Oil pressure problem?

[GS1000S]

I was going through my monthly ritual in January of starting up my stored bikes and warming them up and getting some fresh fuel through the carbs. when I experienced a problem with my 1979 GS850GN. When started after sitting a month the oil pressure light would flicker on and off and occasionally stay on constantly in the first 5 min. of operation, in the final 5 minutes or so the light was out. I thought I also heard a little rattle from the bottom end in the first 5 minutes that I hadn't heard before. So, I picked up a 15psi. gauge and an adapter to tie into the main oil galley and started it up cold today after another month or so of sitting. At startup I had approx. 17psi. at @ around 2000 RPM as the engine warmed it would slowly drift down but it didn't seem to be linear(it would drift up and down or perhaps drop 3 psi. within a minute's time) until finally after a 15 min. warm up it stayed at around 1.75-2.0 psi. @ 3000 RPM. At a hot idle the light was out but the needle indicated 0 psi. Oil is fresh 10w-40 Suzuki with a new filter. I realize this is a ball bearing engine but this seems awfully low to me, is this normal? The bike has 25k on it and I've never experienced this in the 25 yrs. I've owned it.


thanks, Pat

[Nessism]

Sounds normal. The factory service manual has the oil pressure spec.

[phydeauxmutt]

Maybe it is just protesting about being started and not taken for a ride to fully warm up?