97 MM700 Changed Oil Pump Cable, Now All Injector Oil Drains On the Floor WTF?

[Frostbite]

I am finally finishing up the 97 MM700 for my son.

I added a 4" pivoting bar riser so I had to change the throttle cable and oil pump cable to the 2003 MM700 cables.

The throttle cable was no problem, the oil pump cable was not fun. I ended up prying a screw driver against the oil pump arm to keep it in the full oil postion so I could see and reach the arm to be able to swap the cables.

I FINALLY got the cable changed out and noticed a huge puddle of oil on the floor. I figured it was chain case oil since I had just got the gears for the machine and put the chain case together.

But no, it was injector oil. It drained the injector oil tank dry. So I thought, ok it drained all the oil while I had the oil pump arm in the up (full oil) positon? So I added a little more oil today and a fresh container under the sled and I'll be dipped if all the oil didn't drain again into the fresh drip pan again.

The arm seems to be returning to the no oil position (the cable has no tension on it) so I can't figure out why all the oil is draining from the injector oil tank (unless I some how knocked the oil line off?). The oil pump is mostly under the motor mount so I really can't see much under there even with a mirror. I hate to pull the engine to fix this issue but, to see what is going on you'd almost have to do so.

If any of you guys have been here and know the easy fix please let me know. I'm getting tired of seeing all the expensive injector oil draining into a drip pan.

Thanks in advance for any advice.

Frosty

 

[whatryan]

i think u can see the oil pump if u take the carbs off it should be right there it was on my srx for oil leaking out i am beating there hoes off are ripped and there a bleed screw to down there to check that

 

[somedude]

you can take the carbs and one motor mount off and get at the oil pump pretty good.
But there are two oil lines under the motor

 

[Frostbite]

Thanks, I guess I didn't realize you could remove a motor mount. I was doing my best to work around it. If removing it is even semi easy, the problem should be easy to identify. Right now, I can't see anything (even with an inspection mirror and a strong light).

Frosty

 

[mysledblows]

Pretty simple to pop the mount off. Just did one the other night.

 

[Frostbite]

Ok, I pulled the airbox and crabs back off. I then removed the motor mount covering the oil pump. The oil dripping had stopped (because the oil level was below the reservoir output hose) so I added a little more injector oil.

I bleed the air out of the oil pump and then started inspecting all the hoses for leaks. I couldn't see oil leaking from anywhere. Then I shinned my flashlight under the engine and sure enough, oil was dripping at a good pace off the very bottom of the steering shaft. I still can't figure out how it's getting there.

What in the world would changing an oil pump cable have to do with the oil tank reservoir beginning to leak?

It looks like it has to be one of two things.

1. I see in the manual that there is an "O" ring on the back (engine side) of the oil pump. Maybe that "O" ring somehow failed during the cable change process?

2. There are three lines eminating from the oil pump. One comes from the injection oil tank to the oil pump. The second goes from the oil pump to the fuel pump. The third line runs back under the engine to ????????? I thought that maybe this line was leaking because it's the closest one to where the oil is dripping but, it's under the engine and really can't see anything. I can feel oil on the outside of the line but, I can't tell if it's coming from a leak in the line of from running down the engine side of the oil pump. So I unhooked that line from the oil pump and the dripping seemed to continue.

Then I had to come in the house for dinner and there it sits. What now?

I was going to take the oil pump off of the engine but, the lower mount allen head bolt can't even be seen. I hate to have to pull the dang motor to fix this issue but, it looks like I might have to get access to the mess.

Help me..............................

Frosty

 

[Yamamauler]

Weird. Have you pinched off the lines one a time to narrow down the leak?
Any chance that you punctured the oil tank?

Y

 

[somedude]

the third line from the pump goes one of the main bearing then there is another line that goes from one bearing to another these lines have cheesy clamps on them, and if the hoses are brittle they can fall off or crack mine did, unfortunately pretty much have to remove the motor to inspect them

 

[Frostbite]

Thanks guys, it's disheartening that I finally get all the parts to get this sled together and now I have to yank the dang engine.

The only other thing I can think it could possibly be is; The 03 oil pump cable is longer of course and I adjusted the gap in the cable for the recommended roughly one inch of gap between the cable pieces. I can't quite get that much gap. I have maybe 7/8" to 15/16". It seems that the arm on the oil pump, the arm is not going all the way back to the off detent. It sits up just a hair.

Could that have anything to do with the leak?


Frosty

 

[Yamamauler]

I think if the cable is the issue your to get more / less oil in the motor, not out of it.


Y

 

[woodies]

x3 not possible that it would come out unless the gasket was screwed?

 

[Frostbite]

I lifted the motor tonight and with a mirror I can a see the oil is dripping from the fitting directly below the oil pump that connects to the hose for the bearings. Now that I can see it, the question is, can I fix it without completely removing the engine?

Stay tuned .......................

Frosty

 

[Frostbite]

Guys, I THINK I found the problem last evening. I removed the pipe, primary clutch and the frame cross member so I could tip up the engine and not have to unhook the coolant lines. Sure enough, oil was dripping from the oil lines to the engine bearings. So, I changed the oil lines and did a leak check.

I'll be dipped if there still wasn't a leak!

What I think it is, (since the oil seems to be seaping from the left sideof the oil pump) is the bracket that holds the oil pump cable. The bracket is incoprated into the left side (as your'e sitting on sled) of the oil pump. It's made of cheesy thin stamped steel and I tried to get the lock nut off of the bottom of the threaded cable it was tight as heck. So it took considerable torque to break that nut loose. That considerable torque tweaked (bent, buckled, distorted) this cheesy metal and it was no longer sealing on the super thin "O" ring on the side of the oil pump.

So, I removed the two tiny philips head screws that hold the plate/bracket, pulled off the cheesy stamped plate and put it in the vise to straighten it. I then installed a fuel/oil resistant thicker "O" ring in place of the ultra thin "O" ring that was in the groove for it on the side of the pump and installed the plate/bracket.

I guess I'll see this morning if it worked.

Frosty