Oil Pump: Driven if towed in Neutral?

[Ebayru]

If a GT550 was towed with the rear wheel on the ground, the engine off and the tranny in neutral, would the oil pump be driven? I could remove the chain, but I'd rather not, if not necessary.

Thanks!

[yeadon_m]

not certain but even if it was, would it matter?

[Ebayru]

It would definitely matter if it was filling the crankcase with oil. That's my concern.

[Coyote]

Remove the pump retaining screws and take out the drive pin.

[pearljam724]

Wtf, why would you tow a bike like a car ?

[yeadon_m]

and, you'd need to tow it several hundred miles to put significant volume of oil into the motor. Compared with the complexities you may wrestle with at destination, removing the SRIS valves to drain any excess oil (which you would be advised to do regardless....oil can leak by and into a stationary motor) seems a small one.

[Ebayru]

Pearljam: it's a sidecar rig. I was originally going to drive it to our second home (500 miles away), but my wife wanted to take her car in addition to our van so I have to tow it. All the quotes for a trailer that would work would come to about $400 with 2 one way rentals, as we will be there two months. So I modified a hitch that pulls the rig nicely with all wheels on the ground. I need to know if the pump is driven by rotation of the rear wheel with the tranny in neutral. Then I can decide whether I should remove the chain for the tow. That would definitely eliminate the problem, if it exists, but I always prefer doing only necessary things.

Coyote: Are you saying that the pump is driven by rotation of the rear wheel with the trans in neutral?

Thanks for your help everyone.

[jabcb]

The oil pump is driven by the kick starter shaft.

If the rear wheel turns the oil pump when in neutral then it turns the kick starter shaft too.
If this were the case, then the kick starter would turn the rear wheel when in neutral.

[Ebayru]

Jabcb: Thanks for the exploded view and your logic input.

What I can tell from the drawing is that the oil pump is driven by a gear ON, but not necessarily driven by, the kick start shaft which is driven by a gear on one of the transmission shafts. Because that gear turns over the engine, but not the rear wheel when kicking the starter lever in neutral, the transmission shaft gear must be in the drivetrain before engagement with the output to the rear wheel when in neutral.

If my logic is correct, then turning the rear wheel with the transmission in neutral will NOT turn the oil pump drive pin.

Thoughts?

[jabcb]

From the diagram I get this:

pump drive with engine running is:
clutch to 1st drive gear (part of counter shaft)
1st drive gear to 1st driven gear (not splined to drive shaft)
1st driven gear to kick starter drive gear
kick starter drive gear to worm gear driving oil pump

When in neutral & being towed:
drive shaft spins
clutch & counter shaft do NOT spin
some gears on both shafts spin
1st drive gear & 1st driven gear do NOT spin
kick starter drive gear does NOT spin
So the oil pump does NOT spin

[GT750Battleship]

Who's on First,Whats on Second,I don't know on Third
Cheers,
Roger

[ConnerVT]

Would kinda make sense, wouldn't it?

Oil delivery is based on engine RPM, not output shaft (MPH) speed.

[pearljam724]

Coyote, made a very easy suggestion that would work. That would take five minutes to accomplish. Especially, on the 550. You have more room around the oil pump to lift it once the base screws are removed. In order to remove the drive gear. With the 750 it would be a little bit of PIA as you might have to remove the air box. I would take his suggestion. But, before you even start. I would tape a post it note to the fuel tank, reminding me it has been removed. Don't want to forget that the next time you attempt to ride it. Or if your chain has a slip on master link clip. I would remove the chain. That would be even faster and less PIA.

[Ebayru]

Great logical thinking!!

Thanks for all the great responses.

[tz375]

Would kinda make sense, wouldn't it?

Oil delivery is based on engine RPM, not output shaft (MPH) speed.

Exactly.