Topic: oil light issues

[Klark Kent]

I thought I had my 550K1 as dialed in as possible without a proper synch (1/16th drillbit benchsynch) after cleaning carbs and seting valve gap and timing the bike would idle at a grand and start without choke.  in fact, when applying choke the bike would quit.  recently i have been riding it on the streets as opposed to a parking lot, at sustained engine speeds of 4 or 5k.  it was then that i noticed my oil light coming on when the idle went below 1500, and then 2000 and by the time i got it home anything less than 3000.  A little while ago, before the heatwave, i found my bike on its side upon coming home one night.  I don't know how long it had been sitting there like that. could i have gotten gas in the oil, thus causing my oil pressure/light problems.  but then why the worsening of the problem the longer I run it.  Is this indicative of a pickupscreen clog.  I have the bike empty of oil (which i thought smelled a little like gas, but my sense of smell is bad and my imagination is good) 

I have read threads where everything from running rich to breather tube improprieties is given as the cause.  It looks like i will have to remove the exhaust to get the pan off to get to the pickup screen so i would like to know if that is likely before tearing in... or if it is indeed the case that the exhaust cannot be worked around. 

any and all help is greatly appreciated
-KK

[number13]

If you think you've got gas in the crankcase then do change both oil and filter, it's cheap and
may save your engine. The way the pressure worsens with time makes perfect sense, oil will
lose viscosity as it heats, so if it is mixed with even a little gas you are starting with thin oil and it, of
course, gets thinner more quickly.
Also, don't overlook the possibility that you may have a bad pressure sending unit or
bad connector at the sending unit.