Author Topic: Oil pressure sensor keeps failing... (Read 4780 times)

Dimitri13 · « **on:** September 08, 2012, 07:26:29 PM »

Yesterday I was out for a spirited ride as usual, and about halfway through, I felt my rear getting VERY slipper on left corners. I stopped and found the entire left side of my tire, sidewall and tread, was covered in oil.

I took off the sprocket cover to check what was leaking. When I got it off, there was a waterfall of oil. It was like the entire cover was filled with oil. I cleaned up all the oil on and around the pump, and fired it up. It was leaking from the cover plate of the pump (I knew it was), but after about 15 seconds, oil was oozing out of the top of the oil pressure sensor and at the threads where it goes into the pump.

Now, this isn't the first time. I've had two fail already, and this is the third. Two with my first pump, and one with the current pump.

The first sensor was an aftermarket one for an oil gauge, the next was a Honda one, but it was for a Civic or something (which the part # was the same as the 550's), and this one, which I believe is an OEM one that came with my pump.

Is there a certain brand sensor that I need to get? A certain installation procedure?

dave500 · « **Reply #1 on:** September 08, 2012, 11:16:58 PM »

does the cover not foul and damage the sender or something?a little teflon tape on those tapered threads will seal it there.

Dimitri13 · « **Reply #2 on:** September 09, 2012, 12:14:14 AM »

I've cut the inside part of the cover to clear the sensor. I also use teflon tape on the threads.

dave500 · « **Reply #3 on:** September 09, 2012, 12:22:24 AM »

sounds odd?so the leak is from the sender itself,like where the plastic part goes into the metal body?the oil pump o rings are good?those tapered threads really only need to be wound down untill they start getting tighter with thread tape,you havent split the pump body from over doing the tapered thread?

Dimitri13 · « **Reply #4 on:** September 09, 2012, 12:27:04 AM »

It's leaking from the top of the sender. That's where it's failed all three times.

I haven't overdone the threads that go into the pump.

Actually... I'm not sure if I used teflon on this set of threads. I bought the oil pump on ebay and it had the sender in it, but I don't remember if I used teflon on it. Well, doesn't matter anyway, the sender is shot now anyway.

dave500 · « **Reply #5 on:** September 09, 2012, 12:29:00 AM »

all you can do is get another new one i guess?

the screw that holds the wire isnt too long and piercing inside the sender?i can only think of dumb obvious stuff.

Dimitri13 · « **Reply #6 on:** September 09, 2012, 12:51:38 AM »

Nope, the screws have all been the standard length.

dave500 · « **Reply #7 on:** September 09, 2012, 01:20:53 AM »

you got all the ones made on monday morning or friday afternoon then dimitri?

Dimitri13 · « **Reply #8 on:** September 09, 2012, 02:53:22 AM »

I sure hope that's the case

This time it failed it created a very dangerous environment.

Dimitri13 · « **Reply #9 on:** September 09, 2012, 01:39:11 PM »

So... Anyone have any ideas why it might be failing? The pump is run off the crank right? Could too much hard riding (constant 7k+ rpm) be an issue?

It's getting to the point where I just want to weld the hole up and hope I never have an oil issue.

LesterPiglet · « **Reply #10 on:** September 09, 2012, 01:46:01 PM »

Hard riding wouldn't affect it. I've ridden 100mph two up for over an hour without any problems.

Eydugstr · « **Reply #11 on:** September 09, 2012, 08:58:43 PM »

Well, I've never heard of it blowing out an oil pressure switch...But have heard of situations where a clogged breather hoses can cause enough backpressure to blow out the seal behind the sprocket. Something is causing the pressure which causes the oil to blow out of the top part of the switch.

Try doing this...Remove the breather hose from the cylinder head and blow it out with an air hose. See if anything comes out (spider's web, etc). Replace the switch and try again.

Say you haven't tried running the bike on a thicker oil, have you? In Hondaman's book, he talks about switching oil from 10-40 to 20w-50 raising the oil pressure, but sometimes to the point where it will cause leaks!

HTH

Dimitri13 · « **Reply #12 on:** September 09, 2012, 09:44:44 PM »

The breather hose is clear.

I've been running 20w50, but one failed with 10w40 also.

dave500 · « **Reply #13 on:** September 10, 2012, 12:35:26 AM »

the pump is driven from the primary shaft,no amount of high rpm should cause the sender to leak,,maybe pull apart the relief valve and spring,make sure the little piston is free to move and the correct way around maybe?

Dimitri13 · « **Reply #14 on:** September 10, 2012, 04:32:46 AM »

Will do. I plan on draining the oil, replacing the oil passage plugs/caps, dropping the oil pan to check the primary chain, and replacing the oil pump seals.

And one more question: what size is the o-ring under the "cover" on the oil pump? The one that's not listed in the fiche.

dave500 · « **Reply #15 on:** September 10, 2012, 12:49:38 PM »

46x2mm

Dimitri13 · « **Reply #16 on:** September 10, 2012, 04:44:49 PM »

Just for reference when I'm at the store:

SAE:
46: 1-13/16, 1-3/4, 1-7/8
2: 5/64, 1/16, 1/8, 3/64

killersoundz · « **Reply #17 on:** September 10, 2012, 04:57:55 PM »

Hi, are you positive that's what is leaking? It sounds to me like the chain oiler. Whenever my chain oiler screw (the middle flathead one) gets loose there will be a puddle of oil sitting on my garage floor. If I tighten it up, no more problem.

Dimitri13 · « **Reply #18 on:** September 10, 2012, 05:10:26 PM »

Yep, positive. I had the sprocket cover off and started up the bike after wiping everything clean. It came from the bottom of the oil pump, the top of the sensor, and from the oil pump cover.

I'm not sure the 550 has an auto oiler like the 750.

Bailgang · « **Reply #19 on:** September 10, 2012, 05:13:20 PM »

Quote from: dave500 on September 10, 2012, 12:35:26 AM

the pump is driven from the primary shaft,no amount of high rpm should cause the sender to leak,,maybe pull apart the relief valve and spring,make sure the little piston is free to move and the correct way around maybe?

Good point. You might want to hook up an oil pressure gauge to the engine to see what kind of oil pressure it's putting out.

Dimitri13 · « **Reply #20 on:** September 10, 2012, 05:19:31 PM »

I had an oil pressure gauge on there at one point. Used 10w-40 when I had it though, anywhere between 20-70psi.

cougar · « **Reply #21 on:** September 10, 2012, 07:12:02 PM »

Dimitri ; I'm sure I'll get ridiculed for this. I'm kind of a freak when it comes to my oil pressure. On Everything I've owned I always pull the stock idiot light and even disconnect the stock oil pressure gauge and replace it with an aftermarket oil pressure gauge ! That way I can Always see Exactly what my oil pressure IS . Just my opinion, LOL ! ...cougar...

Dimitri13 · « **Reply #22 on:** September 10, 2012, 07:31:32 PM »

That's how my oil pressure gauge was (until the gauge broke, that is).

I've drained my oil to replace the oil pump seals (as well as the oil passage cap/plug seals). I'll be putting 15w40 (mobil delvac) oil in it and probably just go with an aftermarket oil pressure gauge, because I'm tired of these damn things failing on it.

Dimitri13 · « **Reply #23 on:** September 10, 2012, 11:29:09 PM »

Here's a quick video of the severity of the leak.

[Motovid] Various oil pump leaks.

Dimitri13 · « **Reply #24 on:** September 11, 2012, 06:30:25 PM »

Quote from: dave500 on September 10, 2012, 12:49:38 PM

46x2mm

Has anyone successfully replaced this gasket? If so, what size did you use if you couldn't find this exact one? I remember I tried replacing it on the last one and got an SAE roughly equivalent, but ended up cracking the cover because it was too thick.

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Author Topic: Oil pressure sensor keeps failing... (Read 4780 times)