I would like to know if anyone out there has an idea why my oil dipstick blows out of the oil tank reservoir on a 2002 heritage softail. Why would there be that much pressure in the tank to blow the dipstick out.

 

Have you owned this bike Long? Being over full will cause that on some

 

Only two things, loose fitting dipstick or excessive crankcase pressure caused by any number of things.

Pay attention to what Smitty said and do not top it off when COLD. It is possible that you have oil leaking down into the crankcase and if you fill it up and then start the engine you will have to much oil in the tank.

 

too much oil in tank!

 

Thanks for all the input. I have owned the bike about 4 years. I did just change the oil. There was some leakage on the floor where I park the bike. I checked the oil and found there was to much in the tank. I removed the excess oil. I rode the bike about 50 miles and found the dipstick missing. I bought a new dipstick and rode the bike back home. That dipstick blew out and hit my leg so I was able to find it along side the road. This was the first time this has happened. What else could cause this problem?

 

Plugged crankcase vent.

 

Thanks for all the input guys. I have the problem resolved. I had recently installed a heavy breather kit from D & M motorcycle parts that I purchased from a friend. Anyway, some parts were missing that I wasn't aware of such as head mounting bolts that have vents in them. I'm new at motorcycle mechanics but I do have mechanical ability. At this point I don't know if the original head bolts will work with the heavy breather kit. For now I just reinstalled the original air cleaner. My question now though is have I done any damage to the engine by running it with the D & M kit on it. I rode it about 500 miles before the dipstick blew out. Again, thanks for the input

 

Thanks for letting us know.

 

I also had this happen in my shop yesterday. Prior to this I installed the SE cam support plate w/ high volume/pressure oil pump and new umbrella valves. I'm wondering if the new umbrella valves should be installed with the demister to the top, or like the original with the demister towards the head (this is the way I installed them). Any info from a tech would be greatly appreciated.

 

Turns out that the valves come packaged and require disassembly and reconstruction; the umbrella valve was against the demister media instead of the other side of the perforated baffle plate. I replaced the "old cast style" valves and never bothered to disassemble them and inspect how they were constructed. They were sent with some assembly required, but no assembly instructions or a sketch; having never seen the new style valves and the manual not having them in it, I assumed that they were sent "ready to install". Harley's shortsightedness, and my mistake.

I corrected this last night and installed a new petcock. I will get the bike back together after my new throttle cable set gets in.