Oil Dipstick Blow Out
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Stage II
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 2
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Oil Dipstick Blow Out
I have a 2007 Heritage Softail 96 cu in The Oil Dip Stick blew out twice when starting the bike. It is the dipstick with oil temp gauge in it. It doesn't fit real tight. Can anyone tell me what's going on? Thanks
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2010
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From: Honah Lee
Mine has done that. Certain conditions will make these engines kick back.. even a weak battery. When they do it and happen to fire a charge of gas, it can be pretty hard, reversing the oil pump. When mine did it, it hit my leg hard enough to startle me. Mine is the older temperature dip stick also and is not real tight. I have heard Harley will replace it but have never tried to do it since I do not have a receipt. Mine has only done it once,,not a regular thing. It also has backfired thru intake once and also banged the compensator once and pops in the exhaust once in a while on starting...I think all normal for a fairly high performance engine. . If you still have the receipt, see if Harley will give you two..
Last edited by Jackie Paper; Dec 22, 2013 at 12:37 PM.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2010
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From: High in the Colorado Rockies
I have a '09 Deluxe and an '05 Heritage. There was a change in fitting made in '08 as the dipsticks are close but not interchangeable (as I found out). Many after market dipsticks are labelled good for 2000 and later Softails which is impossible (at least for a tight fit). You might have a dipstick for '08 and later. Just a guess. SJ Ron 
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2008
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From: Connecticut
I would check your battery, when they are weak more when cold it seems to mess with the ignition as the starter is using almost all the voltage the battery has. Mine did it a couple time but not since I changed the battery
Road Master
Joined: Dec 2010
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From: Canadian in Germany
A low battery caused your dipstick to blow out?
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2010
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From: Honah Lee
Mine was almost 6 years old nursed along from the maintenance charger. When it first started cranking, it would groan before first cylinder fired helping it along. Funny thing is the fancy battery equipment said it was OK. A new battery made it crank fast enough to do 30 mph on electrical power alone.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 4,109
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From: Connecticut
what happens is a small backfire and goes thru the breathers and the pressure will launch the stick. not sure if it was the battery but hasn't done it since changing it. Only happened with the first start in the morning and with the compression releases open. The motor would turn over slower than normal, thats all I know. the rings are good, and have done a leakdown on it too, that is real good. so if you have a better answer than show me how smart you are.
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Tourer
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 304
Likes: 38
From: Port Orange, FL
I just posted the same thing yesterday on my 2010 Deluxe. It's never happened before. I was never impressed with the fit of the rubber around the dipstick anyway. It always felt loose and sloppy. Often times after a ride I would notice a little line of seepage travelling down the oil bag from the dipstick. I started cleaning the rubber seal every time I took the dipstick out to check the oil and that seemed to help. After a good bike wash the other day, I started it up to burn dry the inside of the mufflers and the damn dipstick came flying out like a howitzer round! Maybe I'll get a flak jacket and call it a day!
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2011
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From: Michigan 15 Minutes East Of Hell
This is a common event when there is excessive crankcase pressure. Outside of the obvious be sure that any crankcase lines are in excellent condition ( not soft to the touch ) Soft ( old ) hoses can collapse especially in the area of close or tight bends and restrict venting causing pressure to build then "launch" a "push in type "oil fill cap
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2006
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From: Utah
When my '06 was brand new it started popping my dipstick and spewing oil all over the side of my bike. Fortunately, the seat I was using kept the dipstick from existing the tank completely.
It was one of the new 'dangling angle' dipsticks. The dealer 'fixed' this by installing an older style dipstick that fit tighter. Great warranty program...
This was NOT due, btw, to backfires or excessive crankcase pressure. It was due to poor manufacturing tolerances. In your case it may be due to the age of the rubber on the dipstick.
C#
It was one of the new 'dangling angle' dipsticks. The dealer 'fixed' this by installing an older style dipstick that fit tighter. Great warranty program...
This was NOT due, btw, to backfires or excessive crankcase pressure. It was due to poor manufacturing tolerances. In your case it may be due to the age of the rubber on the dipstick.
C#