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General Topics/Tech TipsDiscussion on break in periods, rider comfort, seats and pad suggestions. Tech tips as they become available will be posted here.
Recently installed Andrews 48 cams and while I had it apart drilled lower rocker boxes and put in new breathers. Didnt solve the problem. Running with oil at lower of dipstick did but I didnt feel comfortable with that. Was a little painful spending as much as I did but came out great.
Last edited by Rocking_it; Jan 9, 2022 at 09:42 AM.
Recently installed Andrews 48 cams and while I had it apart drilled lower rocker boxes and put in new breathers. Didnt solve the problem. Running with oil at lower of dipstick did but I didnt feel comfortable with that. Was a little painful spending as much as I did but came out great.
You say it still didn't work. Are you still having crankcase pressure problems? Have you checked the internal rocker box breathers?
No to checking crankcase pressure issues. Did replace breathers when I changed out boxes to chrome. It wasnt gushing oil but after 500 miles or so the filter would start dripping. Let me know how I would I check to see if I have pressure problems. Thanks.
Last edited by Rocking_it; Jan 9, 2022 at 12:13 PM.
No to checking crankcase pressure issues. Did replace breathers when I changed out boxes to chrome. It wasnt gushing oil but after 500 miles or so the filter would start dripping. Let me know how I would I check to see if I have pressure problems. Thanks.
You probably solved your problem with the external breathers. Almost all Harleys have some oil coming out the breathers. Ride the bike and if you have more than a few tablespoons of oil in the catch can after a full rank of gas then do a leakdown test to see if your rings and valves need attention. I had a 2005 sportster and it blew about 2 tablespoons of oil into the catch can every 150 miles but the motor was in perfect condition.
You probably solved your problem with the external breathers. Almost all Harleys have some oil coming out the breathers. Ride the bike and if you have more than a few tablespoons of oil in the catch can after a full rank of gas then do a leakdown test to see if your rings and valves need attention. I had a 2005 sportster and it blew about 2 tablespoons of oil into the catch can every 150 miles but the motor was in perfect condition.
Obviously your breathers were not then. If they don't close properly and allow air to be sucked back in, they need replacing. They don't last forever.
I just route my hose under the bike to the ground. Never a drop I can see. And I run high rpms.
The external breathers won't solve anything except keep it out of the intake which is highly recommended anyway.
running the bag low is a ole wives tale. hd does suggest a lower level if your machine has a lower than engine sump bag. the issue here is not running at factory fill but people running extra oil which can cover the equalizing line. when running sustained high rpm, the engine/bag can become vapor locked and oil can be pulled in from the equalizing line, hence hd suggesting a lower level. the sportster does not have this issue period.
i have an 01 xls1200 i run the hockey sticks out of and nary a drop of oil on my filter. the issue is lazy flow. hd for styling uses a lame vent, look at rice, no problems as they put the vapor in a high flow area so particulate does not drop out. if you are EPA controlled, external vents cannot dump to the environment.
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My external breather install
