What happens if you start an engine that wet sumped?

W/o a sight tube and knowing how wise to constantly check oil, I find it most efficient to check tank after last shut down. How much is too much ?? How could I forget my 1st Combat seller started it with all 2.5 qt in the sump, so tank dry, so 2 qt added before start up, which it did just fine, till almost a min later as big puddle reached our toes on either side of bike, he told me sheepishly, the oil change was on the house. Maybe that's why I'm imprinted on wet sump starts for ever more, sheeze. Its just a harmless natural Norton characteristic to deal with as you like. Not bad id if oil not above screen to add enough for a few sec to pump before tank refills faster than drained.

Thanks all. I figured it probably didn't hurt anything. She smoked a bit for a second or two and then there was some oil on the left side that hit the exhaust pipe and smoked. It only sat for about a week and a half, so probably not all the oil was down below.

Before I started it the first time when I got the bike I drained and changed the oil and filter. It hadn't run for a number of years and could not believe how much oil came out. I know there was more than 3 quarts in there.

Denny, Well there you are, If in doubt, drain it out :roll: avoids any reported issues,,,blown seals, bent rods etc. Good luck with the racing.
www.lansdowne-engineering.com

Just to be obnoxiously accurate with questionable summary statements by others. You can not put in enough oil to hydro lock, gasoline filled jugs has not relation to wet sump, it hurts nothing to start full wet sump and very rarely bothers the crank seal ** unless** it already had issues even w/o wet sump. Wet sump start may actually help cam/lifter life, though its up in the air how much wet sump required for that. ZADP layer is nano scale thin and wiped off in a very few rotations if not oil surfing and requires oil to reach over boiling against the surfaces to lay down this protection, so might be counter productive to let idle slow any length of time before hot shut off. Pre-Peel got started up to sell to me with 4.5 qt inside, most in the cases and only the floor and owner pride suffered. Heck I bet you'al don't even leave yours outside on camping trips : )

Hobot has it right. Norton owners should check their oil level upon shut down,due to the nature of the beast.

Well I've got a Norton mommy in my buddy Wesley chiding me on about every call to check my oil, which d/t unknown leaks at times has saved my Norton bacon. If its low on return and not planning to use next day or so, I leave seat off and wait till next start to top off so some oil flow to pump on 1st step on cold start.

The Norton will hold 3 quarts when it's completely dry, but when you change the oil, you're lucky to get 2 quarts changed.

And yes, always check the oil after you've started it and it's been running for a few minutes or after a run, like hobot.

DogT said:

The Norton will hold 3 quarts when it's completely dry, but when you change the oil, you're lucky to get 2 quarts changed.

And yes, always check the oil after you've started it and it's been running for a few minutes or after a run, like hobot.

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Let me get this right.....

.....after Hobot has been running for a few minutes, check his oil level? Does he wet sump too? :shock:

Sure hope he doesn't suffer a hydraulic lock.......

Had a 750 with points heavily wet sumped. Massive kickback and oil transferred to primary (so I found out later). I dont find de-sumping the old bike a big chore. Once bitten !!

People and Nortons vary in their state of health and fit. Not everyone can get away with ignoring wet sump but for those than can [most Cdos] its nice to continue ignoring. If much wet sump below freezing conditions it can take 10 min or more to get the jugs warm enough to continue firing against the thick oil till pumped out. Sorry for those not up to snuff on their luck or construction. Past Peel had oil drain-sight tube so just a glance to know oil levels shared between tank and sump plus no tools or mess nor attendance for oil changes.

I lived on Peel night and day for ~1.5 yr '04- '05 though thick and thin with only iced roads putting me off for a time so found out sections of mud are worse than ice or wet sump.

hehe similar dilemma to me as need-use of a torque wrench vs direct objective measuring of desired end result, where it really matters. I think it a bit sad to crazy making to get stirred over such rare and mild side effects of wet starts compared to just rolling off into unknowns in a saddle.

Wet sump is the mostest-fastest on 1st shut offs with hot thin oil in hot increased engine and pump clearances. So similar to commonly running in slight detonation w/o knowing it, if ya is really as disciplined as hobot in past to come to seemingly on 1st reflex, obnoxious habits - you should be draining sump every time ya start or you are breaking discipline you accuse me of w/o even knowing it. We all know ignorance of the laws of physics is no excuse...

Here's Peels 1 glance way to know how much oil lost per outing and how much left the tank into sump before each start. Was a seat knob thread saver too.

my 71 commando would not start when the sump was full of oil. 40 yrs ago when I wasn't a mechanic , I didn't know about wet sumping, so when I crash started it down the hill where I lived, it did start and smoked like hell. If it starts, it won be a problem. if not, drain it. The oil tends to build up in the primary case as well and if you don't drain that, it will self drain through the seal at the back of the clutch. Boy does it make a mess. I have fitted a ball valve on my 850 now to stop having to drain and refill. The 750m has done only about 13,000 miles so it doesn't wet sump unless you leave it for 6-12 months. I tend to start the 750 every week while I cant ride it during the winter. [ cant be bothered getting wet or cleaning the bloody thing.] Both bikes have gleaming alloy.
enjoy

Be alert to some famous builder tales and others that either just turned engine over periodically while stored or would start up and run a few minutes then shut down to find motor ruined by wear next time trying to ride it. If ya pull ya sword it should draw blood and if ya start an engine it should run till full heat or the ZAPP layer does not form nor cook off combustion moisture so corrosive acids form. ZAPP layer wipes right off in few revolutions at slow no oil pressure start ups.