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Breather problem?

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Old Jun 30, 2018 | 04:10 PM
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Default Breather problem?

I put a Screaming Eagle heavy breather on my bike (2012 Street Glide) this morning. I went out for a ride and when I got back I had some smoke coming from the exhaust. I popped the oil fill cap and there was a lot of pressure. It's possible the crankcase is not venting correctly. The kit did not come with breather bolts but referenced the OE breather bolts so that's what I used. Any suggestions?
 
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Old Jun 30, 2018 | 05:19 PM
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Obviously the engine is not breathing correctly. Not sure but I think you need a different set of breather bolts.Hope this helps
 
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Old Jun 30, 2018 | 06:27 PM
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I was just looking at the directions for the installation and a question comes to mind, you might want to ask your dealership this question. "After installing the chrome caps (#4) how do the oil vapors from the heads get back into the throttle bore to relieve pressure?" Maybe there is enough room behind the caps that the vapor is allowed to pass thru the flange to the intake.. Just looks a bit ***** to me.
 
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Old Jun 30, 2018 | 08:02 PM
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Inside the cavity that the chrome caps cover are holes that create a passageway into the intake. As the breather bolts pass the vapor, that vapor collects and flows through the drilled out passageways where it gets sucked back into the intake to be mixed with the fresh air coming in to be mixed with fuel and burned.

I have the snorkel style heavy breather and reused the stock breather bolts with no issues.
 

Last edited by Cygnusx51; Jun 30, 2018 at 08:05 PM.
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Old Jun 30, 2018 | 08:20 PM
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I just relooked at it and the post above is absolutely correct... pull those plugs and be sure those passage holes in the casting are not obstructed. You can see them in the pic at about 6 o’clock, the gasses or whatever come out of the breather bolt ends and then go thru those passages inn to your intake and get burned.

 

Last edited by Ssitruc; Jun 30, 2018 at 08:32 PM.
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Old Jun 30, 2018 | 08:42 PM
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The bike had a Stage 1 air cleaner that was inside the stock housing. . If the breather bolts are different for that backing plate than stock that might be my problem. The SE heavy breather uses stock breather bolts. I hope that’s all it is.
 
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Old Jun 30, 2018 | 10:33 PM
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Did you read the instructions? Sorry couldn’t help it! There’s a picture in the instructions of the OEM breather bolts... this is it below. My breather does not use those type, and if i was to add that breather to mine I would have to get the right breather bolts. BTW, I wouldn’t run that engine until you are sure you have the right breather bolts in it, obviously that build up of pressure is not a good thing.


 
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Old Jul 1, 2018 | 08:58 AM
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Originally Posted by Ssitruc
Did you read the instructions? Sorry couldn’t help it! There’s a picture in the instructions of the OEM breather bolts... this is it below. My breather does not use those type, and if i was to add that breather to mine I would have to get the right breather bolts. BTW, I wouldn’t run that engine until you are sure you have the right breather bolts in it, obviously that build up of pressure is not a good thing.


I don't know how I missed that. I went out this morning and dug the instructions out of the trash and there it was. Thanks.
 
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Old Jul 1, 2018 | 12:44 PM
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Something I do prior to some mods is read the instruction on the HD website when reviewing the mod I'm going to purchase. Just curious what bolts did you use to attach the adapter plate to the heads? Sounds like you have it worked out now.
 
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Old Jul 1, 2018 | 04:59 PM
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Originally Posted by seniorsuperglideE8
Something I do prior to some mods is read the instruction on the HD website when reviewing the mod I'm going to purchase. Just curious what bolts did you use to attach the adapter plate to the heads? Sounds like you have it worked out now.
I used the breather bolts that were on the bike. My air cleaner cover is stock but inside is a Stage 1 filter and back plate. Evidently those breather bolts were not stock. I should have looked closer at the instructions.
 
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