Sportster Models 883, 883 Custom, 1200 Custom, 883L, 1200L, 1200S, 1200 Roadster, XR1200, and the Nightster.
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

oil leak!

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jul 14, 2010 | 06:26 PM
  #1  
93sportie's Avatar
93sportie
Thread Starter
|
Stage III
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
From: Culver City, CA
Default oil leak!

i have a93 sportie that is leaking oil through the blow by holes just above the carb. my question is what is the cause of this did i blow some kind of gasket internally or is it something more serious.?
 
Reply
Old Jul 14, 2010 | 10:21 PM
  #2  
WRAITH's Avatar
WRAITH
Road Warrior
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,278
Likes: 2
From: Mission,BC.Canada
Default

It is normal. The harder you ride the more "Blow-by" oil will appear in your carb. Keeping the oil level low, on the dipstick, will help to stop the blow-by from happening.
 
Reply
Old Jul 14, 2010 | 11:42 PM
  #3  
XLCR4GM's Avatar
XLCR4GM
Road Master
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 990
Likes: 10
From: Redondo Beach, California
Default

The oil blow-by issue is a normal one that happens and your engine is fine. Don't worry about it. I have a very good friend, "FISHEYE" that rides his '02 XL883 in a very, very, overly cautious manner. SLOW! He is very SLOW! While he is riding his motorcycle, he is very SLOW. He thinks that he is being safe but actually he is just very SLOW! His motor has NEVER, EVER seen 4,000 RPM EVER! Anyway, he is ALWAYS having the oil blow-by dripping down on the side of his motor and making a big mess and getting it all over everything. I really don’t even want him to come into my driveway with his oily drippy mess. I, on the other hand, I ride the living CRAP out of my ’99 XL883 and I normally ride it at about 4,000 RPM or so all the time on the highways around where I live. All the time! I have NEVER had the kind of oil blow-by issue that Fisheye gets. Not even close. No mess at all really. We both use the same oil and we both have the SE high-flow air cleaner and free flowing exhaust pipes and I know that his is a ’02 and that mine is an ’99 so the engines are not exactly alike and I also understand that logically the crankcase vent out of the head and into the air cleaner filter would seem to produce more of the oil vapor during any high RPM load periods, but really, I drive it hard all the time and I don’t get the oily mess that he does. BTW, I am NOT encouraging you or anyone else to race around on your motorcycle. Not at all! I would really like to know if anyone else has experienced this same issue of riding the motorcycle hard or rather running the engine at higher RPM than would normally be expected and NOT having the oil blow-by happen to them?
 
Reply
Old Jul 14, 2010 | 11:50 PM
  #4  
yotaweeler's Avatar
yotaweeler
Advanced
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 70
Likes: 0
From: middletown, California
Default

Yea man i had the same problem. filled the oil up to the full mark and it kept blowing oil out for weeks, and then it stopped one day. the oil got to its happy place on the dip stick, little above the half way point, for my bike ne ways.

did ya put oil in it or do the oil?
 
Reply
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
doctoraustin
Dyna Glide Models
10
May 26, 2024 08:03 PM
cajun1957a
Shovelhead
2
May 9, 2015 11:26 AM
big cahuna
EVO
8
May 10, 2012 08:30 AM
Maxattack
General Topics/Tech Tips
4
Apr 26, 2008 09:02 AM
renegadewheelman
Touring Models
12
Sep 10, 2007 04:17 AM




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 04:53 PM.

story-0
7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson built its reputation on nostalgia, but every so often, the company took a hard left turn into the future.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-20 11:18:19


VIEW MORE
story-1
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

Slideshow: The bar-and-shield logo shows up on far more than motorcycles, some of the company's most unexpected products have nothing to do with riding.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-29 16:50:35


VIEW MORE
story-2
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: Not every Harley gets it right, but these are the ones that genuinely earned their reputation.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-15 14:23:21


VIEW MORE
story-3
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-01 20:01:09


VIEW MORE
story-4
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

Slideshow: Killer Custom's "Jail Breaker" build focuses more on stance and visual aggression than mechanical overhaul.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-18 19:20:32


VIEW MORE
story-5
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

Slideshow: The Swiss custom shop has taken a Harley Softail and stretched it into something so long and low that it looks closer to a rolling sculpture than a conventional motorcycle.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-07 16:15:30


VIEW MORE
story-6
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's new RMCR concept revives the café racer formula with modern hardware-and it may be exactly the reset the company needs.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-04 12:23:37


VIEW MORE
story-7
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

Slideshow: A standard cruiser becomes an intricate metal canvas in the hands of a Swiss custom house known for pushing Harley-Davidson platforms far beyond their factory brief.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-02-24 18:19:44


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There is no shortage of great motorcycles to buy, but we would avoid these ten.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-02-19 14:50:51


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's challenges aren't abstract; they show up in dropping shipments, shrinking dealer traffic, and strategic decisions that aren't yet translating into growth.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-13 18:33:17


VIEW MORE