Oil Pump Problems Help!!
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- Still in the Driveway
- Posts: 7
- Joined: Thu Sep 19, 2013 12:04 pm
- Country: USA
- Suzuki 2-Strokes: 1972 T500
Oil Pump Problems Help!!
Hey all I'm new to the forum, although I have read many threads prior to joining and posting. I am also a new t500 owner and have been prepping a barn find for about a month (waiting for parts mainly).
So my problem is with the oil pump. When I first got it, the lines were dry/had very little oil in them. I did notice when I first started it after a carb rebuild that there was vaccuum trying to pull the little pockets of oil into the piston/crank. Don't worry, I did premix the tank so I could at least start her to make sure it ran.
I pushed new oil thru the lines and it looked as all air bubbles were out of the line except a little one at one of the banjo outlet fittings (to be expected from pushing oil thru and bolting back up, some will leak out). So I went to start it (one kick fire, love it!) and I didn't see the bubble move! I activated the lever manually to see if it would budge thru and it didnt. I didnt see any excess smoke while doing this at idle as I would expect to.
My question is what should I do form here? Why isn't oil moving thru the lines and shouldn't I be able to see the bubble move when activating lever? How do I know for sure it is moving?
Lever is adjusted properly. I removed all banjos at the pump to see if it was clogged up. I tried pushing oil thru the inlet of the pump and it would only come out of the end 17mm hex plug (i removed it). The oil would not pass thru the inlet to both outlets, even with lever wide open. How would I take it apart to inspect more? My tach and speedo are broken, definitely the cable going to the oil pump.
So my problem is with the oil pump. When I first got it, the lines were dry/had very little oil in them. I did notice when I first started it after a carb rebuild that there was vaccuum trying to pull the little pockets of oil into the piston/crank. Don't worry, I did premix the tank so I could at least start her to make sure it ran.
I pushed new oil thru the lines and it looked as all air bubbles were out of the line except a little one at one of the banjo outlet fittings (to be expected from pushing oil thru and bolting back up, some will leak out). So I went to start it (one kick fire, love it!) and I didn't see the bubble move! I activated the lever manually to see if it would budge thru and it didnt. I didnt see any excess smoke while doing this at idle as I would expect to.
My question is what should I do form here? Why isn't oil moving thru the lines and shouldn't I be able to see the bubble move when activating lever? How do I know for sure it is moving?
Lever is adjusted properly. I removed all banjos at the pump to see if it was clogged up. I tried pushing oil thru the inlet of the pump and it would only come out of the end 17mm hex plug (i removed it). The oil would not pass thru the inlet to both outlets, even with lever wide open. How would I take it apart to inspect more? My tach and speedo are broken, definitely the cable going to the oil pump.
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- On the street
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- Suzuki 2-Strokes: 74 GT750L, 09 HD XR1200
Re: Oil Pump Problems Help!!
It takes some serious running to get the pump primed and air bubbles out. You can't force it through the pump from inlet to banjos, and the lever is just controlling the volume.
On my titan I took a syringe of 2 stroke oil and and pumped some in the banjo holes with the oil lines off, and a little bit in the plug holes while spinning the motor to ensure it was good and wet for the first run
I then supplied oil to the pump off the motor and took a cordless drill with a flathead bit to turn the pump. Make sure you are doing the correct rotation.. i think its counter clockwise.. Check for sure.. I can't remember.
It took quite a bit to get oil flowing.. it had been sitting dry for years..
These pumps are pretty bulletproof and rarely fail.
Running premix only in these motors is not safe! The crank does not see much oil when you do this.
Also take great care of your oil lines.. They are a hot commodity.
Good luck!
On my titan I took a syringe of 2 stroke oil and and pumped some in the banjo holes with the oil lines off, and a little bit in the plug holes while spinning the motor to ensure it was good and wet for the first run
I then supplied oil to the pump off the motor and took a cordless drill with a flathead bit to turn the pump. Make sure you are doing the correct rotation.. i think its counter clockwise.. Check for sure.. I can't remember.
It took quite a bit to get oil flowing.. it had been sitting dry for years..
These pumps are pretty bulletproof and rarely fail.
Running premix only in these motors is not safe! The crank does not see much oil when you do this.
Also take great care of your oil lines.. They are a hot commodity.
Good luck!
- mike1161
- On the main road
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- Suzuki 2-Strokes: 1970 T350, 2012 Triumph Thruxton
- Location: Palm Harbor, FL
Re: Oil Pump Problems Help!!
Good advice; I'm having a similar problem on my T350 (note: oil pump is exactly the same for T350 as the T500). See this other thread I started. viewtopic.php?f=9&t=9228" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Maybe there will be some posts in there that are helpful to you, too. I'm beginning to think that the pump might be fine, and I need to recheck the functioning of the check balls that are inside the end fittings of the oil lines. I think this week I'll take those apart again to be sure. They really aren't too complex, just a ball, washer, and spring.
Maybe there will be some posts in there that are helpful to you, too. I'm beginning to think that the pump might be fine, and I need to recheck the functioning of the check balls that are inside the end fittings of the oil lines. I think this week I'll take those apart again to be sure. They really aren't too complex, just a ball, washer, and spring.
Current bikes: 1970 Suzuki T350, 2012 Thruxton
Previous bikes: '71 Honda CL350, '82 Yamaha 550 Seca, '86 Yamaha RD350, '88 Suzuki RG500 Gamma, '86 Suzuki VS700, '75 Kawasaki Mach II (S3), '12 Triumph Bonneville T100, '08 Triumph Daytona 675 SE
Previous bikes: '71 Honda CL350, '82 Yamaha 550 Seca, '86 Yamaha RD350, '88 Suzuki RG500 Gamma, '86 Suzuki VS700, '75 Kawasaki Mach II (S3), '12 Triumph Bonneville T100, '08 Triumph Daytona 675 SE
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- Around the block
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Re: Oil Pump Problems Help!!
Maybe this will help..... maybe not. I have a GT550 which I recently had all apart for some major service. When it was time to assure oil to the jugs, I took the pump & tubing off the bike & supplied oil from a rigged up "reservoir" & drove the pump shaft with a power drill. You'll have to check the rotation direction to be sure you're turning it the correct way. It takes a lot of spinning to move much oil thru, but eventually you should see oil coming out of the pump & lines in small pulses. Once you get oil thru the pump & lines, just re-assemble to the bike. Good luck!
- jabcb
- Moto GP
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- Suzuki 2-Strokes: 69 T350 thru 75 GT750
- Location: southwestern Pennsylvania
Re: Oil Pump Problems Help!!
Just added some info here: viewtopic.php?f=9&t=9228&start=4
BAS (Bike Acquisition Syndrome) - too many bikes but have room for more
Suzuki:
GT750 2x75
GT550 72 & 75
GT380 72
T500 69 project & 73 project
T350 69 & 71
Honda 85 CB650SC & 86 CB700SC
09 Triumph Bonneville SE
Suzuki:
GT750 2x75
GT550 72 & 75
GT380 72
T500 69 project & 73 project
T350 69 & 71
Honda 85 CB650SC & 86 CB700SC
09 Triumph Bonneville SE
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- Still in the Driveway
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- Joined: Thu Sep 19, 2013 12:04 pm
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- Suzuki 2-Strokes: 1972 T500
Re: Oil Pump Problems Help!!
Thanks for the feedback, I will be taking the oil pump off and trying the power drill suggestion.
My next question is do you think I did any damage when I ran it without the oil pump working (premixed tank)? It was just at idle a few times while i was tinkering with the oil pump. I did ride it around the block for a couples mins also when I first got it running to make sure she would shift so I knew what I was up against. I'm hoping everything is ok. This is all before I knew the design of the oil injection system.
My next question is do you think I did any damage when I ran it without the oil pump working (premixed tank)? It was just at idle a few times while i was tinkering with the oil pump. I did ride it around the block for a couples mins also when I first got it running to make sure she would shift so I knew what I was up against. I'm hoping everything is ok. This is all before I knew the design of the oil injection system.

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- Still in the Driveway
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- Joined: Thu Sep 19, 2013 12:04 pm
- Country: USA
- Suzuki 2-Strokes: 1972 T500
Re: Oil Pump Problems Help!!
Also, what solvents are good to clean the lines without damaging them?
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- To the on ramp
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Re: Oil Pump Problems Help!!
When I cleaned mine I used isopropyl alcohol (IPA) - that's the solvent not the beer:-) - but ethanol (I know that seems to be a dirty word round here) or methanol - I think you lot call it methyl hydrate should work too. It might be a good idea to use a hair dryer to remove the solvent after flushing the lines before refilling with oil but I just blew down the pipes gently to remove any residual solvent
Best of luck
Best of luck
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- Suzuki 2-Strokes: Honda-350, SUZUKI GT550 x2, GS850, 92 VMAX,
Re: Oil Pump Problems Help!!
You asked for an opinion regarding possible damage due to running on pre-mix. Here's mine;
Don't worry about it! 2-stroke engines have been around a long time & ran fine without injection systems. The injection system was designed for convenience (ie. don't have to pre-mix!), not so much for improved lubrication. If you notice your injection ports just put miniscule amounts of oil into the crank & intake areas where it flies around with the fuel charge & gets mixed anyway. If the oil is already pre-mixed in the fuel, it will get to where it is needed. As long as your mix was somewhere in the 30 or 40:1 ratio I doubt you could hurt anything, especially in the short term you describe. If it ever fails, it won't be because of the pre-mix. There are many opinions out there that will practically guarantee catastrophe, but I don't share that line of thought. RELAX & RIDE!
Don't worry about it! 2-stroke engines have been around a long time & ran fine without injection systems. The injection system was designed for convenience (ie. don't have to pre-mix!), not so much for improved lubrication. If you notice your injection ports just put miniscule amounts of oil into the crank & intake areas where it flies around with the fuel charge & gets mixed anyway. If the oil is already pre-mixed in the fuel, it will get to where it is needed. As long as your mix was somewhere in the 30 or 40:1 ratio I doubt you could hurt anything, especially in the short term you describe. If it ever fails, it won't be because of the pre-mix. There are many opinions out there that will practically guarantee catastrophe, but I don't share that line of thought. RELAX & RIDE!

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- Road race school
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Re: Oil Pump Problems Help!!

Cheers,
GT750Battleship.
GT750Battleship.