2018+ Softail Models Breakout

External Breather Question

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Old Dec 6, 2021 | 01:11 PM
  #11  
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Oh so it's completely safe running the bike on that low of oil? The previous owner of my bike overfilled it so I grabbed a turkey baster and pulled 6~8oz of oil out. Now the bike reads at the top most line of the dipstick when its screwed in and was run previously and then sat idle on the kickstand for 2+ minutes.

I'd be willing to pull a bit more oil out if it helps that much.
 
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Old Dec 6, 2021 | 02:59 PM
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Originally Posted by FranBunnyFFXII
Oh so it's completely safe running the bike on that low of oil? The previous owner of my bike overfilled it so I grabbed a turkey baster and pulled 6~8oz of oil out. Now the bike reads at the top most line of the dipstick when its screwed in and was run previously and then sat idle on the kickstand for 2+ minutes.

I'd be willing to pull a bit more oil out if it helps that much.
I check it cold , and keep it at the halfway mark, that is what the manual says. I check it hot and it expands a little. I believe because of the oil cooler you can get various reading when hot . Half way mark cold keep it simple.
 
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Old Dec 6, 2021 | 04:30 PM
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Originally Posted by Durham man
I check it cold , and keep it at the halfway mark, that is what the manual says. I check it hot and it expands a little. I believe because of the oil cooler you can get various reading when hot . Half way mark cold keep it simple.
Thanks for the advice, went out and checked it cold, sure enough it was still way over filled.
 
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Old Dec 6, 2021 | 05:54 PM
  #14  
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Originally Posted by Durham man
I check it cold , and keep it at the halfway mark, that is what the manual says. I check it hot and it expands a little. I believe because of the oil cooler you can get various reading when hot . Half way mark cold keep it simple.
If you check cold, down to the lowest mark is OK too.
 
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Old Dec 6, 2021 | 08:06 PM
  #15  
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Originally Posted by Agoober
I vent to the atmosphere as the stock system creates a venturi and can suck oil/mist/vapor from the breathers umbrella system if the system is not 100% sealing. The venturi could be what they're talking about it might create a pulse that works with the motor but it's insignificant I think .I noticed no change to my idle quality or the bikes running characteristics when I vented the head breathers on any bike I've owned , none . Just a cooler, cleaner running engine .
I don't want hot oil vapor going into my engine that causes carbon build up on the piston crown and dilutes my air fuel mixture and makes my bike run hotter. Look at a bikes pistons that has the head breather vented to the atmosphere(or catch can) and look at a stock bikes pistons after a 10 or 20 thousand miles and you'll see what I mean .
A lot of those videos are horseshit and people who have no idea quote them as gospel .Go ask any mechanic/engine builder how good the internet has been for his business , the smile will tell you all you need to know. Those videos are the "a fool and his money " thing , they're about making money. There are some good videos those Moonshine Harley guys go OK but act like fkwits doing it but if your knowledge base is from what some guy/s said on the net you actually don't know **** , spending a lifetime riding and working on these bikes gets you a knowledge base. Ask those guys IRL.
Talk to an engine builder or an old Harley greybeard guy about it as they know , internet blow ins don't. .
Yeah, I understand the benefits of external breathers on intake and have done it on past bikes with no issues. Was just trying to understand how they are now seen as problem with bike creating a vacuum. Hell, if it is a problem, why not install a check valve on end of hose that is vented to atmosphere? If for some reason, the umbrella valves aren’t seating or working as intended, the check valve would maintain a vacuum.
 
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Old Dec 7, 2021 | 12:11 AM
  #16  
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Safe oil operating level as measured on the dip stick is between full and add.
This picture shows my hot oil level about two dots below where I usually keep it. No oil in air filter when running the stock breather system.



 
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Old Dec 7, 2021 | 11:03 AM
  #17  
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Thanks for the input guys. I ended up taking another 2oz out of the bike after a cold check this morning. It was still ever so slightly over half.
I think the bike should be good. I'll be pulling off the air filter later to check how much, if any, oil has been spit into it.
 
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Old Dec 7, 2021 | 11:20 AM
  #18  
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Originally Posted by txphatboy;[url=tel:20316960
20316960[/url]]but I just don’t get how rerouting breather lines from intake to outside the intake prevents a vacuum
Because the intake is what is creating the vacuum.
 
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Old Dec 7, 2021 | 02:00 PM
  #19  
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Originally Posted by txphatboy
Fairly new to the M8’s and trying to learn here. I installed fittings and hoses on my TC intake to vent oils from heads to atmosphere instead of dumping dirty air back into intake. I have been looking to do the same on my 128” M8. I was also looking at the transmission cover vent with check valve to relieve extra crank case pressure.

Here is my question: I am seeing several videos and posts stating the external breather at the intake is not good, as it does not allow the engine to build vacuum. I have seen several of these videos, but they don’t explain this, they just state it. Not an engine expert by any means, but I don’t really see a big difference in how the external breather prevents a vacuum. I thought the umbrella valves is what let pressure out thru and prevented air from entering back into the breather bolts? Stock routing of hoses dumps right into entrance of TB, but are not sealed in any way. I am just not seeing a difference between dumping into TB and dumping outside air cleaner. Can someone please explain how stock breather hoses allows vacuum and external breathers don’t?
Can you reference which videos and where they make this claim? I don't remember this being talked about.
Can you point out the posts that say external breathers do not allow engine to build vacuum?
I don't remember these discussions or the context.

Originally Posted by txphatboy
Is this not what is being said in some of these videos, etc? Maybe I am misunderstanding. I bought hoses and parts to do the EBS, but have seen some guys who have done EBS and transmission cover vent say they were going to keep the tran cover vent and get rid of EBS. Just trying to make sense of this before I drill holes in air cleaner backing plate.
Misunderstanding? Possible.
 
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