Harley Davidson Electra Glide FL/FLH, Super Glide FX/FXE/FXEF/FXS (1978 1/2 to 1980). Service manual - page 3

OIL PRESSURE SIGNAL LIGHT
The oil signal light indicates oil circulation.

If the oil signal lights fails to go off at speeds above idling, it is usually due to low or diluted oil supply. In freezing weather the oil feed pipe may clog with ice and sludge, preventing circulation of oil. A grounded oil signal switch wire, faulty signal switch, or trouble with oil pump will also cause the light to stay on. If the oil signal light fails to go off, always check the oil supply first. Then, if oil supply is normal, look inside the oil tank to determine if oil returns to the tank from the oil return pipe outlet located at front of
oil tank near filler hole when the engine is running. If it is returning to the tank there is some circulation, and engine may be run a short distance if necessary. If no oil returns, shut off engine until trouble is located and corrected.

OPERATING OIL PRESSURE

Operating oil pressure may be checked as follows:

Fill oil tank to proper level. Disconnect oil pressure switch wire at top of switch and remove switch. Install Oil Pressure Gauge, Part No. 96921-52. Attach gauge to motorcycle and road run or simulate road running until engine is completely warmed. A full operating temperature is essential for accurate gauging. Oil pressure should be 12 - 35 psi at 2000 rpm with oil at normal operating temperature.

An acceptable alternate method of checking oil pressure is to connect the gauge, by means of an adapter, at the tappet oil screen.

OIL FILTER (Figure 3-1)

The tank is equipped with a large mouth filler opening and a screw cover with oil filter attached.

Oil filter element (3) should be replaced at every oil change. To service filter element, remove cap from oil tank, remove filter clip (1), washer (2) and pull out filter. Make certain "O" ring (8) is positioned against filter cup flange (7) when filter is installed in tank.

SERVICING OIL TANK CAP AND FILLER OPENING

To disassemble, follow order shown in figure 3*1. Assembly is reverse order of disassembly. Clean and inspect all parts. Replace any that are worn or damaged.

If oil leak should occur between the tank cap and the filler opening, with cap and gasket in serviceable condition, check the lip of the filler opening. A cap drawn too tight will bend the lip of the filler opening resulting in an imperfect seal between gasket and lip.

Drain oil from tank. Using a mallet as a driver and a block of wood as a cushion, bend the lip down until flush with sealing surface of tank cap. Remove nicks and rough spots with emery cloth. Flush tank before refilling.

ENGINE OILING AND BREATHER SYSTEM (The Following Steps Apply to Figure 3-2)

1. Gravity feed from oil tank to feed pump.

2. Feed (pressure) section of pump.

3. Check valve prevents gravity oil drainage from tank to engine.

4. Oil is filtered through oil screen and forced through passages or external oil lines to lubricate rocker arm bushings, shafts, valve stems, valve springs and push rod sockets. A branch passage supplies oil to the hydraulic lifters.

5. Pressure regulating valve maintains correct pressure in system. When oil reaches rocker arms and lifters, regulating valve lifts and allows pressurized oil to flow to pinion gear shaft.

6. Oil is forced through pinion gear shaft to lubricate lower connecting rod bearings from which oil splashes to cylinder walls, piston, piston pin, and main bearings. During cold engine start-up, pressure regulating valve (5) lifts further to allow excess oil to return directly to oil tank.

7. Oil drains from cylinder rocker housing through passage in each cylinder, then flows through hole in the base of each cylinder, lubricating cylinder walls, piston, piston rings and main bearings.

8. Some oil drains from the rocker housing through push rod covers into the gearcase compartment, lubricating push rods and tappets.

9. Rotary breather valve is timed to open on the down-stroke of pistons, allowing crankcase exhaust air pressure to expel scavenge oil from the flywheel compartment through the breather valve into gearcase. Breather valve closes on upward stroke of pistons, creating a vacuum in the flywheel compartment.

During piston upstroke, the small port in breather valve lines up with passage in crankcase and vacuum draws oil from the crankcase breather oil trap.
10. Oil blown and drained into timing gearcase (steps 8 and 9), lubricates timing gears and gear shaft bearings.

11. Front chain oil. Oil is blown into chain case when breather valve is open.

12. Gearcase oil settling in gearcase sump flows to scavenge section of pump.

13. Scavenge (return) section of pump.

14. Engine oil return to tank.

15. Crankcase exhaust air baffle and gearcase cover transfer passage. Air and oil mist is forced into crankcase breather trap.

16. Breather oil trap.

17. Oil transfer to breather valve. On piston upstroke, crankcase vacuum draws trapped oil into breather.

18. Crankcase exhaust air escapes from gearcase and is fed into the rear of the air cleaner housing.

19. Return line from chain housing. On piston upstroke, crankcase vacuum draws oil from chain housing to breather valve. On piston downstroke, oil in breather valve is forced into gearcase.

20. Vent line to oil tank and chain housing.

21. Rear chain oiler.

22. Pressure switch fitting.

REPAIR AND DIAGNOSTIC PROCEDURE

GENERAL

When an engine needs repair, it is not always possible to definitely determine beforehand whether the engine can be repaired by disassembling only cylinders and heads, only gearcase; or whether engine must be completely disassembled for crankcase section repair.

Usually, only upper-end repair is needed and it is recommended procedure to first strip motorcycle for cylinder head, cylinder and piston repair as described in "Stripping Motorcycle for Engine Repair," steps 1 through 9.

After disassembling cylinder head and cylinder it ma> be found that lower end repair is necessary. This re quires removal of engine crankcase from frame as de scribed in steps 10 through 16 in ‘‘Stripping Motorcyck for Engine Repair.”

In cases where it has been definitely determined beforehand that the lower portion of engine (crankcase) is in need ol repair, remove complete engine from chassis before starting disassembly as described in steps 1 through 16 of "Stripping Motorcycle for Engine Repair."

Symptoms indicating a need for engine repair are often misleading, but generally if more than one symptom is

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