January thaw?

BPHORSEGUY

BPHORSEGUY

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Nov 29, 2013
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Todays temp hit 54 degrees and it had rained for almost 2 days prior so I figured all the salt was gone. I was right, no salt just a little sand on the side of some roads and in a few corners, easily avoided! I hit some of my favorite twisties. The ride was sorely needed as I was getting cabin fever or Spring fever. I was so into the ride that I didn't even notice the chillier temp near the end of the ride.

The Norton performed perfectly in the cool, dry air, it felt so great to get out! Near the end of the ride I thought I noticed the oil lite flash on for a brief second at a stop and sure enough at the next lite which was on a hill I saw the light again! When I checked the oil level I found it near the bottom of the stick, but near the lower line? I added about 100 ml of oil which brought it slightly over the top line and then went for a 5 mile ride with no lite! I checked my records and realized I had not checked the oil for almost 1100 miles, shame on me, won't happen again!
 
You must have a longer dipstick as I have. Never saw the oil lamp and mostly ride with oil level near the bottom end of the stick...
 
Raphi said:
You must have a longer dipstick as I have. Never saw the oil lamp and mostly ride with oil level near the bottom end of the stick...
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I will measure it. I remember there was a whole thread on dipsticks a year or so ago!
 
I have never seen one indicate level as that would be all over the place with acceleration and deceleration, corners etc. So I'm going to go with pressure.
 
Simon, When my bike is stone cold it takes several seconds for the lite to go off after engine start , but it goes off instantly on warm or hot starts. I have always considered this as characteristic of a dry sump engine? How about others does yours do this?
 
I think its less of a temperature thing and more to do with the time the bike has been stood. For example if the bike has been stood for a long enough period of time for it to be cold then it has had enough time for the oil to drain down therefore to build oil pressure back up in the system takes a few seconds of the oil pump scavenging and priming. This is not a fault or a problem.
 
Simon, I think we are saying the same thing but you are saying it better or more completely!

Thank you
 
Doesn't oil like anything else expand when heat is applied thus creating greater pressure when warmed up? I get the occasion millisecond flicker of that and the fuel light. I just learned to live with it. It would take the dealership forever to figure it out. Took the bike out in some dense fog the other day, temps. high 40's. Aside from the digital display still stuck on trip, my head and tail lights were fluctuating from dim to bright to off for part of my ride. Short or varying voltage?
 
Oil pressure is created by the oil pump not heat. As to your lites it could be the voltage regulator or a bad connection or something got wet.
The cages don't see us in good visibility what made you go out in fog?????
 
Britfan60 said:
the digital display still stuck on trip, my head and tail lights were fluctuating from dim to bright to off for part of my ride. Short or varying voltage?
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Curtis,
Intermittent issues with instrument display, taillight and headlights all together, that would seem like a loose connector.
The boys at GC have had your bike apart a few times.
I wonder if they failed to properly seat a connector after your last visit.
 
Could be the main fuse which got loose. This one sits under the tank and should be zip-tied.
 
NortonFactoryUK said:
Fast Eddie said:
Does the oil light indicate low oil level, or low oil pressure?
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Low Oil Pressure
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Thanks for clarifying Simon.

Reason for asking is that low oil level (within reason) is nothing to panic about.

Whereas low oil pressure clearly is something to panic about, well, at least take seriously and deal with urgently !
 
I would suggest that those having concerns about oil pressure should check their oil pressure hot and cold. The type of oil you are using can matter also . It may be just a pressure switch or try a different brand of oil. A lower viscosity oil (still 10w40 grade) , may be harder for the pump to maintain the required amount of oil pressure especially hot , at low rpm !

Service manual reads :

Relief Valve opens : 400 kpa
Pressure : @ 8000 RPM 130 deg. C 10w40 oil 300 kpa
Pressure : @ 1000 RPM 130 deg. C 10w40 oil 150 kpa
 
Tony, That's good to know! I am still using the factory recommended Silkolene 10-40. I just freaked out because I never saw that lite on a ride and I used to check the oil level after every single ride religiously. I now find myself glancing at the gauges a lot when my eyes should be on the road!
 
Silkolene you say...

I used to use that, then one quite hot (by middle England standards that is) track day at Mallory Park on my Harrier (988cc BSA Rocket 3 engine built at great expense) I came in from a session and noticed the oil pressure light flickering on tick over.

I was gutted as this usually means a fully bottom end rebuild is in order on these engines and it really hadn't done many miles since its very expensive rebuild and upgrade.

I checked the switch, but sadly it was fine.

As a last resort, I changed out the Silkolene oil and re-filled with Redline which I had bought to try out in another bike.

The oil light was extinguished for good and the bike went on to serve some very hard use for me and two subsequent owners.

I have since read about Silkolene losing its viscosity quickly on other forums.

I realise it is the recommended oil, but it may well be worth experimenting with something else if you're having similar issues.

All of my old bikes have been on Redline ever since.
 
BPHORSEGUY said:
Oil pressure is created by the oil pump not heat. As to your lites it could be the voltage regulator or a bad connection or something got wet.
The cages don't see us in good visibility what made you go out in fog?????
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Was a little cloudy when I left the house, but high forties temps. I live on Long Island. The fog can roll in quite quickly, especially near the beach. Actually, riding in the fog, things, including myself, get wet. I'll check my connections. Had the headlamp off not to long ago. May have jogged something but everything was nice and bright on the latter part of my trip (and away from the fog) As for the digital display, that's been going on in fine weather even during the summer. The first time that happened, someone on this forum mentioned it could be signs of a weak battery. That was two years ago and right after I picked the bike up from a seven month stay at the dealership off a tender. I put it on the tender, rode the bike, it didn't happen again. Then, the bike stayed at the dealership for another whole winter plus, (another 6 months?) off the tender. So it started to reset and freeze this past summer and happens every trip by now. I'm wondering if my battery has been getting beat up at the dealership and the bike is on its third year. It starts right up, no slow cranking so..........
 
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