oil pump problem

[flhpolice]

after rebuilding my 94 Flss engine with stock parts (new rings, gaskets, bearings etc.)  lubrication system does not work. idiot lamp stays on, alot of noise from heads. normal without oil. oil lines ok. the pump has new gaskets and small parts were replaced with james parts. just doesn't pump oil. i fired the engine  a few times for app. 1 min. each time.still nothing. idiot lamp on. I'm afraid to fire it up again couse without oil in engine, you know, after all this money time and job... just don't know what to do. this was my first such a big engine job. i wonder what i screwed up. the question is: what is the common mistake with oil pump assembly and what can i do with oil system when engine in frame. also I'm not sure for how long time engine must idle to start pumping oil? 
thanks alot , g.

[Billy]

It shouldn't take a minute much less a few. The woodruff key for the oil pump drive gear didn't fall out when you were putting it together did it? I think I would look there first.

[JBarrettB]

Your problem may be a simple as a lack of a good prime. Did you pour any oil into the cam case before setting the lifter blocks? I'd try removing the tappet screen plug and pour oil into the hole while rotating the engine by hand, 5th gear no spark plugs, using the rear wheel. Once you have gotten some oil into the pump, use the starter to turn the engine, spark plugs still removed. Do this in short intervals and watch the lamp. Be careful not to overheat the starter. When/if the lamp goes out, replace the plugs and fire the engine. It may take a minute or more for the lifters to quiet down. This is where assembly lube pays off in spades. Good luck.
Oh, sense you have had the engine running already, re-oil the rings through the plug holes, just a precaution.

JB

[JohnS_Rosamond]

It's possible that the oil pump simply did not prime and therefore is not pumping.  However, since the oil tank in the older bikes is above the level of the oil pump, lack of prime is maybe not your problem.  You can take off the cap on the oil pump (where the check ball lives), lift out the check ball spring, and see if there's any oil is coming in.  If there is, then prime is not the problem.  Unfortunately the harley oil pump has a bunch of tiny woodruf keys in it and if just one comes out, the pump shaft, or the pump gears may not turn.  If you look down at the check ball and oil is flowing into the pump, then I think you really have to consider that the pump is not turning.  Before you completely dismantle the outside of the pump, it may be easier to look in the cam chest to see if the pump shaft is turning.  Take off the gear cover and then bump the rear wheel (with the trasnmission in 5th) and see if the pump shaft's turning.

[flhpolice]

ok i found the problem. after taking off the cam chest i noticed that i assembled oil pump pinion shaft gear in wrong direction (upside-down). stupid mistake due too much of beer i guess. luckily only the gear is broken. Now i need the part: oil pump pinion shaft gear. Any ideas how to get it quickly and what is factory #? Thanks. g.

[14Frisco]

26354-93

If you need a new t-key it is 11219.

[gryphon]

Are you needing the gear that goes on the oil pump shaft or the one that goes on behind the pinion gear. Frisco gave yuou the correct number for the one on the pinion shaft. If it's the one that goes on the oil pump shaft (26345-73) I happen to have an extra one that has never been installed. Brand new OEM. Let me know if that's the one you need, $25 which includes Priority Mail shipping.

[flhpolice]

i need the one on pinion shaft. # 26 in attached file. LS told me 65$ but luckily one of my mates offered me one much cheapper. Hope he has the right one. Thanks for your help folks. Hope that lifters, pushrods and everthing else is fine.

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