problems with a 1200
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1st Gear
Joined: Jan 2009
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problems with a 1200
Hi all,
I own an 883C but also just picked up a '99 Buell Cyclone 1200 that I'm hoping some of you can help with a problem I've got. The bike sat for several weeks so I needed to clean the carb jets in order to get it starting/running OK, which I completed this weekend. After reinstalling the carb I fired it up then, after idling a minute, I brought up the revs at which point the oil cap blew off the oil tank and the oil level rose above the filler hole. I immediately shut it down, drained the oil down to a reasonable level then tried again. Once again as I brought up the revs the oil cap blew off with the oil level rising. By the way the bike has breather hoses that run to a breather. I pulled the hoses to be sure the issue wasn't being caused by a blocked breather. Anyone have ideas?! Can someone suggest my next logical troubleshooting steps?
Thanks!
Jim
I own an 883C but also just picked up a '99 Buell Cyclone 1200 that I'm hoping some of you can help with a problem I've got. The bike sat for several weeks so I needed to clean the carb jets in order to get it starting/running OK, which I completed this weekend. After reinstalling the carb I fired it up then, after idling a minute, I brought up the revs at which point the oil cap blew off the oil tank and the oil level rose above the filler hole. I immediately shut it down, drained the oil down to a reasonable level then tried again. Once again as I brought up the revs the oil cap blew off with the oil level rising. By the way the bike has breather hoses that run to a breather. I pulled the hoses to be sure the issue wasn't being caused by a blocked breather. Anyone have ideas?! Can someone suggest my next logical troubleshooting steps?
Thanks!
Jim
Tourer
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 297
Likes: 5
From: Rockford Illinois
wow, you got me there ? all i can think of is to possibly change the oil filter, maybe there is a problem with the relief valve inside it.
since you have the oil at the right level that cant be it.
worse case scenario is there is a problem with the the oil pump ?
you got me curious about this, i'm sure some of the more experienced sporty owners will prolly chime in and know exactly what it is.
i'd still change the filter out with an k&n or an oem filter.
since you have the oil at the right level that cant be it.
worse case scenario is there is a problem with the the oil pump ?
you got me curious about this, i'm sure some of the more experienced sporty owners will prolly chime in and know exactly what it is.
i'd still change the filter out with an k&n or an oem filter.
Road Warrior
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,599
Likes: 11
From: Colonial Beach, Virginia
Tuc, this happenned to my Brothers 1992 ElectraGlide Sport. His sat for several months and the oil leaked down iinto the crank case, he topped it off, started it up and it promptly caught fire when oil came out of the air cleaner and onto the front pipe. I quickly shut it down and he wrapped an old jacket around the pipe saving the day. You were lucky yours blew that cap off. Its a dry sump system so the oil is supposed to stay in the tank when not running.
Last edited by 1200Cdriver; Feb 9, 2009 at 07:55 AM.
Tourer
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 279
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From: Middle River, MD
Like 1200Cdriver said, Harleys are dry sump. There should never be enough oil in the system that it could overflow the tank, even if lines were blocked, clogged, etc.
If the check valve doesn't seal perfectly, the oil can drain from the tank into the crankcase (called wet-sumping). Unless you added oil to the tank thinking it was low BEFORE you started the bike, I'd be worried about where the extra fluid came from.
Does the oil smell strongly like gasoline? If stored with the fuel petcock open, could gas have leaked through the float into the intake and eventually past the rings into the crankcase? If the oil is thinned out that much, you need to change it, not just remove the excess.
If the check valve doesn't seal perfectly, the oil can drain from the tank into the crankcase (called wet-sumping). Unless you added oil to the tank thinking it was low BEFORE you started the bike, I'd be worried about where the extra fluid came from.
Does the oil smell strongly like gasoline? If stored with the fuel petcock open, could gas have leaked through the float into the intake and eventually past the rings into the crankcase? If the oil is thinned out that much, you need to change it, not just remove the excess.
Last edited by mbwannabe1; Feb 9, 2009 at 11:24 AM.
Banned
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 1,647
Likes: 2
From: Fairmont, Wv
About a month ago someone else had a problem like this. (it blew the oil tank apart) It was in the sporty threads and I am sure you can find it again. Someone else told him it was common and what had happened. I do not remember what it was. Keep digging and someone will know.
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1st Gear
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Thanks for all your responses and suggestions so far. Before I started it for the first time I checked the oil level and it was where it should be, so I'm suspecting oil filled the crankcase due to a bad check valve and the guy I bought it from topped off the oil tank. He couldn't get it running because of the clogged carb jets and, after I fixed that, the excess oil was pumped up into the tank when I started it.
I plan to remove the line from the oil pump to the oil filter ( I believe that's the return to the oil tank?), remove the oil tank cap and run the motor to clear out any residual oil while keeping an eye on the level in the tank. Does that make sense? After all that I'll change the oil & filter and see how it does.
Jim
I plan to remove the line from the oil pump to the oil filter ( I believe that's the return to the oil tank?), remove the oil tank cap and run the motor to clear out any residual oil while keeping an eye on the level in the tank. Does that make sense? After all that I'll change the oil & filter and see how it does.
Jim
Road Master
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 1,223
Likes: 3
From: Peoria, AZ
Huh?
Two weeks sitting and the jets became clogged? Been sitting longer than that to clog a jet or oil filter check valve sticking closed (not opening at 4-6 PSI)! If the system were sumping (my bikes sat for 14 months without a prob) the oil would be forced out of the crank breather line: check the crankcase vent hose for blockage which should run from the rear crankcase to somewhere under the seat to the back fender, bad umbrella valve, or pinched/restricted breather hoses or the tank vent hose. The surge in oil may be just from the running "pulse" from cap-off which is normal (if ya don't believe me, take off your cap with the motor running!) and the cap blowing off from crankcase/oil tank over-presurizing.
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Tourer
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 279
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From: Middle River, MD
The guy whose oil tank split had a different problem. He had re-routed the crankcase breather tube. Ice & sludge built up in the end of the new vent tube in cold weather preventing blow-by from finding its way out.
https://www.hdforums.com/forum/sport...-exploded.html
https://www.hdforums.com/forum/sport...-exploded.html
Last edited by mbwannabe1; Feb 9, 2009 at 08:08 PM. Reason: add link to referenced thread
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Thread Starter
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1st Gear
Joined: Jan 2009
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Fixed!
All,
Thanks for your help! Last night I disconnected the oil line from the pump to the filter, removed the oil tank cap and started the bike. Oil began pumping out of the open line and the oil level began rising in the tank. I shut it down, drained excess oil from the tank and started it back up. I pumped a bit more oil out of the open line and the level in the tank stabilized at a good level. I then shut it down, reconnected the oil line and restarted. The engine's now running fine and the oil level is maintaining the proper level in the tank.
So, considering I pumped or drained more than a quart of excess oil it appears it wet sumped big time and the prior owner backfilled the tank thinking it was actually low.
Does anyone know where the check valve is so I can service it and hopefully keep the oil in the tank where it belongs?
Jim
Thanks for your help! Last night I disconnected the oil line from the pump to the filter, removed the oil tank cap and started the bike. Oil began pumping out of the open line and the oil level began rising in the tank. I shut it down, drained excess oil from the tank and started it back up. I pumped a bit more oil out of the open line and the level in the tank stabilized at a good level. I then shut it down, reconnected the oil line and restarted. The engine's now running fine and the oil level is maintaining the proper level in the tank.
So, considering I pumped or drained more than a quart of excess oil it appears it wet sumped big time and the prior owner backfilled the tank thinking it was actually low.
Does anyone know where the check valve is so I can service it and hopefully keep the oil in the tank where it belongs?
Jim