Dipstick Popping Off
Harley Oil & LubricationDiscuss Dipstick Popping Off in the Harley Tech & Harley How-to forums; OK, this one heas me floored. I rode my twin cam Ultra up to Lime Rock Park today to watch the car races. First time this year I really got ...
OK, this one heas me floored. I rode my twin cam Ultra up to Lime Rock Park today to watch the car races. First time this year I really got on it hard and I was rewarded with an oil bath when the dipstick popped out oand shot a wall of oil all over the saddlebags, seat, exhaust, rear brakes, etc. The first time I assumed I had somehome not tightened it down right. The second and third time I knew it wasn't becuase it was loose. It seems to vibrate or pop out when I crack open and hold open the throttle up through redline. Then I look down and see a new oil bath. I rode it home gently and washed it down until I can figre out the cure.
Any ideas?
The bike is warmed up with SE heads, HD big bore kit, cams, Rhinehart pipes, recalibrated EFI and ignition and little else. The diptstick is a HD one with the temperature readout on it.
Excessive crankcase pressure creating pressure in the oil reservoir? I'm sure Frisco or another of the very experienced wrenches will have some suggestions.
WoW, I sure have shovemike fooled, but don't tell him I said that.!
It makes sense, excessive case pressure... I've seen it happen but never had it happen to me, could be cuz I alway build with screw-in oil bags...
Our deep breathing 80" is push-in but under the seat pan so we wouldn't know if it's trying to leave...
Heck, what are ya askin us for, you got Donneys home phone, jeeze..
I had the exact same problem with the digital dipstick.I took it back to the dealer and got a store credit.I put the original back in and no more problems with oil downs and loss of rear brakes.The twin cam is a head breather so if you have excessive crankcase pressure it will start oiling into the air cleaner.I use a hayden krank vent and a fueling oil pump which eliminate the problem.
Buzz,take the breather assembly off of the heads. Get a hand held vacumm pump. hook the pump to each head (1 at a time) pump it up. If etheir head holds vacumm, that head has the problem. Also do the same to the pieces that go to the throttle body. If no vacumm is held anywhere than you will know that it is internal.
Huh? A valve is always going to be open so the Head should not hold air. You need some pressure to equalize things.
If it is one of those Fancy digital ones I would put it on a Birthday cake. Bad design. Put the original back in. See if it still happens.
A good "lazy" Way to tell if you have extra built up pressure in your motor is....
Ride the hell out of it. Park it in a nice quiet garage. Have someone fetch you a drink. Sit and wait about 15 to 20 minutes. If the bike makes an awful groan that is buit up pressure finding its way out. Makes the same sound as a dead guy does after you move him. Dont ask. Bike will make some sounds as it cools but this is a destinct sound. If it happens you need to find out what is casing the blockage.
Cuz the next thing is your other seals are going to take a beating and start to leak.
frisco, remind me never to treat you to a huge dinner. And if I ever do, remind me to get as far from you as fast as possible immediately afterwards. ;-)
Dipstick Popping Off 
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