Its help time!!
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Stage II
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 2
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From: Littleton,CO
Its help time!!
Hey all, been on the Forum many times and am finally going to post asking for advise and help. I picked up my 2001 FLHRI from a friend of mine who bought the bike from his brother, whom bought the bike new in 01 at that time he had the dealership do some mods to the bike of which I was told were cams and head work, it also has a tuner, Hypercharger air cleaner, flow through headers and slip-ons. I did not get the details on exactly what was done and to what extent. The bike has just over 22K on it and it was running GREAT!! I was taking the bike on a short trip down to southern Colorado cruising between 75 and 80, I was pulling a small hill and giving it some gas when all of the sudden I noticed some smoke behind me and at the same time the bike started to stumble and lay down a bit, so I got off the throttle and everything started running better, no smoke and seemed smooth. When I stopped for gas just before I Pueblo I noticed that there was oil all over the right side of the bike and I mean a LOT, enough to soak the rear break. I checked the oil and it was down over a quart. I knew that there was a dealership in northern Pueblo and thought I would put a quart of oil in it and go over there to see if one of their mechanics could tell me what might be the problem. Upon arriving at the dealership and having a mechanic come outside and look at the bike, we started it up as he listened to it, after doing this a couple times we saw that the oil was coming out the bottom of the Hypercharger, he then told me that he thought it might be the cam chain tensioner has come apart and that some of the parts have dropped into the scavenge and were blocking a return passage causing the case to over pressurize and blow oil out the breather/air box. He also said that it was common for the cam chain tensioner to need replacement between 20 and 30K not the FSM stated 50K. Not being able to leave the bike in Pueblo to have the work done and not to mention, I like to work on my own junk, I babied the bike home. I started pulling things apart per the FSM today only to find out that there is an S&S gear drive on the cam (no chain at all) I also found when I pulled the valve covers off that I have roller arms on top of the valves as well. What I am looking for now are some suggestions as to what I should do at this point, I do not know why the bike stumbled and certainly do not know why it was blowing so much oil. Should I continue pulling the top end off to look at things or should I put it back together and do a compression test on the cylinders to see if I have a problem with the rings (I know I should have done this but I thought I was cycling tensioner parts in the oil). By the way the oil looks great with no particles in it at all.
Any thoughts and ideas are greatly appreciated!
Thanks, Phat
Any thoughts and ideas are greatly appreciated!
Thanks, Phat
Strange that the bike had headwork & cams done, yet the mechanic didn't replace the cam chain tensionors. What was the mileage when all the supposely work was done? Also, while you're in there please change the inner/outer cam bearings.
Road Warrior
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 1,672
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From: Orange, VA,
He said there are gear driven cams on his bike
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 2,664
Likes: 184
From: Indiana, USA
I had this problem on my '03 with Se High Comp Pistons and heads. I replaced the breathers with stock in the top end kit and just like you, high speed riding had oil all over the right pant leg and saddlebag. The faster I went the more oil i used. Again, new pistons, rings, heads and cams, new top end. I researched to find this is a problem with twin cams that have been worked over. I found and purchased through Dogherty machine, Myst Free breathers. Installation requires drillig a larger oil hole in the rocker plate to allow extra oil in the rocker boxes to flow down. I have not had any issues with oil blowby since installing these.
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2010
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From: Phoenix '53, '88, '09 Big Twins
That's the thing with a multi owner bikes--- mysteries.
Try to get a log of all the work done from the previous owners- it may be helpful.
1.) oil all over the side can occur just from overfilling the oil tank- many of us run about a pint low.
2.) the hype charger is a chrome gee gaw. it flows slightly more air than stock ( 155 CFM vs 135 CFM) most of the aftermarket air cleaners flow more air than the motor could ever use - over 220 CFM
so, what oil level were you running ?
b.) does/did the oil spewk smell at all like gasoline yes/no ?
smoke behind you ? colour ? white = oil, black = fuel
probably burning on the mufflers, not coming from the exhaust ?
Mike
Try to get a log of all the work done from the previous owners- it may be helpful.
1.) oil all over the side can occur just from overfilling the oil tank- many of us run about a pint low.
2.) the hype charger is a chrome gee gaw. it flows slightly more air than stock ( 155 CFM vs 135 CFM) most of the aftermarket air cleaners flow more air than the motor could ever use - over 220 CFM
so, what oil level were you running ?
b.) does/did the oil spewk smell at all like gasoline yes/no ?
smoke behind you ? colour ? white = oil, black = fuel
probably burning on the mufflers, not coming from the exhaust ?
Mike
Last edited by mkguitar; Sep 20, 2012 at 02:28 PM.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 2,664
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From: Indiana, USA
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Stage II
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 2
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From: Littleton,CO
That's the thing with a multi owner bikes--- mysteries.
Try to get a log of all the work done from the previous owners- it may be helpful.
1.) oil all over the side can occur just from overfilling the oil tank- many of us run about a pint low.
2.) the hype charger is a chrome gee gaw. it flows slightly more air than stock ( 155 CFM vs 135 CFM) most of the aftermarket air cleaners flow more air than the motor could ever use - over 220 CFM
so, what oil level were you running ?
b.) does/did the oil spewk smell at all like gasoline yes/no ?
smoke behind you ? colour ? white = oil, black = fuel
probably burning on the mufflers, not coming from the exhaust ?
Mike
Try to get a log of all the work done from the previous owners- it may be helpful.
1.) oil all over the side can occur just from overfilling the oil tank- many of us run about a pint low.
2.) the hype charger is a chrome gee gaw. it flows slightly more air than stock ( 155 CFM vs 135 CFM) most of the aftermarket air cleaners flow more air than the motor could ever use - over 220 CFM
so, what oil level were you running ?
b.) does/did the oil spewk smell at all like gasoline yes/no ?
smoke behind you ? colour ? white = oil, black = fuel
probably burning on the mufflers, not coming from the exhaust ?
Mike
Yep it is tough not having a complete record of what was done..
The Oil is Mobil-1 V-Twin, OEM filter..
No gas smell at all, the smoke was WHITE and lots of it so I think you are right about hitting the hot pipe..
So, I put it back together and went to get some gas. Runs like a Bat outta H.. no smoke, like nothing ever happened.. the idle is a bit high but other than that everything seems fine.. I think I will go ahead and do a compression test and leakdown just for my own piece of mind.. I will leave the oil a pint low and see how it does, still can't figure out why it was laying down a bit, not having a tac, I really do not know the RPM at 80 but I am sure it was not hitting the governer.. I may end up looking into one of the breather mods / upgrades if I am still having the oily pant thing happening.. Thanks again guys for all the advise and thoughts!!
Phat
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Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2009
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From: East Tn Foot of The Dragon
I had this problem on my '03 with Se High Comp Pistons and heads. I replaced the breathers with stock in the top end kit and just like you, high speed riding had oil all over the right pant leg and saddlebag. The faster I went the more oil i used. Again, new pistons, rings, heads and cams, new top end. I researched to find this is a problem with twin cams that have been worked over. I found and purchased through Dogherty machine, Myst Free breathers. Installation requires drillig a larger oil hole in the rocker plate to allow extra oil in the rocker boxes to flow down. I have not had any issues with oil blowby since installing these.
Last edited by checkers; Sep 20, 2012 at 06:26 PM.
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