaust side valve covers, and used the crank handle from my 1/2" socket set, and the appropriate socket (19 or 17 mm ?) Then just got after it until I had oil flow to the head. Took a few minutes.
 
At first I got a lot of oil flow into the floor because I forgot my push rod for the clutch.

Consider yourself lucky. I ruined a perfectly good pair of shoes discovering that feature on the XS. Had the push rod in but made no difference as it came shooting out. It was one of those :wtf: moments. Good news was I knew the pump was working.;)
 
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