Time To Tear Down

Maybe just a bad sending unit. But I did say to verify pressures! Then lets see whats going on maybe the idle Is set to low also

OK,yeah...All I could think of when I read him saying the oil light was coming on was my King when the top end had the oil choked off...before it was completely blocked the top end would get noisy ticking then go away and what would have happened to the motor if I wound the engine to 5500....Hate like hell for him to run the revs up with not enough pressure to get the oil up top...
I think the smart move would be to verify oil pressure before he puts it on the drum and his light coming on could be a hint why he's getting a top end tick...

Well good thing is it never comes on when he is riding down the road. So the pump is capable of doing its job of building pressure off idle .aand closing the sending units contact. May just be a bad unit maybe not if its low pressure at idle and builds pressure off idle the check valve is stuck open and there is debris getting in the pump .lots of things can cause this as we all know one of them that comes to mind is lifter roller .or bearing roller issuie .we will see whats up soon enough .

What's that supposed to mean? "The way that boy rides that bike?" I barely beat on this bike. Lmfao

You dont ride like a p...y.you ride it like it was built for .

"Pony" ??????

Lmfao.ok let me elaborate on the word. I was looking for. Hmm we spend 9 months trying to get out the rest of our lives trying to get back in

Was able to pick up a timing light and a digital rpm readout and the oil pressure gauge today. Now to get it up on the lift and what needs to be done.

I thought that dome of us might find it interesting how the oil in a Sportster flows. Here are some pages from my service manual that describes and shows the flow of oil.

Here is written description of the flow pattern for my Sportster. The numbered paragraphs correspond with the numbered arrows on the diagram.
The diagram.

Interesting, and thanks for posting.

Ok. I got the Sportster checked and this is the diagnosis. Derek is next to positive that I have a bad lifter. We didn't even need to put it on the drum. He heard right away after the bike warmed up and I threw the choke in. Oil pressure is good. 20 psi at cold idle with choke and 12-13 psi warm and no choke. Idle speed at 940

At least now you know, it could be a lot worse.

So why was the oil light coming on? Bad sender?

Like BP said....Could be bad sender or idle too low.....

Idle is just fine.

About to order new lifters from S&S. $120, not bad at all.

Phil's a good guy!