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Old Apr 12, 2026 | 04:40 PM
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MattyP146's Avatar
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Default Oil problems


Oil residue on spark plug and oil coming out of carb
2000 1200 Sportster custom
 
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Old Apr 12, 2026 | 05:42 PM
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That's normal. The head breathers vent to the air cleaner backing plate. EASY FIX!!!! Do an External Breather, venting to atmosphere.
 
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Old Apr 12, 2026 | 08:27 PM
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Plugs look great for a carburetor bike! It looks to me like your plug gap is too much, it should be .040" as I recall. Otherwise, carry on.

I have the same style air cleaner, most of it sprays against the cover and drips down, just a bit messy. It sprays from that open bolt in your photo, upper left, there's two of them.

John
 

Last edited by John Harper; Apr 12, 2026 at 08:51 PM.
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Old Apr 13, 2026 | 02:59 AM
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The insulator looks a nice colour, not spotty lean or too dark carbonised. Your nails on the other hand... LOL
 
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Old Apr 13, 2026 | 06:12 AM
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Originally Posted by Andy from Sandy
The insulator looks a nice colour, not spotty lean or too dark carbonised. Your nails on the other hand... LOL
 
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Old Apr 13, 2026 | 06:22 AM
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Is that an OEM spark plug?

Looks like an iridium or some such spark plug.

May want to get a set of OEM plugs and see how they work.

Oil in the air cleaner is normal, advice given in previous posts.

 
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Old Apr 13, 2026 | 06:49 AM
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Did you check the oil level in the tank before starting the motor?

Oil can accumulate in the air filter if the machine has been stood idle for some time, the oil drains from the tank into the bottom of the motor, this is known as "wet sumping".

If the motor has "wet sumped", on the initial start up it is best not to rev the motor as the oil will spray out of the breather bolts into the air filter and make a mess. Just start the motor and let it idle until the oil is scavenged from the lower engine and pumped back into the tank.
 
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Old Apr 13, 2026 | 12:14 PM
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Originally Posted by Andy from Sandy
The insulator looks a nice colour, not spotty lean or too dark carbonised. Your nails on the other hand... LOL
Them is a working mans finger nails! Harleys ain't 100% seepage free.
 
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Old Apr 16, 2026 | 08:12 AM
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Change those plugs!
 
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