Topic: 1973 CB500 oil pump/light/new noises

[Shtonecb500]

Ill keep it short and sweet for ya.

Cold start, turn key to ON position, oil light no longer comes on like it used to with the neutral light, bike starts easily and I take off for the day. When I turn the bike off, the oil and neutral light are on as they should be. At that point I proceed to turn the key OFF and ON a few times to see if the oil light acts up again and it doesn't. After sitting for a while and trying to start its the same thing with the light.

I pulled the crank side cover off and grounded the oil pressure switch to the motor and the light comes right on, does that mean I'm grounding out somewhere else? Would really appreciate if someone could talk/walk me through getting my head around this.

I started noticing a squeaking noise coming from the front of the motor on the right side, not sure if something isn't getting adequate oil supply or if its something different entirely. I just went outside and made video for you so you can hear what I'm talking about.

[flybox1]

Pull a tappet cover and see if oil is being tossed around while the engine is running....

[Shtonecb500]

Oil is not being tossed around while the engine is running, I removed the two outer covers and observed both.

[BomberMann650]

It takes a bit of turning over before the oil has made its way up there.
So the important question is, how long were you watching?
The next important question is; any evidence of silicone gasket goo being used on the engine?

[jonda500]

That oil light behavior sure is peculiar! I wouldn't ride it till you figure this out. My 550 oil supply got blocked on one side and the noise coming from the top end on that side was much worse than yours - it was a loud chirping kind of noise (couldn't hear it at speed but could not miss it when I stopped to give way). My oil light didn't come on, maybe you have a separate oil sender problem?
John

[Shtonecb500]

I pulled the points cover off and the squeaking is much louder so the source is coming from there. It looks like there is rust colored dust residue, what can I use to clean my points and lubricate so I can eliminate this as the culprit?

[Shtonecb500]

I went over the entire harness, I saw no loose connections, I swapped bulbs and still the same thing.

[Shtonecb500]

It wasn't only for a couple of minutes, I just got off a 20 minute freeway ride a little while before I took a look, its running right now so how long is long enough?

[Bodi]

You should have a fair bit of oil on the cam and rockers. If not, on one or both sides... it gets expensive pretty quickly. It doesn't spray out, but a few drops should fly out an open tappet cover every second or two especially if revved a bit.

[Deltarider]

You should have a fair bit of oil on the cam and rockers. If not, on one or both sides... it gets expensive pretty quickly. It doesn't spray out, but a few drops should fly out an open tappet cover every second or two especially if revved a bit.

This ^

[Shtonecb500]

There was only very little oil coming out like you described, a few here and there with a little more upon rev of the engine. The noise was coming from behind the points cover.  The 1-4 was cracked, I'll post a better picture (they are at the bottom, you can see the crack on the lower left arm). I left Wed morning to ride to Chicago and I lost two cylinders, 1-4 pipes were cold. I towed my bike to Phil's and he replaced my points but after this I will be upgrading to a dyna this off season...add it to the list I guess.

I'm still dragging my feet on finding the cause behind my oil light problem but my bike continues to perform well.

The bike rode beautifully on the interstate and before I left I installed highway bars and it made my ride much more comfortable. I hit some rain on the west side of Michigan so it was a chilly first half of the ride with overcast and I was wet. It was amazing when the sky started to break and the sun hit me, I warmed up instantly leaving Indiana and entering Illinois.

I always take pictures of different bikes and projects Phil has his hands on, here are some pictures!

[Keith]

My guess is the oil sender is sticking. When it's warm, it loosens up and functions normally. Cools off in the open position, no light until engine is hot. Happened on my 750. I'm not a big fan replacing your points with a solid state ignition. You can carry spare points and condensors with you on a trip, and do a quick field repair. Aftermarket ignition component fails....you are done for.

[Shtonecb500]

When you say "sender" you mean the oil pressure switch, correct? The hex shaped screw into the top of the oil pump thing....or a different part?

I've swapped out three different oil pressure switches and still the same problem, when I grounded the switch to the motor the light came back on so I assumed it was grounding out somewhere else on the harness.

[Airborne 82nd]

My guess is the oil sender is sticking. When it's warm, it loosens up and functions normally. Cools off in the open position, no light until engine is hot. Happened on my 750. I'm not a big fan replacing your points with a solid state ignition. You can carry spare points and condensors with you on a trip, and do a quick field repair. Aftermarket ignition component fails....you are done for.

When was the last time you did any service under your points cover? I have 7700 miles on a new set TEC with Hondamans box and I'm not near ready to change I checked the gap at 3K didn't need adj. but did at 6K. Looks like you might have got some water in yours. But I don't think you have an oiling issue.  Why not put a oil gauge on.