I'm sure this topic has been covered before, but I'm new to the forum and need some help.

I have a 2003 1200 XLC Sportster with almost 6000 miles on it (all mine)...

I have recently begun to have "gunky stuff" on my pipe below my air filter....like it's spraying onto the pipe while I ride.

I am mechanically inclined but need instruction.....tell me what to do and I can do it...

Thanks!

Have Fun & Ride Safe!

Syd
Cocoa Beach

 

Its commonly referred to as blow-by whereas excess oil is blowing throw the breather bolts into the air cleaner and soaking it to the point of dripping. Remedy (to a degree anyway)is not over-filling the oil tank. I keep mine filled near the low mark and experience little to no blow-by on my Ness big sucker air filter. There are ways around it by rigging a differnt head breather filter tube above or below the carb but most of us just run the oil level lower. The design is for the excess oil that blows out to be sucked back into the carb intake but that fails to catch it all, it does it onother models as well not just XLs.

 

I'm sorry....someone did mention this to me (about too much oil)....I should have mentioned that I had my oil changed about 2000 miles ago and have not added any oil. It just started doing this recently....not when I first got the oil changed.....wouldn't there have been MORE oil in it right after I got the oil changed?!!!

So, with that said.....is too much oil still the problem?

Thanks...

Have Fun & Ride Safe!

Syd
Cocoa Beach, FL

 

Basically the engine is vented through the air cleaner bolts. I had the same problem with my '02. If you have a KN oil filter just clean it according to manufacturer's instructions & reinstall. Eventually it will become saturated with oil again & you will need to clean it again. This is normal blowby for a Sporty, but it does make a mess of your pipes if you don't keep ahead of it!

 

The oil tank was probably overfilled and the blowby had just taken that long to saturate your filter to the point of dripping considering it blows a fine mist of oil taking awhile to accumulate. Check your oil level and if close to full mark or midway you can use a trukey baster to siphon some off. Like Gpysylady said, if ya have a K&N or washable filter just wash it. I wash and re-oil my ness filter about every 5k miles or so or whenever I change the oil.

 

Thank you!

So, if I remove the two bolts holding air filter cover on this will expose air filter? Remove air filter....clean it with gas then what? Rinse? With what?

Please pardon me....I'm a girl, but ain'tskeered to do it myself with some instruction!

B

 

The 2 bolts just hold the cover on, underneath are 3 more, remove those and the filter will come off. If its a stock filter its not washable (since its made of paper)but SE filters are. K&N and Ness filters are washable and require re-oiling. K&N sells a kit if you've got a washable filter and the cleaner is sprayed on to disolve dirt and oil then rinsed with water (don't use gas unless you want a fire , after dry you just apply a light coating of filter oil and re-install. When I had and SE filter I just sprayed it with simple green and let it soak then rinsed and let dry. The K&N filter kit can be found through JP Cycles, Dennis Kirk or many automotive stores for about $12.

No matter if your a girl and need help, just ask as we're all glad to help. By the way, if you don't mind and like to work on your bike yourself a factory service manual will help a great deal and is a great investment for about $50.

Good luck,

 

Please don't clean your filter with gas! Use a sinkful of hot water with a drop of Dawn. If you have KN the filter kit comes with a cleaner spray. Dry the filter in the sun before you reinstall. If it's KN you will also have to re-oil. A spray can of filter oil also comes in the kit.

 

On my M8 softail, I've got an S&S Stealth fitted. I've tried the mini teardrop and also a fully exposed filter with a bobber cover. I now have the full size classic teardrop fitted.

I found more blowby oil dripping with the open air cleaner than with the classic teardrop. I put this down to the classic pulling air in from the rear towards the cylinders. I reakon when riding on the open road, the exposed filter gets more turbulent air drawn in which in turn throws the oil mist around more.

I might be wrong, but I believe when S&S first designed their teardrop they took this to mind. The design of pulling air in from the rear, and in conjunction with their radiused inlet, provides a smooth air path taking the oil mist with it

Just about every air cleaner manufacturer makes open air cleaners. It seems that its more form over function. Riders like the look of them, and I must admit they do look great. In conclusion, a closed face air cleaner will still drip some oil, but it will be a lot less than with an exposed one. I can only go by what I have experienced, and understand this may not apply to everyone. Cheers
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Well I hope after 16 years the lass got it figured out.