18
Priming the oil system prior to Start-up
All engines should be checked for oil pressure prior to start up. Oil pressure should be
visible at the top end feed screen plug, which is located to the rear of the rear lifter block on
the cam cover side. See Figure 6.
To verify that you have pressure before running your engine follow these steps:
Make sure you have filled your oil tank with clean engine oil and no oil lines are crimped.
1. Remove the top end feed screen plug.
2. Disconnect all wires from the coil.
3. Remove spark plugs from engine.
4. With the motorcycle in neutral, turn on the ignition and crank
the engine in 5 second intervals until oil pressure is present at
the top end feed screen plug. If oil pressure is not visible repeat
this process until oil is present. After oil is present reinstall the
top end feed screen plug.
5. Continue to crank the engine for approx. 20 seconds total. You
will now have oil to the lifters and can start the engine.
Note:
If you have difficulty priming your engine’s oil pump you can remove the oil pump’s check ball (see Figure 6) and fill the check ball cavity
with engine oil and then reinstall the check ball. By doing this you are removing air pockets in the pump and flooding the pump’s feed
gears with oil. Generally this will greatly speed the priming process.
FIG. 6
OIL PUMP
CHECK BALL FITTING
TOP END FEED SCREEN
Fuel Recommendations:
High quality fuel will have a direct effect on your engine’s performance.
Ultima
®
Shovelhead engines are designed to run on a Minimum of 92 octane unleaded fuel. Higher octane fuels will be beneficial to your
engine only up to a point and above about 100-105 octane you can lose performance as the engine’s fuel requirements and ignition timing
requirements with these fuels will change. Search out the best fuels in your area. There are large variations in fuel quality nationwide.
