A10 Wet Sumping - other fixes ?.

[Guy Wilson]

I finally got all the bits together and  started my bike for the first time in about 20 years. I've not ridden it just  run the engine for a few minutes.
After having left it for a week or two as my job dictates, I found almost three litres of oil drained into sump. I didn't  touched the bottom end as it all appeared sound and the speedo suggests its not high millage and for the most part I've just reassembled from a box of bits.
My question is: Has anyone had a similar experience on an initial start up ? Is there a 'settling' period when things fall back into place and my oil consumption will fall below petrol consumption?
Guy

[muskrat]

G'day Guy. It may improve once it's run a bit and warmed up a few times but I'm doubtful. Shame you didn't open up the bottom end to do the sludge trap and that ball & spring while you had the chance.
 My '51 A7 dumps an oil tank full in about 3-4 weeks. Not often left that long, it fills the c/case and overflows into the primary (no seal on plunger models).
Will do it on next opening, might be a while.
Cheers

[bsa-bill]

3 litres is about all of it, did you check oil was returning to the oil tank when you ran it

[Guy Wilson]

Yes, the oil is making its way back up  to the tank. It doesn't sound unusual though from what Muskrat is saying, just expensive if its chucking the lot down into the sump. I'll see how it goes.  I have a TR6 that's never wet sumped...so this new to me
Thanks all,
Guy

[bsa-bill]

If it's returning to the tank it's circulating so all good on that side, just the inconvenience of wet sumping really, many just live with it draining the sump after a long lay off

[muskrat]

Don't tell anyone but I drain it into a clean container and put it back in the tank if it's not too old.
luv those alloy sump plates with the drain plug. Fitted to my three BSA's.
Cheers

[Guy Wilson]

I'll look at that option and I won't tell anyone. A single drain plug would be sensible,
All the best
Guy

[bsa-bill]

I have two , one on each bike, the SRM one has a magnetic plug on the drain plug the other is for a different model but has the same dimension and fits fine but plug is on the bottom and no magnet - a job for sometime

[Guy Wilson]

releasing the four nuts (mine has three as ones sheered) is time consuming. I have a spare sump plate. I may experiment..
Thanks
Guy

[stu.andrews]

Hi Guy A Triumph oil pump will not wet sump due to the plunger construction, BSA gear pumps do! I find that when I use 20/50 grade oil it will wet sump quite a bit but a monograde 40 or 50 lessens the problem. I have an SRM sump plate with drain plug and, although it's a pain, just drain into a clean container & pour back into the oil tank. If you do not, most of your oil will end up on the road, coming out through the breather.

[Guy Wilson]

Thanks Stu, I tend to use monogrades and I have 40 in it now. Its not so cold here. I think I did use up some 20/40 when I first put it together, so that could explain why it all can out. I'm all for recycling and putting it back in the tank sounds good to me.
Interesting about the triumph. I've always had that running and have not had the need get inside it. Its always been reliable and apart from the vibration you get on most twins, its a great bike...
Guy

[wilko]

Loose oil pump mountings will cause extra oil to wetsump. Discovered this last time i looked at a mates A10.

[Pete Gray]

My A7 never used to wet sump - but now does for no apparent reason. I have to rely on the alloy sump plate/drain plug and like Muskrat drain off and pour it back in before a run if it's been standing for much more than a couple of weeks.

[Guy Wilson]

 A lot of modern oils have 'washing additives', I suspect they clean out all the convenient bits of crap that are helping keep thinks oil tight...some diesel oils will do as much as flushing oil in terms of cleaning. I'll stay with the recycling method for now...
Guy

[A10Boy]

Don't make the mistake of assuming that if oil is returning to the tank, it's circulating correctly, it might not be. In certain circumstances like if the sludge trap is obstructed oil will be dumped by the PRV to the camshaft trough, and if the timing side bush is worn out oil will be pumped into the sump, or the pump could be loose or the pump gasket faulty. In these cases oil will return to the tank and give the impression thats its circulating OK but it isn't.