Motorcycle Repair: 2002 FLSTSI rear cylinder dry fouling plug, valve seals, piston rings

Question
QUESTION: Hi Mike, I have roughly 150 PSI on a dry compression test with this twin cam...the rear cylinder is dry fouling and I'm losing oil with no leaks.

Sounds like a valve seals. Is there a tool (or kit) I can get to remove the keepers without removing the heads?

Thanks

ANSWER: You have to remove the heads to remove the keepers, due to the fadt that you have to compress the valve springs.
If you are burning oil, then its either the valve guides or the piston rings. Since your bike has valve guide seals, I would suppect the rings.
Good luck and happy riding
Mike

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: With 150 PSI dry compression...I'm not clear why that sounds like rings. But, I'll take your word for it.

Answer
You stated that you were losing oil, but no leaks. In order to lose oil, it either has to leak or burn. There are two ways that oil can get into the cylinder to burn. One is past the valve guides and one is past the rings. Since your bike has valve guide seals that is why I said the rings. you can have a valve guide seal fail, but they dont do that very often. Either way, once you pull the head to check the valve guides you will have to pull the cylinder to replace the base gasket and then you can check the rings and cylinders
Good luck and happy riding
Mike