I have my 1948 Indian done and only 19 days left to Sturgis, I am running out of
time.

I have 105 miles on the bike and things are going pretty well, I have had a
few miscellaneous issues to clear up but there is one problem I have been
chasing that I finally found, but cannot find any info on.

The motor starts and idles perfectly, but after 50 miles I had a screeching
sound that was coming when the engine was running it came and went sporadically.
Long story short after I discovered that the squealing/Vibration was coming from the oil pump/distributor I pulled them off the bike. I determined the
distributor was not at fault. I stuck a big screw driver in the top of the
pump and spun the shaft that turns the distributor, wow what a screech it
just seemed dry. I put a teaspoon of oil in the distributor hole and as soon
as the I spun the shaft twice it quieted right down. It was like silk ,no gallig

My question is on a alum body pump is the cavity of the pump supposed to be full of oil to lubricate this steel on steel setup ? I see there is a hole
in the place you install the distributor that would allow you to fill the
pump when you first assemble it.  I reread the overhaul manual and it says
nothing about filling the cavity. Do you know how this shaft gets oil ?

Also while rereading the manual I see that it says to put a thin film of
sealer between the pump plates during assembly. Should I take apart a pump that is working and do this ? My thought is that I would be adding clearance between the gears and the plates and causing me to lose pressure. I built a testing machine and I did achieve the amount of oil we discussed,actually a oz more per minute so I am leery to fool with it.

Thanks in advance
Craig
651 269 1755  in case you want to call

let me throw this out without looking at the book for your model, but look on the distrubtor for a thimble cap that unscrews, if you have 1 a good idea to put a couple drops of grease in there every couple thousands miles, I believe the oil is supposed to work it's way down the shaft and keep things lubed.

2nd, your right, hate to take apart a good working oil pump!, Before silicon sealers used to just coat a gasket with a moist wipe of grease to seal gaskets. If it's not leaking I'd just keep a eye on it,  but in general I like to but a thin-thin coat of Yamabond 5 ( now called something else) on any gasket during assembly.