Topic: 1977 CB550K Oil Pressure

[cr0issqnt]

Hi I am so close to the end of my project and I wanted to make sure I have oil pressure before I start it up. is there a quick and free/inexpensive way to check if I am getting oil pressure/oil to where it is needed. My oil pressure light wont go off when cranking it but that might just be poor wiring or a faulty switch no?

[denward17]

I suppose the easiest way is either take a couple of the valve tappet caps off while spinning the engine, (spark plugs out and kill switch on), or take the end caps off the valve cover to see if oil starts coming out of the rocker shaft ends on both sides.

[cr0issqnt]

I will try that thank you.

[cr0issqnt]

How long should it take for oil to start appearing?

[HondaMan]

You need to see oil splashing on the right-side rockers (over cylinder #4) to be sure the oil has made it fully to the far side of the engine. The oil pump is just below the left side, so they usually oil-up first.

Your oil PSI switch will go OFF at 5 PSI. At cranking speed with sparkplugs out, you should be able to reach about 15 PSI, typically, if the pump is good.

[cr0issqnt]

I ran the starter for 30 seconds and saw nothing what are my next steps.

[Bodi]

If the pump is clean and dry, it may not be able to prime. Advice is usually to soak it in a tub of oil before installing it.
But it does take a while to get pressure with a rebuilt dry engine and empty oil filter housing. You can take the filter housing off and see if you got any oil into it.
The pump draws from the sump then pumps into the oil filter, from there it fills the main gallery and eventually gets to where it's needed.
If you remove the filter housing and spin the engine (with starter, all 4 plugs removed, kill switch OFF to avoid arcing from the plug cables) you should get a pretty good gush of oil from the case hole beside the filter bolt hole. No gush? Check the pump, if dry get the internals coated with oil. Check the pickup tube for a good seal, air leaks there will cause it to fail priming and cause trouble if it does.

[cr0issqnt]

I primed the oil pump and saw that the wire going to the pressure sensor was severed so I soldered it to the old connector. The oil light still doesn't go off but I saw a small seepage of oil into each rocker area. Is that the right amount of oil that should be getting to each rocker and should I go ahead and replace the pressure switch?

[Deltarider]

I seem to remember It should arrive within 10 seconds.

[bryanj]

Remove the end caps on the rocker cover(1 screw) then remove the brackets they fit to, do not loose the sealing washer between bracket and cover.
If the engine has been rebuilt will take a lot longer than 10 seconds for light to go out plus if light was on with a disconnected wire you have a wiring fault.
Oil should flood out of the bolt holes exposed under the brackets removed

[Deltarider]

I remember a video by the Dane Strynboen once posted here. He had the valve cover removed and put a 23mm socket on his electrill drill, put it against the ignition's hexagon to make the crank turn (clockwise ofcourse) while observing the exposed camshaft department. Pretty soon oil came up. Simple test to rule out costly mistakes. Can't find that video right now.

[bryanj]

In that case he was an idiot because you shouldnt use that nut to turn the engine

[Deltarider]

I never had a problem with using that hexagon. Strynboen had the plugs removed and he was/is far from an idiot. A mechanic with creative solutions. Unfortunately I haven't seen any posts lately. Here it is: http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,168975.msg1959289.html#msg1959289

[Deltarider]

Or select 5^th gear and rotate rear wheel by hand. Good exercise too

[cr0issqnt]

I did wire up the oil and neutral light wrong but I am confident I have them right now and the oil light goes off and I am seeing oil seep out of either end of the rocker cover.

[denward17]

I did wire up the oil and neutral light wrong but I am confident I have them right now and the oil light goes off and I am seeing oil seep out of either end of the rocker cover.

Great news!