Is it just me, or does anybody else see the contradictions in the manual?
Says oil level can not be checked accurately cold. Then the next paragraphs it describes how to check it cold!

 

There are a many contradictions and not well documented instructions in a lot of manuals, (for non mechanics), .... Checking engine engine oil on a Harley seems to be one of them ....

The quote , "can not be checked accurately cold" , (to me), means ....
Before first start, (bike is cold), and you want to check that bike has adequate oil ... If it shows half way between add and full , your good to go,, but it is not the most accurate ....
To check for the "most accurate measurement",,,, bike has to be at hot operating temp ,,,, From this measurement , (and there are personal preferences), add oil to the full mark if required ....

 

 

I always thought that it must be me only that’s missing how a dry sump works. Everybody says “run level low, that’ll solve blowby”.
I admit I tried it drastically low with my last heavily modded bike. Didn’t do bugger all. To me the air cleaner should be re-designed to flow enough for engine mods, yet not drip oil all over our saddlebags and cam cover etc. All my friends, even me has not had any luck keeping the bike clean with a nonstock cleaner.
And no .... they too refuse to put a stupid catch can on a 30k bike.

 

Edit, I meant I refuse to put a catch can on a 30k .

 

Crankcases can only contain a given volume of air and its attendant pressure. Once that pressure is exceeded, you've got "blowby".

...Which is hot oil in the crankcase that is easily displaced by the increased pressure and because it has a perfect path out of the crankcase, via the breather bolts and channels that route into your intake.

Reducing the oil level to the "Halfway" mark is less of a preventive measure and more of a way to reduce the amount of Blowby that may or may not be a superficial problem aka a mess dripping from the air cleaner. The oil level at the halfway mark is perfectly harmless IMO.

I have heard dealers say that 1 quart per 1k miles is within a normal range of oil consumption... Personally I disagree with this but the fact is that for whatever reason, you likely have a blow by issue that you aren't comfortable with.

The excessive oil blowby can be managed by routing it externally via a hose and catch can system.

http://www.dkcustomproducts.com/all-...ngines-c76.htm

Feel free to give me a call or email to go over the options we have for you on the External Breather Systems.

Dwayne

 

once again, hd r&d does not support the drop level tale. a quick consult with them will provide proof.
the issue with dinner plate and sewer line size pistons and jugs lend themselves to sealing issues especially so with the v engines, issue with inline multiples are way less.
with the v twin as you say the volume is constantly changing so there is an issue with reduced volume and high c/c oil, not the bag.
at high rpms, the c/c pressure tends to want to equalize and throw in that at high rpms, hd engines tend to pool oil in the crankcase, once again the bag is not the issue, it is only a place to store oil.
for the oil to flow in the engine, a diff'l pressure is needed to send the oil to the scavenge trap. as rpm go up this goes down plus more oil is in suspension.
as c/c pressure builds, the rings start to not seal and add in wear, only spells blow-by.
you can vent to atmosphere but it does not address the issue, a redesign of the system is needed because of the stock restriction is still there.
in times past, a timed breather valve was use, now it is umbrella valves. if the engine has wear and blow-by exceeds capacity, then oil will be lifted out the engine since the separator chamber is over-whelmed and out goes the oil through the umbrella valves.

 

 

Drive it until the engine seizes and then call the dealer to come pick it up...you did what they recommended...you "broke" it in...