Oil question

Reply Subscribe

Thread Tools

Search this Thread

Jun 9, 2013 | 02:54 PM

HD4EVR

Thread Starter

Intermediate

Joined: Apr 2013

Posts: 35

Likes: 0

From: Sin city

Oil question

While my girlfriend and I are cruising down the freeway, a drop of oil will land on her right shin every 10 minutes or so. Is this normal?

Jun 9, 2013 | 02:56 PM

Spanners39

Seasoned HDF Member

Joined: Dec 2010

Posts: 7,736

Likes: 1,524

From: Coromandel Peninsula New Zealand

Probably due to reversion and the oil is coming from her aircleaner. If you can't find a leak on the motor then pull the aircleaner cover and have a look to see if there is oil in there....or stop riding behind old British bikes ;-)

Jun 10, 2013 | 01:42 PM

grbrown

Club Member

Joined: Jun 2007

Posts: 45,429

Likes: 2,898

From: Bedford UK

No it isn't normal! As Spanners suggests (being British I'll ignore his comment about British bikes!) take a look at the air cleaner. When new your bike had a breather pipe that went into the airbox, to consume any oil fumes. If the airbox has been replaced with an aftermarket air filter there is no knowing what has been done to the breather. Your bike is a 'head breather', meaning there are breather ports in both heads, either side of the carb.

Added later! No its not! It's a bottom breather, but the breather still went into the stock airbox.

Last edited by grbrown; Jun 10, 2013 at 01:57 PM. Reason: Correction!

Jun 10, 2013 | 05:02 PM

Spanners39

Seasoned HDF Member

Joined: Dec 2010

Posts: 7,736

Likes: 1,524

From: Coromandel Peninsula New Zealand

You could just wrap her right shin in Saran Wrap......

Jun 10, 2013 | 05:12 PM

Uncle G.

Seasoned HDF Member

Joined: Jun 2010

Posts: 9,332

Likes: 3,873

From: Upstate New York

My "head breather" has always misted some oil vapor from the breather ports which vent into the air cleaner. The oil mist will eventually saturate the air cleaner and drip off the bottom. Yes, I've tried running the oil level low, but all it does is make the motor run hot. I just fold up a paper towel and wedge it between the bottom of the filter and the cover and change it every few hundred miles.

Jun 10, 2013 | 05:20 PM

bluharley

Road Warrior

Joined: Mar 2007

Posts: 1,959

Likes: 2

From: Florida

Not that this ie your problem, but my air filter is soaked in oil. I did it quite some time ago, and it's still dripping all over the place. Guess I used too much oil!