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Novice trying to get older Harley/custom back in riding shape. Started bike and oil began pouring out of air filter, seems like a problem to me, what do I need to do?
Answer -
What year is the bike? Is the vent tube running to the back of the air filter?
Mike
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Thanks for getting back to me so quickly! The engine is an 1984 shovel head. I'm not too sure about the vent tube, there is a tube connected to it, that is running into something which looks like it could be an oil sump or an oil pan. here are a couple pics.
http://www.angelfire.com/retro/fancycat/harley3.jpg
and
http://www.angelfire.com/retro/fancycat/halhurt.JPG
i could take more pics, up close, and even start it again and show you exactly where the oil is leaking from if that would help.
Thanks
-Joe
Answer -
Your problem is the same one that has bugged harley riders for years. The problem is the oil tank sits higher than the motor. Inside the oil pump ther is a ball with a spring. When the bike isnt running the ball is supose to keep the oil from draining into the motor. Over time the spring either gets weak or ther is a speck of dirt that is holding it open. Oil weeps into the bottom end. Now you start the bike. The oil pump cant handle that much oil so it comes out the breather tube. The breather tube is connected to the air filter and normally the is just air coming out of it. If you start the bike and let it run it will clear itself, but it does make a mess. It doestn hurt anything.
You can fix the problem by following the tube to the bottom of the motor. There is a fitting that the hose is attached to. Rotate the fitting so it points down and attach a short lenght of hose to it. Now if you dump oil it goes to the ground. The other way is to remove the oil pump and reseat the ball and put in a new spring.
Good luck and happy riding
Mike
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Once again, thanks again for responding so quickly. I suppose my final question will be, now that there is oil all over the air filter, is that a problem? Do I need to clean out the air filter? And since it leaked a decent sized puddle (1 foot by 1 foot) do I need to put more oil into it, or will it just flow out again? Thanks in advance!
-Joe
AnswerYoushould be able to clean your air filter. Clean it in some gas. Let it dry. Then clean it in soap and water and let it dry again.
Before putting it back in start the bike and let it clear itself out. It doesnt take that long. Ususally the problem happens over the winter or when the bike sitsw over a long period of time. Let the bike warm up and then check your oil. Once you get the bike running it will stop. If the bike is started on a regular basis you shouldnt have any problems. You would be surprised at the number of calls I get in the shop in the spring abut this very problem! Its cause the bike has been sitting all winter and the oil weeps into the bottom end.
Good luck and happy riding
Mike
