What kind of oil is in a 1975 Shovelhead?
Bought a 1975 Shovelhead a while back from a very shady character and among other things, when you start the engine, it starts puking tons of oil all over the floor. There is a braided metal line about 6-8″ long with a small filter on the end of it.
Why is my old shovel spewing oil?
My old 1983 shovel is spewing oil on the ground when it hasn’t been started for a while (a week or more). I think it is because oil is seeping past the check valve ball in the oil pump and into the crankcase. When the motor is started is expells the oil out the crankcase vent line onto the ground.
Where are the oil lines on a Shovelhead?
They are on the top of the oil pump cover. The inboard one (closest to the engine) is the oil RETURN back to the tank. Since you’re running an external filter, you’ll connect a hose from that fitting to the “IN” side of the filter…take the “OUT” side of the filter and connect a hose from it to the tank return fitting.
What causes oil to leak from Breather vent on Harley Davidson?
I spoke to “He who knows all” and he said it sounded to him like a sheared oil pump key. He also explained that if that key is sheared, it is caused by a more serious problem such as a scavenger gear bearing failure. Good luck.
What to do about crankcase pressure on Shovelhead V-twin?
Start the engine and let it run at idle for a while with a drain pan under the crank case vent line. This may take a bit of time but it will eventually purge itself of excess oil. Hope this helps! I personally do not perscribe to the hammer and ball method for working on oil pumps.
Why is my Shovelhead crankcase filling up with oil?
New (correctly installed) S&S oil pump. It’s puking oil onto the floor while parked. The engine case is filling up with oil coming from the tank/bag. WTF? Amazingly, after 40 year of “hands-on” experience, I have the same issue with a 1200 FXE.
Bought a 1975 Shovelhead a while back from a very shady character and among other things, when you start the engine, it starts puking tons of oil all over the floor. There is a braided metal line about 6-8″ long with a small filter on the end of it.
My old 1983 shovel is spewing oil on the ground when it hasn’t been started for a while (a week or more). I think it is because oil is seeping past the check valve ball in the oil pump and into the crankcase. When the motor is started is expells the oil out the crankcase vent line onto the ground.
What kind of brake fluid does a Harley Shovelhead use?
Models 1975 and later use Dot 5 brake fluid. The front fork oil capacity varied over the 18 years the shovelhead was in production. Instructions for new front forks include the amount of oil required. Models from 1966 to 1969 use 6.5 oz. of fork oil.
How often should you change the oil on a Shovelhead?
That keeps the engine and other moving components lubricated and operating efficiently. The official maintenance recommendation is to change engine oil every 5,000 miles, but changing the oil at 2,500 miles is a good idea for an older shovelhead.
How to check the oil level on a Harley Shovelhead?
Stop the engine and let the oil settle for another 10 minutes. Lift the motorcycle off of its side stand and into a level, upright position. Check the oil level by looking into the oil tank through its filler neck. Ideally, the oil must be 1 inch below the bottom of the filler neck.
Is there oil line routing on a Shovelhead?
This is an oil pump on a shovelhead. It has more. we made a nice diagram of the oil lines on my 73 shovelhead, cut all the old lines and removed them. Lost the diagramweb.nety know of a nice. Shovelhead – Oil line routing on 76 FLH w/stock tank. – Restoring a 76 FLH. Need oil line routing diagram for stock oil tank. My sifton oil pump.
That keeps the engine and other moving components lubricated and operating efficiently. The official maintenance recommendation is to change engine oil every 5,000 miles, but changing the oil at 2,500 miles is a good idea for an older shovelhead.
Models 1975 and later use Dot 5 brake fluid. The front fork oil capacity varied over the 18 years the shovelhead was in production. Instructions for new front forks include the amount of oil required. Models from 1966 to 1969 use 6.5 oz. of fork oil.
What to do if oil blows out of Shovelhead?
First, make sure your breather hoses are not dry-cracked-pinched if they are ok you can start by trying the following: 1. Run your oil level halfway between the add and full mark when hot. 2. Run oil breather lines from the head into a TEE fitting be low carb/induction module then a single line into a mini-filter or PVC valve under the frame.
What causes an oil leak on a 1975 Harley Davidson?
Re: 1975 Harley Davidson FLH shovelhead blows oil out the… Hi, Anonymous oil leaking from your air cleaner or breather is caused by oil carryover from the engine. For whatever reason, the breather system is not separating enough oil mist and air from the piston downstroke.
First, make sure your breather hoses are not dry-cracked-pinched if they are ok you can start by trying the following: 1. Run your oil level halfway between the add and full mark when hot. 2. Run oil breather lines from the head into a TEE fitting be low carb/induction module then a single line into a mini-filter or PVC valve under the frame.
Can a chain drive Shovelhead cause an oil leak?
The Shovelhead was equipped with automatic oilers in the primary and for the chain drive. These two systems have historically taken the blame for oil leaks. According to Shovelhead USa, both the primary and chain oilers can be plugged without harming the motorcycle.
Can a loose bolt on a Shovelhead be tightened?
Just tightening a loose bolt will do little for the performance of the motorcycle, however. The bolt must be properly torqued to the right specifications. When re-torquing or installing new bolts on a Shovelhead, it’s a good idea to apply a light film of lubricating oil to a bolt to reduce friction.
What causes an oil leak in a Shovelhead?
The culprits can include worn head gaskets, the valve cover on top of the engine or the oil pump. The Shovelhead was equipped with automatic oilers in the primary and for the chain drive. These two systems have historically taken the blame for oil leaks.
When was the check valve added to the oil pump?
From 1968 to 1999 the oil pumps are all pretty much the same in respect to the check valve. The check valve is used to keep the oil in the oil tank when the engine isn’t running. When the engine is running there is oil pressure that opens the check valve and allows the oil to flow through the engine.
Why does my shovel blow oil on the ground?
If you let the bike sit over the winter and oil drains past the check valve, when you start it in the spring it will blow the oil out the breather. This is somewhat ok. It is when you let the bike sit for a couple hours or a day and it does this that it is a problem. My shovel used to do this.
When did Harley Davidson stop using the Shovelhead engine?
The Shovelhead soldiered on until 1984, when the Evolution engine—essentially new aluminum head and barrels on the old crankcases—began to take over. A serious effort was made to call it the Blockhead, but the factory wanted a little more elegance and their constant reference to the “Evo” motor won out.
What did the Shovelhead on a Harley Davidson look like?
Squint your eyes and that early Harley iron cylinder-head looked vaguely knuckle-ish, while the subsequent one had shiny chrome rocker-arm covers which did indeed resemble the pans one might find in a kitchen.
When did the Low Rider Shovelhead come out?
In 1977 the Low Rider appeared, another sales hit. 1978 Harley-Davidson 74-inch FLH Shovelhead. The bagger types (those who liked the King of the Highway touring package, with batwing fairing and saddlebags) still had their FLHs, but now the market was expanding. Slowly. Too slowly, for the likes of AMF.
What’s the difference between a Shovelhead and a V-twin?
The biggest difference was that the engine/transmission package was rubber-mounted, taking away the dreaded V-twin vibes. Behind the frame-mounted fairing an interesting steering arrangement was hidden, with the steering head actually behind the fork tubes, which created a relatively agile 750-pound motorcycle.
How do you get oil out of a Harley Davidson shovelhead?
Run your oil level halfway between the add and full mark when hot. 2. Run oil breather lines from the head into a TEE fitting be low carb/induction module then a single line into a mini-filter or PVC valve under the frame. 3. Purchase Arlen Ness Super Sucker.
What was the displacement of a Harley Davidson shovelhead engine?
Harley-Davidson’s Shovelhead engine, produced between 1966 and 1984, was the predecessor of the modern-day Evolution engine. Initially offered with a displacement of 73 cubic inches, by the end of its production run in 1984 it had a displacement of 82 cubic inches.
Are there split oil lines on the Shovelhead?
5) Of all of Harley’s overhead valve motors (Knucklehead, Panhead, Shovelhead, etc.), the Shovelhead was the only one which dose not have split oil lines to the rockers – make of that what you will.
Why do oil lines go through the rocker box?
1) Oil gets to the front cylinder earlier/faster during starting (this is debatable, see below). 2) Additionally, it is possible that the oil is cooler having arrived sooner than if it had travelled through the rear rocker box first (special thanks/credit to @HarleyTales on twitter for this comment, check them out via the link)
Do you own a Harley Davidson shovelhead like Cal?
I apologize to my readers who don’t own a Shovelhead like “ Cal ,” but this is a highly contentious topic related specifically to Harley-Davidson Shovelheads – rocker box oil line routing.
What should I do if my Shovelhead breather is leaking?
As I stated earlier the oil leaking/spewing out of the breather should subside after a few minutes of idling. If this continues you are going to have to look further for a cause. All the above fixes are for a situation called “wet sumping”.
What does it mean when your crankcase breather is blowing oil?
If your crankcase breather is passing oil, chances are that something’s wrong (Okay, we know something’s wrong, but don’t be too alarmed). Here are some things to look for while you’re searching for the source of the issue:
When did the Harley Shovelhead engine come out?
The Shovelhead engine was introduced by Harley-Davidson in 1966 and was used until 1984, when it was replaced by the Evolution engine. The engine boasted a 1,340 cc displacement and Harley-Davidson’s classic 45-degree V-twin cylinder arrangement.
Why does my Shovelhead crankcase get blowby?
Click to expand… There is a “fix” to the oil bleeding into the crankcase ( which causes the condition you are experiencing .. known as blowby ) after sitting for a long period of time.
What was the history of the Shovelhead engine?
History. The Shovelhead engine was created as the previous Panhead engine was becoming obsolete, with many Harley-Davidson owners demanding more power to compete with the more modern motorcycles. Throughout the Shovelhead’s run, the engine had many different changes made to it to improve power, cooling and oil consumption.
What was the VIN on a 1979 Harley Davidson shovelhead?
In an attempt to curtail theft, the Motor Company used different frame and engine numbers on some 1979 models. The frame numbers didn’t match the number stamped on the engines. The first two digits remained the model code. From 1981 to 1983, a 17-digit VIN appears on the frame, and the engine had a partial VIN.
What causes a Harley Shovelhead engine to fail?
The excessive overheating in the motors also caused serious problems, which frequently led to failure. With a lack of oil and excessive heat, the valves were prone to sticking and destroying the top end.
This is an oil pump on a shovelhead. It has more. we made a nice diagram of the oil lines on my 73 shovelhead, cut all the old lines and removed them. Lost the diagramweb.nety know of a nice. Shovelhead – Oil line routing on 76 FLH w/stock tank. – Restoring a 76 FLH. Need oil line routing diagram for stock oil tank. My sifton oil pump.
Which is better Shovelhead rocker box or shovelhead vent?
The never-ending debate among Shovelhead aficionados and experts is whether or not the Shovelhead rocker box oil line routing is better. need help with correct routing of top 2 oil lines witch one is vent and return?
What kind of oil filter does a 1975 Shovelhead have?
Bought a 1975 Shovelhead a while back from a very shady character and among other things, when you start the engine, it starts puking tons of oil all over the floor. There is a braided metal line about 6-8″ long with a small filter on the end of it. Looks like a crank case breather line, on the right side of the engine.
Where does the oil come from in a Shovelhead?
There is a braided metal line about 6-8″ long with a small filter on the end of it. Looks like a crank case breather line, on the right side of the engine. This is where the oil is coming from.
What should I do if my Shovelhead crankcase is leaking oil?
Springer has also provided you with a link that offers a good solution. The procedure that you follow will obviously be based on your mechanical abilities. As I stated earlier the oil leaking/spewing out of the breather should subside after a few minutes of idling. If this continues you are going to have to look further for a cause.