Oil pressure question

[goyork]

Mike,

I have a 2007 FLHX with a lot of work done to it, I will list some of the work
1. Cycle Rama head work with pro pac beehive springs.
2. Axtell 107ci cylinders and pistons.
3. Feuling lifters and pushrods.
4. Cycle Rama custom cams with .600 lift.

My question is on oil pressure, it seems low when it hot and idling. I have your LMR-002 spring also. When it is hot and idling the oil pressure is just barely off of zero maybe to the first or second line on the stock oil pressure gauge not to the first dot, I am not sure how many pounds of pressure each line is. But when it is hot at 2000 rpms it is right under 32 #. Can you tell me if this is normal or do you think I have a problem? When its cold it shows about half between 32 and 60 on the gauge so I think maybe around 45psi.

When I put it back together I aligned the pump using Georges Garage oil pump alignment screws.
Thanks, Greg

[Mike]

Oil pressures can differ dramatically from motor to motor. This is a fucntion of tolerances and parts used. The Fueling lifters may have slightly diifferent restrictor plates than stock and their pushrods may have a different oil hole diameter vs stock. Also, tolerances (clearances) in parts such as the rocker arm bushings, tappet fit in the case, pinion bushing in the web plate, etc can cause differences. Last, the H-D motor is more about flow than pressure in that so long as oil is flowing throughout the motor (removing heat and excess oil), that is more important than having high pressures. Of course a minimum pressure must be maintained to keep the oil flowing with adequate volume and to keep the hydraulic tappets pumped up (and chain tensioners in "B" and 07L later motors). Too much pressure can also be bad in that it can flood the motor or possibly cause hydraulic lock in some components, make the pump work harder (horsepower) or cause more oil to be bypassed, overwhlming the scavenge side. The whole thing is a balance.

Your presssures appear to be in range with the above variances. Another indication of lack of pressure would be noisy tappets or valve train (depending on the rest of the components, some valve trains are inherently noisy). So long as you have pressure off idle, you should be fine.