Started a cam replacement in my 1998 FLH Ultra Classic. Once I opened up the cam cover and aligned the cam to the pinion, I noticed that the breather appears to be 180 degrees off. Attached is a pic. The yellow arrow indicates the timing mark on the breather, with both cam/pinion in alignment.

Since getting the bike used last year, I've put on 4,000 miles. Oil pressure has always been good. I did however, recently notice a ticking around 2700 RPMs. I assumed this to be lifters or maybe a mismatch between cam and pinion gears (cam is yellow, can't see any color on pinion).

1) Am I correct, that my breather is 180 degrees off?

2) If the breather is not in time with other gears, what bad things happen?

3) Could have this incorrect installation been the cause of my 'ticking' noise? (lifters visually appear to be OK)

Thanks,
Mark

 

Just pull the breather and turn it, make sure all three marks are lined up,it needs to be....

 

It will just pull out, check all the teeth and if they are intact install correctly. Out of time that bad I am guessing you had a blow by or sumping problem. As far as the ticking that was why I suggested checking the teeth if one or more is gone it may make some noise.

 

No, it's not the cause of the ticking and with being out 180* you will have too much crank case pressure which will make the rocker gaskets Leak and possibly other gaskets As well......

 

Thanks for the posts.
No teeth are missing. No rocker gaskets leaking, although the cam cover gasket started leaking this season, after hard riding to Sturgis last summer.
To address ticking was planning to replace lifters and match pinion to EV13. I also see that I have the INA bearing, so that will go too!
Appreciate everyone's feedbCk and suggestions.

 

No. It is a couple of teeth short of being 180 out.

 

I now run an S&S Valve Breather so never have to worry about timing the breather anymore.

 

Is it on the correct part of the stroke? I have never seen one run properly that far off. I'd rotate it around and see if it lines up on the next rotation.

Very odd indeed.

Griz

 

this!!!!!!

 

That was my first thought. I rotated things multiple time to see if they ever lined up. The breather never did.