Need some advice/input. Am losing some oil but can't figure out where. Sorry for the long post, but I wanted to give you as much info as possible.

I have an '07 Fat Boy. This winter, I installed a SE 103 Big Bore Kit myself (replaced the stock 96). Also installed Andrews 54H cams, Andrews 30-tooth belt drive sprocket (required removal of oil tank-may be relevant to my question) and DJ Power Vision and Auto Tune (w/ wideband O2 sensors).

When the weather warmed and I was able to do some test rides, I noticed a slight oil smell while riding, which I found out to be from failing to reinstall the middle gasket in the pushrod tubes. Rather than pull the gas tank and rocker boxes again, I picked up some SE adjustable pushrods and reinstalled the new tubes and new gaskets. Strike two on the gaskets, as I subsequently noticed a small seepage from the bottom of one tube. Turns out I pinched the gasket-it wasn't seated properly. The gasket looked fine, so I just set it correctly and there has been no visible problem since.

Other than the above problem, the install seemed to go well (other than scratching my tank just as I put the speedo back on at the end of the project). I had some difficulty with getting one of the pistons into the cylinder as I was using a Goodson ring compressor, which I found to be difficult to use (the bands have two indents at each end, making it difficult to fully compress the rings). However, I have no reason to believe anything was damaged in the process.

I had the piston clearance checked on a torque plate and they were within spec. I used feeler gauges to check the rings and they were also within spec. I also put the ring gaps in the correct positions per the service manual.

Used Cometic head gaskets. I had the heads ported (but not milled) and manual compression releases were added. Due to an issue on their end with machining for the c/r, I have to use shorter c/r. The front c/r routinely sticks open and I have to manually pull it out after I start the bike.

I don't see any smoke, blue or otherwise, coming out the exhaust (V&H Big Shots Long).

So, unless I'm imagining it, I think I still smell oil not long I after I begin riding.

I've put about 1,500 miles on it since the install. I did get on the throttle a bit more recently as I was doing some log runs for the Power Vision.

Today, I had to add about a half-quart of oil which, again, was about 1,500 miles after the install. Given this and the slight oil smell, I'm concerned. The smell seems to be on the left side of the engine, but I'm not even certain about that. I have looked everwhere around the cylinders, heads, pushrods, drain plug, oil tank and lines, but I don't see any issues. I haven't pulled the air cleaner cover (SE Stage 1 air cleaner kit) to check the breathers, but everything looks dry around there. I'm using SE Syn3.

Finally, I've noticed that since the install, the engine is running hotter, especially since I swapped the V&H FuelPak for the DJ Power Vision. The engine usually ran 180* to 200*, now it gets up to 200* pretty quick, but stays under 230*.

So, any suggestions? I'm going to assume that having to add a half-quart after 1,500 miles or so isn't normal. I had no such issue before the install-can't recall having to add any oil between oil changes before.

As always, I appreciate the great advice. If you're already posting to the Saturday Night Drinking Thread, please wait until tomorrow to respond! Seriously, thanks again.

 

Put some paper under the bike and see if there are spots, if none no leaks, using 1/2 qt in 1500 miles on a new engine is not too bad it will use some till the rings seat but should have by now. If you puul the plugs and look at them if it's burning oil you will see it there. on running hotter I will say that you are running more compression than you were (asumeing you used .030 headgaskets) will create more heat in the engine, and if the fuel mixture is leaner than it was and most likely is as fuelpacks do run a little rich normally there is where your heat is comming from. I would also change the oil and filter and go from there. When I did mine I changed the oil at 600 miles and then ran it 2500 miles which I change it at anyway

 

Yes, I used 0.03 head gaskets, so my compression is now probably around 10:1. Good point there. Good idea on the plugs, I will check them. I wonder if the plug color could be deceptive, since when I did the mods I lathered the cylinders up real well with oil? It smoked a bit the first time I ran it after the mods. I checked the pipes and the inside of the pipes look a bit more black than before the mods. No smoke though.

 

I don't know if it could make a difference but I have heard that its best to break in an engine on regular oil and switch to syn 3 after break in. The reason is for the rings to seat.

 

The rings will seat with either oil. Just an old wives tale. There are many cars and bikes that come from the factory with syn oil now.

 

Ck the tuners target AFR just to see if it's around 14.5 that too will give you the heat problem. I would take it to a dyno and have the map more tailored to your bike. Could be worth it in the long run. Check the compression on both holes to see if they are the same or real close