Hi. Sounds a funny one? The engines have an advanced 3 stage oil pump system with a scavenged dry sump. Seems yours may have a fault in the scavenge pump, so the oil is building in the sump and not being returned to the reservoir to be seen through the sight glass. This isn’t unheard of. Unless your very familiar with the engines internals you should leave it to the stealers. Yes, I’m sorry as well.

 

oh nooooo, someone else mentioned a collapsed oil filter ?

 

Can’t see how a collapsed filter would cause this issue. How many miles on the engine?

 

31,000 miles

 

I'm not sure the filter collapsing is still a thing that happens since the filter design was upgraded as it now has a bypass valve in it. Also the filter is after the oil tank so a blocked/collapsed filter would mean the tank would still fill but the line pressure would go low, which would bring up the oil pressure warning instead.

If the scavenge pump has failed then lets hope it's just the drive gear and not actual internal damage as that could mean it has ingested stuff, stuff that shouldn't have been in there.

Good luck btw.

 

The oil returning to the tank powered by the sump scavange pump is filtered by one of the small gauze filters you clean when you carry out an oil change. Can’t see that collapsing also as said the main cartridge filter has a by pass valve fitted. Usually when the scavange fails giving the symptoms you have, it occurs at a much lower mileage as far as I’m aware. You could tip it on its side and remove both gauze filters for inspection. EXPECT THE SUMP TO BE FULL OF OIL THOUGH, as it’s not in the tank.

 

Ok I've just dropped the oil out, took the front screen out and out was clean but not much oil about a litre came out, took the rear screen out and to my horror I had to fight to get it out, loads of metal 😭 god knows what's happened but it don't look good to me

 

about a litre from the front screen, and the rest from the rear screen loads of oil

 

Oh dear.. that looks like the sort of metal chippings you get from a mill... I think at least one of the pumps has been completely gorged out.. but the question what got in there to cause it.
If you're lucky it was just the pump itself that fell apart and screens & filter saved the engine.
If unlucky then something in the engine or gearbox has broken up and then those parts took out the oil pump.

Time to take the casing off and see what's going on inside I think.
Also collect up all the fragments and check to see what metals at there, if it's all alloy (non magnetic) then you might have been lucky.

 

Oh dear.. that looks like the sort of metal chippings you get from a mill... I think at least one of the pumps has been completely gorged out.. but the question what got in there to cause it.
If you're lucky it was just the pump itself that fell apart and screens & filter saved the engine.
If unlucky then something in the engine or gearbox has broken up and then those parts took out the oil pump.

Time to take the casing off and see what's going on inside I think.
Also collect up all the fragments and check to see what metals at there, if it's all alloy (non magnetic) then you might have been lucky.

 

Does that wavy filter not suggest water pump / seal?

+1 on the good luck.

 

i've bought another engine off ebay with half the miles, fit it sell it, KTM never again

 

Any bike can have mechanical issues not just KTM!

 

Sorry your experience of KTM was bad but life is short so all the best with your next bike/brand.

 

Sounds like yet another known issue ktm have done nothing to put right, ktm should make it clear you are buying a trendy brand image not a useable motorcycle.

 

I’ve owned both new and second hand, road and off road KTMs for over 10 years never had a serious issue that has let me down whilst in use. Just normal wear and tear items. All manufacturing can have issues, With bikes a lot can be put down to previous owners from what I’ve seen, although I’m not saying yours is. You’ve been very unlucky, there are loads of LC8 engines particularly abroad on mega high mileage with no serious issues. It’s a well respected design. Hope your next bike gives great service, although I don’t think you will find a forum backup as helpful as the KTM ones!

 

This is not my bike!!! Would not touch a modern ktm with a bargepole, I have 8 ktm's all pre 2004 except one 2012 2 stroke.
Looked at 1090 and 1290 adv 2 years ago very poor build quality many issues with them so had africa twin adventure sport, no regrets there its done Sahari rally in Algeria, africa eco race and ryedale rally, many big crashes, dodgy fuel, hardly any service but never missed a beat.
Don't need a helpfull forum for a honda the manufacture gets it right!

Old 950 adventure great bike with proper off road capability, not like the crap they turn out these days with an engine designed for road bikes, low sump.

Team kaprioni have been doing the africa eco race for years on a 950/990 did it this year on a 790 dnf'd 2 engines let go....says it all!

 

As above, I've had KTM's since the 90's and raced enduros on them for years without failure other than rider errors which have been numerous!

Three SDR's one 690 enduro & a 1290SAS later I am still enjoying their engineering and have given them all a hard life & especially the two 1290 SDR's as I used them hard on track a fair bit.

 

Don't get me started on the 690 enduro "experiance" bag of crap, most unreliable bike ever made, must be!

 

Mine was OK, but then again it didn't have a hard life with me.