V11 sport oil pump

[matt2dogs]

I have just finished rebuilding a 1999 v11 sport engine & am concerned that the oil pump does not seem to be priming.
i have turned the engine over for quite a while( with no plugs in) to get some oil circulating round the engine prior to firing it up & no oil is being picked up by the pump. is this normal ? does it require the higher revs of the engine running before the pump will prime.
any help on this would be good as i don't want to seize a newly refurbished engine the first time i fire it up

[pete roper]

Did you check the oil pump during the rebuild? I assume so? Why did the engine fail in the first place and how did this manifest itself?

It isn't unknown for pumps to refuse to prime, especially on V11's which are already prone to oil pick-up exposure. If the bike was used in anger a lot the bearings could be starved of oil and the pump body scored both of which will lead to difficulty in priming and low oil pressure when hot.

Finally are you sure it isn't priming and it isn't simply a bung oil pressure switch or stuck OPRV?

Pete

[matt2dogs]

Hi Pete
i got this engine from a breakers, its a 1999 V11 sport, with approx 5000 miles of use, i have stripped it down & rebuilt it to assure myself of its condition & its just about pristine inside. the outside condition was rubbish, so it has been repainted & rebuilt.
so my question is this should the oil pump pick up oil and pump it round the engine if you crank it over on the starter (plugs out to make it easier) or does it require the higher revs of the engine running? to prime the oil pump
I have pre filled the oil filter,any thoughts would be welcome.
thanks,
matt