No Oil Return To Oil Tank

Discussion in 'Newbies Hangout' started by Ken Rawlinson, May 25, 2022.

  1. Ken Rawlinson

    Ken Rawlinson New Member

    May 25, 2022
    19
    3
    Croydon, Surrey
    Hi all,

    I have a Triton with a pre-unit T110/T120 engine which was rebuilt by a specialist shop by the pervious owner he having spent about £2k+ on the engine. I have had the bike for about 2 years and after a fair bit of "fettling" I have now got it running nicely - that is except the oil is not returning to the oil tank. I took the plugs out and turned the engine over about 400 times but no oil return, I did start the engine and ran it for a short while but still no oil. I have fitted a separate oil filter with all new external oil pipes and the connections are correct. I have taken the timing cover off and the oil pump is an as new Morgo pump, when I took the pump off no oil came out of the oil holes in the crankcase but on blowing though the holes via a tube oil started coming out of the oil "input" hole and I thought that had cured it but on again kicking it over about 300 times still no oil returning, I did also take off the oil feed to the cylinder head to check but nothing. The oil tank is very big, about a gallon I think, but that should not affect it. Any suggestions as what to do next will be very gratefully received as I do not want to seize the engine up. Many thanks, Ken
     
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  2. Iron

    Iron Elite Member

    Dec 29, 2021
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    #2 Iron, May 25, 2022
    Last edited: May 25, 2022
    I assume you've had oil returning to the tank when the engine ran in the previous 2 years. If it's only just been rebuilt then it takes what seems like ages (30 to 40 seconds) for the pump to return oil to the tank.
    I've never been able to get just kicking the engine over to return oil - I give up after 50 or so :sweat:
    There shouldn't be more than about a cup full (100cc or so) in the sump.
    99% of the time, it's a weeny piece of something in the pump. Take the pump to bits and clean. The square nuts are really really tight.
    Other than that you'll need to check all lines etc as per this

    https://www.thetriumphforum.com/threads/wet-sumping.27444/
     
  3. Helmut Visor

    Helmut Visor Only dead fish go with the flow
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  4. Ken Rawlinson

    Ken Rawlinson New Member

    May 25, 2022
    19
    3
    Croydon, Surrey
    I have only recently run the engine as the previous owner had it laid up for over 5 years, all oil pipes are new, I have had the Morgo pump apart and it is clean and looks like new. Thanks for this
     
  5. Iron

    Iron Elite Member

    Dec 29, 2021
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    #5 Iron, May 25, 2022
    Last edited: May 25, 2022
    Make sure the ball bearings are seated when you put it back together - a whack with a punch sorts that. Test it on the bench by filling with oil, finger over hole and pull on the plunger - it should instantly pull back in due to the vacuum. Similarly pump the oil by hand on each plunger to squirt oil passed the bearlings and out into your eye. (Don't watch it too closely).
    Take the new filter out of the equation until you know there's oil being returned.
    Let us know how you get on. If you get it working then please come back and tell or there's no learning for us.
    Oh, and welcome......
     
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  6. Mrs Visor

    Mrs Visor Elite Member

    Aug 21, 2021
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    Hi and welcome!
     
  7. Wessa

    Wessa Cruising

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    Hi and welcome....
     
  8. Ken Rawlinson

    Ken Rawlinson New Member

    May 25, 2022
    19
    3
    Croydon, Surrey
    Thanks for this I will give it a go.
     
  9. Ken Rawlinson

    Ken Rawlinson New Member

    May 25, 2022
    19
    3
    Croydon, Surrey
    Picture of Triton.

    Triton.JPG
     
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  10. Iron

    Iron Elite Member

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  11. Ken Rawlinson

    Ken Rawlinson New Member

    May 25, 2022
    19
    3
    Croydon, Surrey
    Thank you.
     
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  12. Ken Rawlinson

    Ken Rawlinson New Member

    May 25, 2022
    19
    3
    Croydon, Surrey
    Dear all,

    I have thankfully solved the problem, very silly me had got the feed and scavange pipes the wrong way round as for some reason Triumph changed the oil pipes around from the pre-unit engines to the unit engines. I have a spare unit engine oil pump and the holes in it are a mirror image to the pre unit pumps. After a lot of hazzle draining the 1 gallon oil tank, changing the oil pipes over including removing the exhaust pipe and silencer and the reverse gear linkage set up and fitting new oil pipes I am pleased to say the oil is now returning to the tank nicely. I did follow members advice including filling the sump with 200cc of oil and tapping the ball seatings in the pump, so thank you one and all. Cheers, Ken
     
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  13. Helmut Visor

    Helmut Visor Only dead fish go with the flow
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    Fantastic, glad it was an easy(?) fix in the end :cool:
     
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  14. Ken Rawlinson

    Ken Rawlinson New Member

    May 25, 2022
    19
    3
    Croydon, Surrey
    And this is one of my other bikes, a George Hopwood built Triumph Thruxton Bonneville.

    Thruxton Bonnie Replica 29.05.22.jpg
     
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  15. Iron

    Iron Elite Member

    Dec 29, 2021
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    If I had to choose, it would be the Triton. The Hoppy bike is mouth watering as well but I don't have to choose and nor do you, other than you can't ride both at the same time. Splendid they both are. I think we all I hate you. :yum
     
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  16. Ken Rawlinson

    Ken Rawlinson New Member

    May 25, 2022
    19
    3
    Croydon, Surrey
    Oh dear I think that I am going to be hated even more, sorry and apologies to administration but this is a N****n o_O

    John Player Norton 29.05.22.jpg
     
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  17. sprintdave

    sprintdave Nurse, think it's time for his medications.
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    May 25, 2014
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    And a very nice one too.
     
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