EVO All Evo Model Discussion

1990 EVO Engine problem.

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old May 30, 2016 | 01:46 PM
  #1  
matpao's Avatar
matpao
Thread Starter
|
Stage II
Joined: May 2016
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
From: chicago
Default 1990 EVO Engine problem.

I'm getting a mixture of gas and oil coming out of a filter? on the right side of my 1990 softail engine. I Circled the (Filter) ? gas oil mixture pours out when trying to turn over the engine? Haven't had this problem before. I've attached two pics and circled the area (filter?) that the gas pours from when I go to turn over the engine? I do very little work on the machine, haven't had too and would appreciate some advice or help before sending it off to the local dealer for service. Thank you. -Mat


 
Reply
Old May 30, 2016 | 07:39 PM
  #2  
texashillcountry's Avatar
texashillcountry
Dirt don't hurt
Veteran: Navy
15 Year Member
Top Answer: 1
Top Answer: 3
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 21,065
Likes: 4,561
From: Haslet Texas
Default

Sounds like you left the gas on and sumped your motor.
That filter is your engine breather.
Since you sumped your motor it's trying to get rid of all the extra fluid in it when you try to start it.
 
Reply
Old May 30, 2016 | 09:51 PM
  #3  
Alienwulf's Avatar
Alienwulf
Supporter
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 113
Likes: 17
From: Menifee Ca.
Default

Do an oil change and get a new filter. That looks like a K&N filter all easy to do.
 
Reply
Old May 30, 2016 | 10:38 PM
  #4  
matpao's Avatar
matpao
Thread Starter
|
Stage II
Joined: May 2016
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
From: chicago
Default 1990 Evo engine problem

Thanks Allen, Texashill. Someone sent me this too..
 
Reply
Old May 30, 2016 | 10:47 PM
  #5  
Racepres's Avatar
Racepres
Seasoned HDF Member
Community Builder
Loved
Community Favorite
Top Answer: 1
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 8,590
Likes: 3,361
From: Cental, MI
Default

Throw that useless filter away...route yer breather line accordingly...Those are horrible nasty things that collect oil and drip it on the floor all nite..POS
 
Reply
Old May 30, 2016 | 10:50 PM
  #6  
D_gyver's Avatar
D_gyver
Road Master
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 913
Likes: 5
From: indiana
Default

Yes thats what wet sumping is but yours is not just oil you stated it was oil and gas thats not good you need to get all the bad oil out of the bike change the filter and remember to shut your gas off after a ride till tou get your carb rebuilt you might have to change the oil 2 times to get most of the gas out
 
Reply
Old May 31, 2016 | 04:54 AM
  #7  
grbrown's Avatar
grbrown
Club Member
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 45,429
Likes: 2,898
From: Bedford UK
Default

That filter is way too low on your bike. I ran one for many years without problems, but higher and out of sight, just under the seat. Must be said that I always turn the gas tap off and have never suffered sumping.
 
Reply
Old May 31, 2016 | 08:14 AM
  #8  
glidein wide's Avatar
glidein wide
Stellar HDF Member
10 Year Member
Photogenic
Liked
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 2,504
Likes: 150
From: ct
Default

Here's my two cents.... best tips stated are....shut off fuel when not in use, rebuild carb(needle valve), filter too low and should not be there anyway, route that back to the breather where it belongs,3/8" oil line.
I had that same exact filter on mine but routed further and still made a mess of everything until I smartened up and routed back to the breather and years later still no MESS,not even on the air filter. Some people add too much oil and this causes oil misting,which is why most move it like yours. Even the spec in the manual is too much oil capacity. I keep my oil level about a half quart down(always), engine and system needs room to breathe.
If still problem afterwards, then the breather gear issue, also I'm assuming your oil is not going past the check ball and filling the case because you stated it was fuel getting in there.
Change oil and filter twice at least.
 
Reply
HD Forum Stories

The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders

story-0

7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

 Verdad Gallardo
story-2

8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-3

10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

 Verdad Gallardo
story-5

Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

 Verdad Gallardo
Old May 31, 2016 | 09:28 AM
  #9  
texashillcountry's Avatar
texashillcountry
Dirt don't hurt
Veteran: Navy
15 Year Member
Top Answer: 1
Top Answer: 3
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 21,065
Likes: 4,561
From: Haslet Texas
Default

Originally Posted by glidein wide
filter too low and should not be there anyway, route that back to the breather where it belongs,3/8" oil line.
Change oil and filter twice at least.
I agree that the filter is too low but why would you want that oil mist going into your combustion chamber????
If it were mine I'd run the vent line over the tranny then back down to the frame or swing arm and out to the outside air (no filter).
 
Reply
Old May 31, 2016 | 09:54 AM
  #10  
Inop's Avatar
Inop
Stellar HDF Member
Veteran: Army
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 2,377
Likes: 732
From: Out west
Default

Originally Posted by texashillcountry
I agree that the filter is too low but why would you want that oil mist going into your combustion chamber????
If it were mine I'd run the vent line over the tranny then back down to the frame or swing arm and out to the outside air (no filter).
Agree, routing back into the breather will give you more carbon build up....not good.
 
Reply



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 11:52 PM.

story-0
7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson built its reputation on nostalgia, but every so often, the company took a hard left turn into the future.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-20 11:18:19


VIEW MORE
story-1
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

Slideshow: The bar-and-shield logo shows up on far more than motorcycles, some of the company's most unexpected products have nothing to do with riding.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-29 16:50:35


VIEW MORE
story-2
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: Not every Harley gets it right, but these are the ones that genuinely earned their reputation.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-15 14:23:21


VIEW MORE
story-3
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-01 20:01:09


VIEW MORE
story-4
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

Slideshow: Killer Custom's "Jail Breaker" build focuses more on stance and visual aggression than mechanical overhaul.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-18 19:20:32


VIEW MORE
story-5
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

Slideshow: The Swiss custom shop has taken a Harley Softail and stretched it into something so long and low that it looks closer to a rolling sculpture than a conventional motorcycle.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-07 16:15:30


VIEW MORE
story-6
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's new RMCR concept revives the café racer formula with modern hardware-and it may be exactly the reset the company needs.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-04 12:23:37


VIEW MORE
story-7
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

Slideshow: A standard cruiser becomes an intricate metal canvas in the hands of a Swiss custom house known for pushing Harley-Davidson platforms far beyond their factory brief.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-02-24 18:19:44


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There is no shortage of great motorcycles to buy, but we would avoid these ten.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-02-19 14:50:51


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's challenges aren't abstract; they show up in dropping shipments, shrinking dealer traffic, and strategic decisions that aren't yet translating into growth.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-13 18:33:17


VIEW MORE