Arlen Ness for big Suckers
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Joined: Jan 2016
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From: nomadic
Arlen Ness for big Suckers
After dropping 150 on this damn filter, its done nothing but **** oil all over my bike, my pipes, and my leg. First ride it spewed oil all over the damn place. Did some research and lowered the oil level. Did okay for a while, then I flashed a new tune to my bike and the very next ride it spit oil all over me again. I've lowered the oil level slightly again, to a point which I think is too close to too little. Iv'e read a lot of the threads about this issue, and it seems to be hit and miss. WTF? I'm a few minutes away from ordering a new AC. Comments welcome
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From: SWFL
You may have a problem with the breathers on your motor. The filter you had before was probably better at dumping the oil back into the intake.
I had a ness filter that I modified to vent to atmosphere, and never had oil dripping to the extent you describe.
I'd look at the bike.
FYI I keep my oil at half on the stick at cold on both bikes and nothing but water vapor comes out my external vents.
I had a ness filter that I modified to vent to atmosphere, and never had oil dripping to the extent you describe.
I'd look at the bike.
FYI I keep my oil at half on the stick at cold on both bikes and nothing but water vapor comes out my external vents.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2016
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From: Northstreet, michigan
I've heard the oil is supposed to be routed back to the intake, but instead drips through the bottom of the filter. I'd run an oil catch can vented to atmosphere if it spits that much. However if you continue to need to empty the can, you'll obviously be adding oil frequently as well. I've never owned a ness so I'm not familiar with them. I thought their products were already vented to atmosphere, in which case some oil most is to be expected.
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Joined: Jan 2016
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From: nomadic
You may have a problem with the breathers on your motor. The filter you had before was probably better at dumping the oil back into the intake.
I had a ness filter that I modified to vent to atmosphere, and never had oil dripping to the extent you describe.
I'd look at the bike.
FYI I keep my oil at half on the stick at cold on both bikes and nothing but water vapor comes out my external vents.
I had a ness filter that I modified to vent to atmosphere, and never had oil dripping to the extent you describe.
I'd look at the bike.
FYI I keep my oil at half on the stick at cold on both bikes and nothing but water vapor comes out my external vents.
When you say the "breathers" are you referring to the bolts that came with the Arlen Ness AC kit? My oil level is slightly below half on the dipstick, this seemed to solve the problem with stock tune, but I of course tuned the bike with the new AC (and exhaust) and its leaking again. It's definitely not a small amount of oil, I mean a healthy continuous drip. I don't think lowering the oil level more is a good idea. Thanks
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Joined: Jan 2016
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From: nomadic
I've heard the oil is supposed to be routed back to the intake, but instead drips through the bottom of the filter. I'd run an oil catch can vented to atmosphere if it spits that much. However if you continue to need to empty the can, you'll obviously be adding oil frequently as well. I've never owned a ness so I'm not familiar with them. I thought their products were already vented to atmosphere, in which case some oil most is to be expected.
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Joined: Feb 2015
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From: Galt's Gulch - MI
If you got an Arlen Ness Big Sucker for 150 bones, that was the hella deal of the decade 
Some Twin Cams are pukers, it's what they do.
Vent that nasty crap to atmosphere, you're doing your intake and engine no favors putting that hot oily gas back in to the intake.
With some bikes, oil level on the stick on a cold check won't get it done. The nature of the beast. You pull the rockers and open the oil drain holes in the plates, add Trask Mystfree breathers, or live with it.
But vent those crankcase gasses to atmosphere, what ever you decide to do...
Some Twin Cams are pukers, it's what they do.
Vent that nasty crap to atmosphere, you're doing your intake and engine no favors putting that hot oily gas back in to the intake.
With some bikes, oil level on the stick on a cold check won't get it done. The nature of the beast. You pull the rockers and open the oil drain holes in the plates, add Trask Mystfree breathers, or live with it.
But vent those crankcase gasses to atmosphere, what ever you decide to do...
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From: SWFL
OP, by breathers in the context of my post I mean the internal crankcase breather valves in your motor. It seemed from your description that there was a lot of oil, so it's possible you have a bad breather valve.
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From: SWFL
The new version of the Arlen Ness (the one on my bike) doesn't have tubes, but has a hole in the mounting bracket that leads to the breather bolts. I believe this is supposed to be the route which the oil takes back into the intake. Not sure if I could set up a catch without taping some leads and then connecting hoses to a catch. Which I wouldn't necessarily mind doing if it solved the issue... But I would think if I buy an air cleaner it should function the way it's meant to without modification. Thanks for the reply
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 2,066
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From: Northstreet, michigan
The new version of the Arlen Ness (the one on my bike) doesn't have tubes, but has a hole in the mounting bracket that leads to the breather bolts. I believe this is supposed to be the route which the oil takes back into the intake. Not sure if I could set up a catch without taping some leads and then connecting hoses to a catch. Which I wouldn't necessarily mind doing if it solved the issue... But I would think if I buy an air cleaner it should function the way it's meant to without modification. Thanks for the reply