Gushing oil
Thread Starter
|
Intermediate
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 36
Likes: 0
Gushing oil
Prior to taking a trip from Chi-town to Az, I changed the (synthetic) oil on my 2000 bagger according to the shop manual which said to fill to about half way between the upper and lower marks on the dip stick (about 3-1/2 qts), run it until hot and then fill as needed to bring it to the top mark. This totalled almost 4 full quarts.
Half way through New Mexico, cruising about 70, not too hot, semi-hilly terrain, engine not working too hard, oil started gushing out of the throttlle body. What hit the pipes of course went up in smoke and the rest bathed the back seat and tour pack (lucky I didn't have a passenger) After letting things cool down I removed the air filter, wiped it dry, saw I was a quart down, added a half quart, started up, no knocking or smoking, and finished the remaining 400 mile trip with no mishap.
In Az I went to a mechanic that was well recommended by bikers that I know down there. He replaced the breather valves under the rocker cover. I believe he used S&S. I then did about a 1000 hard miles riding around Az, again with no mishap.
On the way home however, I'm on the downside of Wolf Creek Pass and she lets loose again, just like the first time. I repeat the routine and make to Pueblo. Now I'm thinking maybe I've got too much oil but since it's hard to check hot (on mine, anyway) I check it cold in the morning and drained it down to to lower mark. I check after about a hundred miles and it is way above the top mark but I know the oil expands when hot.
So now I'm cruisin along about 75 and 'thar she blows' again. Now I decide I'm not going to keep topping off unless I get dangerously low. So now I try 70, 65, then 60 mph, but sure enough, about every 50-100 miles or so I'm gushing oil. By the way, the oil pressure was the same (32#) at each speed. Finally I try 55 and she holds (I don't think I have to tell you what a long trip doing only 55 gives you). Anyway, I cross the state of Missourri at a constant 55 and stop over at a relative. I did not touch the bike for a day and a half. Before doing the last leg back to Chi-town, I wiped the bike clean, got more oil, said 'what the heck" and except for gas did not stop and ran at a steady 75mph. I did not blow out a drop of oil, not even a little mist.
I have talked to a couple of mechanic types since I have been back but they all seem a little befuddled by this one, and I certainly do not know what to think. I wonder if the new valves needed to 'seat' themselves and are ok now, or is the next 'gusher' awaiting me. I also wonder if maybe the problem is not the breather valves at the heads but somthing else.
I know some might ask why I am not going to the Harley Dealer, and I just might end up doing that, but I wanted to do a little homework first.
I would appreciate any advice, input, etc, on this. Thanks in advance
Sammy D,
Chicago
Half way through New Mexico, cruising about 70, not too hot, semi-hilly terrain, engine not working too hard, oil started gushing out of the throttlle body. What hit the pipes of course went up in smoke and the rest bathed the back seat and tour pack (lucky I didn't have a passenger) After letting things cool down I removed the air filter, wiped it dry, saw I was a quart down, added a half quart, started up, no knocking or smoking, and finished the remaining 400 mile trip with no mishap.
In Az I went to a mechanic that was well recommended by bikers that I know down there. He replaced the breather valves under the rocker cover. I believe he used S&S. I then did about a 1000 hard miles riding around Az, again with no mishap.
On the way home however, I'm on the downside of Wolf Creek Pass and she lets loose again, just like the first time. I repeat the routine and make to Pueblo. Now I'm thinking maybe I've got too much oil but since it's hard to check hot (on mine, anyway) I check it cold in the morning and drained it down to to lower mark. I check after about a hundred miles and it is way above the top mark but I know the oil expands when hot.
So now I'm cruisin along about 75 and 'thar she blows' again. Now I decide I'm not going to keep topping off unless I get dangerously low. So now I try 70, 65, then 60 mph, but sure enough, about every 50-100 miles or so I'm gushing oil. By the way, the oil pressure was the same (32#) at each speed. Finally I try 55 and she holds (I don't think I have to tell you what a long trip doing only 55 gives you). Anyway, I cross the state of Missourri at a constant 55 and stop over at a relative. I did not touch the bike for a day and a half. Before doing the last leg back to Chi-town, I wiped the bike clean, got more oil, said 'what the heck" and except for gas did not stop and ran at a steady 75mph. I did not blow out a drop of oil, not even a little mist.
I have talked to a couple of mechanic types since I have been back but they all seem a little befuddled by this one, and I certainly do not know what to think. I wonder if the new valves needed to 'seat' themselves and are ok now, or is the next 'gusher' awaiting me. I also wonder if maybe the problem is not the breather valves at the heads but somthing else.
I know some might ask why I am not going to the Harley Dealer, and I just might end up doing that, but I wanted to do a little homework first.
I would appreciate any advice, input, etc, on this. Thanks in advance
Sammy D,
Chicago
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 3,302
Likes: 275
From: Milton, Delaware
Prior to taking a trip from Chi-town to Az, I changed the (synthetic) oil on my 2000 bagger according to the shop manual which said to fill to about half way between the upper and lower marks on the dip stick (about 3-1/2 qts), run it until hot and then fill as needed to bring it to the top mark. This totalled almost 4 full quarts.
Half way through New Mexico, cruising about 70, not too hot, semi-hilly terrain, engine not working too hard, oil started gushing out of the throttlle body. What hit the pipes of course went up in smoke and the rest bathed the back seat and tour pack (lucky I didn't have a passenger) After letting things cool down I removed the air filter, wiped it dry, saw I was a quart down, added a half quart, started up, no knocking or smoking, and finished the remaining 400 mile trip with no mishap.
In Az I went to a mechanic that was well recommended by bikers that I know down there. He replaced the breather valves under the rocker cover. I believe he used S&S. I then did about a 1000 hard miles riding around Az, again with no mishap.
On the way home however, I'm on the downside of Wolf Creek Pass and she lets loose again, just like the first time. I repeat the routine and make to Pueblo. Now I'm thinking maybe I've got too much oil but since it's hard to check hot (on mine, anyway) I check it cold in the morning and drained it down to to lower mark. I check after about a hundred miles and it is way above the top mark but I know the oil expands when hot.
So now I'm cruisin along about 75 and 'thar she blows' again. Now I decide I'm not going to keep topping off unless I get dangerously low. So now I try 70, 65, then 60 mph, but sure enough, about every 50-100 miles or so I'm gushing oil. By the way, the oil pressure was the same (32#) at each speed. Finally I try 55 and she holds (I don't think I have to tell you what a long trip doing only 55 gives you). Anyway, I cross the state of Missourri at a constant 55 and stop over at a relative. I did not touch the bike for a day and a half. Before doing the last leg back to Chi-town, I wiped the bike clean, got more oil, said 'what the heck" and except for gas did not stop and ran at a steady 75mph. I did not blow out a drop of oil, not even a little mist.
I have talked to a couple of mechanic types since I have been back but they all seem a little befuddled by this one, and I certainly do not know what to think. I wonder if the new valves needed to 'seat' themselves and are ok now, or is the next 'gusher' awaiting me. I also wonder if maybe the problem is not the breather valves at the heads but somthing else.
I know some might ask why I am not going to the Harley Dealer, and I just might end up doing that, but I wanted to do a little homework first.
I would appreciate any advice, input, etc, on this. Thanks in advance
Sammy D,
Chicago
Half way through New Mexico, cruising about 70, not too hot, semi-hilly terrain, engine not working too hard, oil started gushing out of the throttlle body. What hit the pipes of course went up in smoke and the rest bathed the back seat and tour pack (lucky I didn't have a passenger) After letting things cool down I removed the air filter, wiped it dry, saw I was a quart down, added a half quart, started up, no knocking or smoking, and finished the remaining 400 mile trip with no mishap.
In Az I went to a mechanic that was well recommended by bikers that I know down there. He replaced the breather valves under the rocker cover. I believe he used S&S. I then did about a 1000 hard miles riding around Az, again with no mishap.
On the way home however, I'm on the downside of Wolf Creek Pass and she lets loose again, just like the first time. I repeat the routine and make to Pueblo. Now I'm thinking maybe I've got too much oil but since it's hard to check hot (on mine, anyway) I check it cold in the morning and drained it down to to lower mark. I check after about a hundred miles and it is way above the top mark but I know the oil expands when hot.
So now I'm cruisin along about 75 and 'thar she blows' again. Now I decide I'm not going to keep topping off unless I get dangerously low. So now I try 70, 65, then 60 mph, but sure enough, about every 50-100 miles or so I'm gushing oil. By the way, the oil pressure was the same (32#) at each speed. Finally I try 55 and she holds (I don't think I have to tell you what a long trip doing only 55 gives you). Anyway, I cross the state of Missourri at a constant 55 and stop over at a relative. I did not touch the bike for a day and a half. Before doing the last leg back to Chi-town, I wiped the bike clean, got more oil, said 'what the heck" and except for gas did not stop and ran at a steady 75mph. I did not blow out a drop of oil, not even a little mist.
I have talked to a couple of mechanic types since I have been back but they all seem a little befuddled by this one, and I certainly do not know what to think. I wonder if the new valves needed to 'seat' themselves and are ok now, or is the next 'gusher' awaiting me. I also wonder if maybe the problem is not the breather valves at the heads but somthing else.
I know some might ask why I am not going to the Harley Dealer, and I just might end up doing that, but I wanted to do a little homework first.
I would appreciate any advice, input, etc, on this. Thanks in advance
Sammy D,
Chicago
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
PopDukes
Hacked, Conversions and Trailering
5
May 9, 2009 05:28 AM
