I often get the oil pressure lamp lit at the XB12 when the engine is hot - e.g. stop and go in the city. I first assumed it's a defective pressure switch or a chafed/grounded cable, but when listening, I can hear the tapets knocking. The noise disappears as soon as the oil lamp gets off again. This typically happens when in idle (~1000 rpm) or at low rpm.

So I assume the pressure switch is working as intended. Oil viscosity is 10W40 or 15W50, can't tell anymore if I changed oil before or after getting a new charge. What might be the reason for the low pressure? Do i need a new oil pump?

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"It is often said that before you die your life passes before your eyes. It is in fact true. It's called living."
Terry Pratchett

My first thought would be to use the correct grade of oil ie 20/50.

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If your dreams don't scare you, they are not big enough.

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To Lands End and beyond

hi Gunter ,i think your idle speed is too low, my xb is 1050rpm hot ,also best on HD engine oil HTH ...........whichway?

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........have you tried turning me off & then turning me on again ?

Hi Gunter.

As I recall 20W50 was made for air cooled V-Twins in the first place. Why are you not using the right grade of oil as per HD. Stick to the same brand oil, I use Torco and the K&N oil filter, and change at 2.5K or less.

Pressure test the oil system, if needed, after using the right grade of oil and a new filter. If the oil light still comes on do not continue to run it. It should be fine at 1000rpm hot. Mine is.

The oil is part of the cooling system and vital on a Buell.

The tapets are Hydraulic and low oil pressure or the wrong grade oil will cause this. The wrong grade oil is a common mistake and can be a killer.

Just delete the problem using EcmSpy

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Mithered ta death.
92 MB
96 S2T
98 S1W
00 M2
01 X1
03 P3
10 CR

or take the warning lamp out

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If your dreams don't scare you, they are not big enough.

A handy one to know this is .

That oil could be like water when hot Gunter, get a good Diesel grade 20/50 in her asap.

Nate.

Oil in engine was 10W50, I found an old bottle. I will give it a try and change to 20W50 as soon as I have some, but my experience tells me, that MY bikes do not like easy solutions. The gerotors look like new, clearance is within limits, the oil pump gear (golden one) shows some wear (IIRC it would be in now for about 7000 mls), so I exchanged it for the unbreakable from LuckyHands.

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"It is often said that before you die your life passes before your eyes. It is in fact true. It's called living."
Terry Pratchett

Gunter, I'm amazed and aghast at a technical type chap like yourself running your bike(s) with basically the wrong oil in it, and then finding that you have major engine failure on your Buell.
HD's own 20W50 is the correct oil for your bike, put it in a crack on!

Gemach, gemach, mein guter Freund.

The bike's ready, awaiting an oil refill (and a new front isolator). We'll see then if 20W50 will give better results than 10W50.

Well, I am pretty sure to know the answer already ...

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"It is often said that before you die your life passes before your eyes. It is in fact true. It's called living."
Terry Pratchett

Pray tell germanic friend...

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08 Specialized Langster