Engine knocks, spits oil, then all back to normal?!

[Lrick1]

2008 xb12s with high flow filter, race ECM and race exhaust, around 16K miles. I recently did an oil change like usual, nothing wrong in the process, new filter and exact quantities of oil used (amsoil 20w50).

Fast forward to 100 miles later (this morning), I start the bike, oil light turns off like it normally does, then back on for 2-3 seconds, then back off. Bike runs fine, rode for a while with a friend for a good hour. At some point we stop, I turn the bike off because I was running out of gas and needed to look for a gas station asap on my phone.

Now, my bike has been having this thing recently where if I turn it back on while it's hot, I'll get a loud bang in the engine case but still haven't found the root of the problem (I actually posted about it here, apparently it's nothing to worry about). So anyway, I turn the bike back on, get the loud BANG, and this time the oil light stays on, with a weird knocking sound coming from the engine which I immediately associated with *no oil running*. I turn it off, check around the bike looking for anything wrong, no oil leak, nothing. Wait a bit, turn it back on, and a chunk of oil spits out of the breather tube that ends in front of the fan, next to the shock, and the knock sound fades out instantly.

The engine is now running smoothly, no more oil light on, no knocking, and rode for another 20 miles without any issues. I'm thinking maybe the oil level was too high, although I religiously check the level frequently...

Should I be worried? What could have happened? Am I better to get the case open and check for damage?
Any opinion is appreciated!

 

[303xb]

delete me please

 

[Lrick1]

how do I do that?

 

[Cosworth]

Lifter gave up the ghost maybe?

 

[ReadyXB]

Sounds like your bike coughed up a hairball.

I haven't heard of your exact issue before, but I can only guess the PCV valve and/or an oil gallery was temporarily clogged. Did the "chunk of oil" have anything in it, or was it just oil?

 

[Lrick1]

Couldn't tell, but it was maybe 1/4 cup of oil, all over the right seat rail, and swingarm.
Anything I should tear down and check just in case?

 

[ReadyXB]

Anything I should tear down and check just in case?

That's really difficult to answer! Just in case... sure. But there would be a LOT of ground to cover. At a minimum, you could remove and inspect the PCV valves (front one will be a pain). Make sure they breathe freely and in only one direction. Any teardown beyond that would be your call, since the engine seems to run smoothly now and no more oil light or knocking.

 

[user_deleted]

the "bang" reminds me of a post-combustion pop out the exhaust when key and run switch turned on simultaneously. not related to oil burp. concur with ready on the rocker box pcv breather assemblies. they are one-way breathers. did someone do a breather re-route on your bike? pinched line?

 

[Lrick1]

No breather reroute but I was going do one. I'll try to check the PCV valve and pinched line at the same time, but it's so tight in there!

 

[Lrick1]

Just realized the oil came out of the case breather (somewhere behind the base of the rear cylinder). There's also some oil around there, similar to a leaking rocker cover, except the rocker itself is fine since the gasket were changed recently.

I had the oil pressure light come on again today for a split second while fighting to find neutral at a stop sign. Now that I think of it, I was having trouble finding neutral when the original problem occured. What's the relation between the gear shift and the oil pressure?

 

[user_deleted]

^^^^ how many problems do you intend to resolve with this single post? suggestions as follows to the 4 you've listed so far:
1-bang when turning on electronics. explained probability in prior post
2-puddle of oil under the bike-explained in prior post. the rear line you described in engine/trans/primary main vent hose. check for pinching/dirt/area burned thru causing line to collapse. it is 3/8th oil line and MUST be installed and routed correctly.
3-vague neutral. check primary fluid level....primary drive chain tension...adjust clutch pack and clutch cable. with these 4 things up to spec and proper shifting technique neutral never vague and shifts as smooth as any jap-bike.
4-oil pressure light illuminates while running: not good. check oil pressure wire to switch for tightness....remove switch and clean port.......check oil level.........last resort have a pro check oil pump drive gear by removing pump and looking in cam cover at driver gear. you have low pressure at low rpm and that is not good.

 

[Lrick1]

Lunatic, i was just trying to list as many details as possible if anyone could see any correlations between hard shifting/neutral and oil pressure since doing research turned up nothing. I'll get the chain tension and clutch adjusted and go from there.

Agreed, the bang has no relation. About that, I heard both the post combustion pop theory as well as a tired battery which causes the solenoid not to engage properly.

 

[user_deleted]

anyone could see any correlations between hard shifting/neutral and oil pressure since doing research turned up nothing.

there is no correlation whatsoever between engine oil pressure and shifting/ neutral engagement difficulties.

 

[WIGGLE2]

As Lunatic mentioned before....I think most of your issues have been covered. My only thoughts are;
The oil came from the case breather hose....NOT the PCV hoses. There may be a good chance someone overfilled the primary, which will (can) cause some shifting issues. (And could also cause it to come from breather hose). The oil pressure light at a stop sign? Drain oil, change filter, and fill with 20/50 for anything above 50 degree temps. Make sure the idle speed is not much less than 950-100 RPM. It should not come on then. IF it does....cross that bridge at that time.