Oil Pump Issue?? for a XB12R

[biofab138]

Hey guys I've been creeping around the site for over a year now and have really learned a lot from previous posts. The reason Im posting today is because I might be screwed and would love to get some opinions! I have an 07 XB12R that I use as my daily commuter here in South Florida. I put well over 500 miles a week on this bike and absolutely LOVE it! Today on my way to work I stopped at the gas station and when stopping at the pump, the front tire slipped out on some spilled gas and the bike went down on it's right side. Not hard enough to break anything but it did scratch the frame and plastics. After getting back on the road I noticed the oil light come on. Within seconds the bike stated knocking HARD and LOUD and had major loss of power. I quickly limped it to a parking lot where it now sits. There is no external cause of this issue and the bike has never given me any other problem since I've owned it. I checked the the oil level and It was it was high enough to drip out of the opening in the swing arm. The bike has about 20k on it. I'm pretty handy with tools but my knowledge of these machines and proper equipment is lacking. Any advice would be very much appreciated! Also if anyone knows a great mechanic in the state of Florida that knows these bike I would love to get their info! Thanks in advance!

 

[squidbuellie]

Sounds like you have to much oil in... But that's not your main problem... It would be strange for the oil pump to fail from falling over.. But I could see you breaking the front or rear header studs which would make a loud noise and can make you loss power, but not explain the oil light...

Check around the heads also check the oil switch (I front of the motor behind the header)
Try taking a long screwdriver or a small telescoping magnet and stick it in the oil bag and then wipe it on a white paper towel and see if you see brass shavings in the oil.

 

[Chicknstripn]

Check to see if one of your oil return lines are bent. Sounds like oil is traveling from your engine into the swing arm but not back out. Check the lines going to the oil cooler as well. Hell, check all the oil lines. If your bike was fine before the minor tip over something simple has to be a miss in the oil supply/return system.
That's my thoughts without knowing much more about the bike or any previous issues you may or may not have had with it

 

[user_deleted]

great suggestions above. keep in mind that if you have to search out a mechanic in your area, any of them familiar with late model sportster oiling systems will be able to relate to same on your 2007XB. your system consists of the 2.5 quarts of oil...filter which is attached to housing which is the pump which contains driven gear which is driven off driver gear by cam assemblies....line to and from cooler....line to and from tank(swingarm)...and assorted attachment hardware. visually check all of it closely for cracks and crimps and leaks. as mentioned above if your description of your tip-over is accurate the chances of damaging the oiling system are nill. assuming the pressure switch is ok and its illumination coincided with loss of pressure which coincided with engine knock it's possible the system is "air-bound". carefully check all of the above.....drain the oil from swingarm.....visually check it for metallic content....add approx. 2-1/4 quarts of fresh oil (you are not removing the filter hence that quantity)....and with bike upright and oil filler cap unistalled start it. if air-bound this will bleed system @approx. 1200rpm for 20 seconds or so. if it does immediately replace filler cap and continue to run and check system for leaks. if it does not then immediately shut it down and seek help from a pro.

 

[biofab138]

Thanks guys for the suggestions and insight! I have been busy as hell this past week and not been able to investigate further. I know that the bike didn't have too much oil because I do a hot check every week. I've taken a look at everything I can see without removing the plastics and nothing looks touched or out of place. It sure makes a lot of sense that a delivery line is crimped and the return lines are normal leading to the engine being starved and the swing arm over filling. I'm hoping to pull the bike off the back of my truck this week and really try and figure this issue out. I really want to get the buell back on the road because my back up bike is a huge roadstar that sucks in Miami traffic and is too wide for splitting lanes
Thanks again dudes!

 

[biofab138]

Hey guys so the problem is fixed but to no real credit of my own. I stated taking off everything I could to visually inspection for any external damage, (bent lines, cracks, loose connections, etc.) although no issues found. I rechecked the oil tank and it still was filled with all the oil from the engine. I removed the oil fiter to look for metal/bronze shavings and found nothing. Although, the oil filter was full, no oil came from the engine. At that point I figured well ****, there's nothing else for me to do but bring it to a shop. In one last effort I started it up just to hear it again, and like before it sounded horribl so I shut it back off. But, when I ckecked the oil this time it had gone down considerably! So I figured id started it up again to let it run for a few more seconds. Again it sounded horrible but pretty quickly it stated smoothing and the the knocking damped! I kept shutting it off, checking the oil, starting it back up. After just a few minutes it was running like normal and has since! SO HAPPY!

I think what had happened is when the bike went down it was in nutral and continued to run on its right side sending oil back to swing arm but sucking air into the system. Once I propped it back up I shut it off and inspected for damages. Once started and on the road the air reached the engine and oil pump. I believe removing the oil filter may have allowed oil to flow back into the system allowing proper flow to start and pushing the remaining air from the engine and lines.

thanks again for everyone's input and advice! I'm so happy to this bad boy back on the road!

 

[jetlee]

I think what had happened is when the bike went down it was in nutral and continued to run on its right side sending oil back to swing arm but sucking air into the system. Once I propped it back up I shut it off and inspected for damages. Once started and on the road the air reached the engine and oil pump. I believe removing the oil filter may have allowed oil to flow back into the system allowing proper flow to start and pushing the remaining air from the engine and lines.

That's exactly what happened, it's happened to me as well.

My fix was similar, I loosened the bottom cap of the pump to let air out which essentially primes the pump.

 

[Chicknstripn]

That's great that you figured it out!
I have one suggestion. Replace your bank angle sensor. It's the sensor that's suppose to shut your engine down if and when the bike tips over while running.
That should prevent you ever having this issue again.
IF you EVER tip it over again.