Yes, Erik, it never occurred to me that more end-play would allow more oil to go more places it was not intended. If you look at a 1977 pump you can see how they used a flat spring gizmo to remove the side-play from the gerotor set. But I think this is why Tom is so la-te-da about his fix. If you have the newer pump body with the seal between scavenge and feed, then the oil can not weep down into the scavenge section and then into the engine. If you have a good seated check-valve, then it cannot weep into the feed side and into the engine. And if you add that second seal above the gears, in the timed breather tower, well then the oil cannot weep up the rotor housing and into the engine. The endplay would make the pump less efficient, but even if the oil could weep past the gears, it can't go anywhere.
And Tom, I apologize. Where are my manners? I haven't made any introductions. Out in French Canada we have the TheFrenchOwl, Patrick. He runs
a whole site on K-model race bikes. Its a non-commercial site, Patrick does it out of the good of his heart, because he loves old bikes and he loves racing and he loves his fellow man. I might know a little more about electronics than Patrick, but when it comes to motorcycles, I can't hold a candle to him. He goes to Bonneville and other races.
Down in Virgina is Dave H. He runs this site, also non-commercial, just because he loves bikes and his fellow man. I was impressed this last year to watch this site just blossom, and not just on this forum, but the main site as well. Dave has gotten permission from Harley to publish the old parts books for free, and that pretty much assures him a place in Heaven in my book. I learned that this site is not Dave's only endeavor, he also made
a great site for Harley Hummers. Dave has passed on management of that site to others, for free, so he can concentrate on this site. Dave is a tech guy like me, and I can assure you that if he charged his rate for the time he spends on this site, it would be in the six figures.
Up in Alaska there is Erik. EKHKHK56 owns more K-model stuff and has built more bikes than most anyone. He is just a decent great guy and has helped Dave H get this site going. Always helpful, always polite, Erik is one reason I want to travel more, in the hopes I can meet him in person at an event like Davenport. I don't think you could have a better friend.
Then there is Dr Dick. I was delighted to see pictures of the good doctor in gallery section, but something is wrong with Dave's camera, since I could not see Dick's halo, his wings, or the throne he rightly occupies as a Sportster god. You can see a little of the good Doctor's handiwork
over on the XLForum. I thought I knew a lot about Sportsters, but Dr Dick has schooled me on dozens of things, all for free and all with politeness and patience and respect. He is another guy I want to meet in real life. I do think he works on other people's bikes, like you. But I never see him trolling for work or doing anything commercial on the forum. The times I know he has done work for someone is when that guy got screwed by an unscrupulous mechanic, and the good Doctor swept in to fix things and restore the Karma of the universe.
Me, I too have a
free Sportster website, and I too am old enough to know that I don't know it all. After meeting these guys I have learned I know very little. But they are a great bunch of people, and there is a reason nice-guy Erik pointed to the OP (original poster) on this thread. I don't know that guy (yet) but its obvious here is here to help and learn and enjoy and be part of something wonderful.
Now Tom, I hope Dave H has not pressed the "banish" button on you yet. As that book says, "All Huns have value, even as a bad example for the other Huns." At first I thought you were a passive-aggressive narcissist sociopath, wanting to lure us in so you can abuse us. But when you call us all idiots and then a few minutes later give out your phone number, I see those wild mood swings as being drug or alcohol induced and I sadly know all about that. So calm down, and we will have the respect for you that you can earn over the months and years it takes to earn people's respect. If you continue to lash out and insult people that I deeply admire, you won't get me to think you are better than them, just the opposite.
Tom, its great you have a fix for sumping, but until it works for a few years, it really doesn't work. What if that washer breaks or chips and you lunch a whole engine? And you don't have to be too secretive-- as Robert Oppenheimer said about the A-bomb, "The only secret is if it works." Trust me, Dr Dick could not only figure it out in his sleep, he would probably make significant improvements, which he would share, for free, with the rest of us.
Meanwhile, I am heading down to Home Depot to get a ball-check valve to put in my feed line. That why I can brag that I know TheFrenchOwl, and he teaches me things every chance he gets. I was going to try an add a second pipe with a 1977 pump check valve in parallel in case I forget to turn the valve, but first things first.