Need Input Please
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Cruiser
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 155
Likes: 0
From: San Antonio, TX
Need Input Please
I have a 08 Fat BOB with a SE Heavy Breather Air Cleaner kit installed by the deal. I have noticed that the two covered mounting bolts that connect the kit to the motor have some small amount of oil leaking out of the caps after long rides. (Tear Drop at the most). I took it to dealer, they looked at it and stated the had to tighten the bolts. Looks like the same issue is still happening. Is it normal to have this leakage from the mounting bolts after long rides.
Road Master
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 1,197
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From: The wild, wild, west.
Can you post a picture, that would be helpful. I'm pretty sure that the bolts do not penetrate any part of the motor. Any chance your filter element is over bathed in oil? I have the Arlen big sucker, and after my 1000 mi service, there was fresh oil that had come from the filter element, and spit on my exhaust, staining a little bit of course.
Road Warrior
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 1,691
Likes: 3
That's the breathers. There's one for each cylinder. It's basically the vent for the oil system. It's suppose to just be vapor that get sucked into the intake and burned. If you put too much oil in it will blow oil out the breathers though. There should not be any leak at the cylinder, but would likely be where the ac connects if you're blowing oil out the breather. That's just little rubber plugs stuck in there with a tube leading to the intake. I would imagine it's design to not blow the oil into the intake. A little vapor is one thing, a stream of oil is a whole differant story.
Supporter
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 15,788
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From: along the shore of Mishigami
When I installed the SE kit on my bike I thought it was pretty foolproof, I guess I was mistaken. The bolts with the hoses attached are hollow, is it possible one might be plugged and allowing the fumes to condense into droplets and leaking out. For all the miles I have on both of my bikes they haven't had the problems described in these forums.
Road Master
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,234
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From: Southern Indiana
I noticed mine had loosened over the weekend as well. I was noticing blowby on my pipes and never made the connection until I saw it around the breathers. I tightened them and all is well. I'd suggest just insuring they're tight from time to time and problem is solved.
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Banned
Joined: Mar 2007
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From: Woodstock, Ont , Can
The cap orings do not fit well on these units. Take the caps off and clean everything up with thinner and apply a small amount of silicone on the flange outside of the o ring near the head. Push the plugs in and twist a half rev. Let it cure for a couple of hours and no more leaks. To remove in future take making tape an make many wraps around the head and rotate with channel locks to break the bond. Then pull out as normal.
I tried to find a slightly larger o ring for mine but it's a no go for installing the plug. Oil in there is normal as the mist will condense over time and collect. As designed and the vent locations as well as the elbow shape it would be almost impossible for oil to reach the actual breather element. I have had the element drip from the red oil eventually gravitating to the bottom over time. I now spray the bottom 1/4 of the element less than the rest because of this.
Ron
I tried to find a slightly larger o ring for mine but it's a no go for installing the plug. Oil in there is normal as the mist will condense over time and collect. As designed and the vent locations as well as the elbow shape it would be almost impossible for oil to reach the actual breather element. I have had the element drip from the red oil eventually gravitating to the bottom over time. I now spray the bottom 1/4 of the element less than the rest because of this.
Ron
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Cruiser
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 155
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From: San Antonio, TX
Thanks guys for your input. I will be going on a long ride this weekend. If this problem stays the same. I will take a picture of it and add to the post. The service guys at the stealer where asking off the wall questions. One was "What speed was I riding at?" Did not understand that one. My opinion was if i paid for something it should work without problems. I sure I will be taking the bike back to dealer.
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