Symptoms of worn lifter bores.

[rbabos]

So generally speaking, what is acceptable oil pressure?

Ballpark would be 10-15 idle and about 35-38 above with hot oil.
Ron

[Ohio HD]

My experience, when using the HD factory gauge, around 5 to 7 at idle, and around 30 going down the road. Motor completely warmed up.

[egstandard]

My 04 flht has no oil pressure gauge.  Is there a recommended aftermarket set up?

[les]

My 04 flht has no oil pressure gauge.  Is there a recommended aftermarket set up?

I have the Arlen Ness gauge. 

[IronButt70]

My 04 flht has no oil pressure gauge.  Is there a recommended aftermarket set up?

https://harleytechtalk.com/htt/index.php?topic=101659.msg1195647#msg1195647
Post #11 will give you a link to the gauge I use. Mine is mounted in a fairing. Make sure to use something to seal moisture out of the connections. The backlighting on the pointer needle quit working within the warranty period. The company replaced the gauge. Other than that it's worked like a charm for almost 2 years & 30k miles.

[Norton Commando]

My experience, when using the HD factory gauge, around 5 to 7 at idle, and around 30 going down the road. Motor completely warmed up.

Me too except perhaps 30 to 32 at highway speeds.

Jason

[egstandard]

les, where does the Arlen Ness gauge mount? And where is it getting the oil feed from?

[les]

les, where does the Arlen Ness gauge mount? And where is it getting the oil feed from?

It mounts to the two right rear rocker cover bolts on the rear rocker housing.  It has a steel braided line that goes down to the oil pressure sensor.  They give you an inline fitting that you screw into the engine casing.  You screw the line into that fitting and also your oil pressure sensor.  So, to examine your oil pressure, you look down just inside your right thigh.

[IronButt70]

les, where does the Arlen Ness gauge mount? And where is it getting the oil feed from?

It mounts to the two right rear rocker cover bolts on the rear rocker housing.  It has a steel braided line that goes down to the oil pressure sensor.  They give you an inline fitting that you screw into the engine casing.  You screw the line into that fitting and also your oil pressure sensor.  So, to examine your oil pressure, you look down just inside your right thigh.

I've seen those type gauges and would personally never use one. Taking your eyes off the road for even a split second is a very bad idea. JMHO

[PoorUB]

Do yourself a favor. If you are interested in your old pressure. Screw on a temporary guage, run it for a few minutes and varify the oil pressure then remove the guage and just ride it. One less thing to worry about.

[egstandard]

But I'd like to know what it is going down the road
Isn't that a better indicator of a worn lifter bore than at idle?

[Hossamania]

That's what he meant, run it down the road for a few minutes once warm, and call it good.

[Hossamania]

les, where does the Arlen Ness gauge mount? And where is it getting the oil feed from?

If you have a fairing, you could mount a permanent gauge in the dash.
If no dash, there are gauges that mount to your handlebar clamp. Then no need to look down to see the gauge. I have one mounted stock in the dash, I look at it about once or twice a year.

[egstandard]

I do. But I like the temporary idea. Now if it was only 1970 and I could drive down to the local speed shop and pick up a mechanical gauge and fittings.

[Hossamania]

j-p-cycles-oil-pressure-gauge-kit

The cheapest I could quickly find. Many other options.

[egstandard]

Thanks. Think I'll go nose around at O'Reilly and Advance auto. They have a small Hot Rod section.

[egstandard]

I did change over to some Harley dino oil. I mixed 2 quarts of 20w50 with 2 qts. of straight 60. Temps only in the mid to low 80's here yesterday.  But it was nice and quiet. But oil temps never got above 185. Around 200 is where it would get clackey.

[egstandard]

I put a temporary oil pressure gauge on it. It's a kit made by feuling. I got the oil good and hot idling on the lift. I have 8 psi of pressure at 1,000 rpm. It's raining so I can't ride it. But I held it at a steady 3,000 rpm and had 40psi on the gauge. But at 2,500 rpm, right at 28 psi.

[egstandard]

Looks like I'm in the ballpark. Feuling likes to see 7-10 psi. per 1,000 rpm.

[rbabos]

Looks like I'm in the ballpark. Feuling likes to see 7-10 psi. per 1,000 rpm.

Why, it's not a plain bearing engine?
Ron

[Ohio HD]

Maximum oil pressure I see on my 124 at say 6,000 rpm is about 45psi. That's with an S&S three stage and cam plate. The motor doesn't need more than that. Like I mentioned, at cruise about 30psi.

[egstandard]

They said for adequate oiling of the top end. Just relaying what I read somewhere on their site. The page was on lifter bores and oversize lifters for worn bores. Which I don't think I have with this good oil pressure. But something isn't right. Maybe a valve guide or seat. I'm pulling heads tomorrow.

[FXDBI]

Maybe you have a piston oiler stuck open.   Bob

[rbabos]

Maybe you have a piston oiler stuck open.   Bob

The way I see it, that would effect idle pressure big time but past 15psi they are open full time anyway, likely no effect on running oil psi numbers.
Ron

[FXDBI]

Maybe you have a piston oiler stuck open.   Bob

The way I see it, that would effect idle pressure big time but past 15psi they are open full time anyway, likely no effect on running oil psi numbers.
Ron

Well actually it will make the oil pressure act funky. I have a gauge piped in with the sensor 2 years ago while still in a 95in configuration I noticed the oil pressure oil pressure had dropped  at highway speeds and at idle and would fluctuate. Tearing the engine down inspecting it and changing crankshaft and installing a 110 kit I found the front oiler stuck open, and the rear leaking.  New piston oilers with the assembly and its all back to normal.
This is my first hand experience with the piston oilers.  Running the stock pump and cam plate that it come with  15 psi hot idle and 45 going down the road.  Bob