Why do Shovelheads leak oil?
Oil leaks, or the “Shovelhead Drip,” have been plaguing Shovelhead owners for decades. The culprits can include worn head gaskets, the valve cover on top of the engine or the oil pump. According to Shovelhead USa, both the primary and chain oilers can be plugged without harming the motorcycle.
What is engine oil Sumping?
Oil sumping or wet sumping is a condition where oil, instead of returning to the oil tank, builds up in the crankcase and cam gearcase, causing excessive friction and power loss. Sumping is when the suction side of the oil pump does not remove enough oil from the crankcase.
When did Harley stop making Shovelheads?
The Shovelhead engine is a motorcycle engine that was produced by Harley-Davidson from 1966 to 1984, built as a successor to the previous Panhead engine.
Do Harley-Davidson burn oil?
Harleys are dry-sump bikes, meaning the oil is stored remotely and pumped in. All older Harleys and some new ones locate the oil in a tank that is higher than the bottom of the engine cases. Thus, the oil blows out the crankcase breather or air cleaner in copious amounts.
What does Sumping mean?
noun. : a shot or blast for making a sump or deepening a mine shaft.
Why do Harleys have oil tanks?
Harley Davidsons have oil tanks because the engine has a dry sump system, meaning the oil is constantly pumped through the engine with an oil pump. The overall height of the vtwin limits the soze so where a oil pan is not feasable.
What causes oil to come out of the breather?
Answer: Actually, oil coming out the breather may not be a problem at all. The check ball on the oil pump may stick or leak allowing oil from the tank to fill the crankcase. When you crank or start the engine oil is then forced out the breather.
What to do when oil blows out of crankcase breather tube?
You will need to remove the spring & check ball from the inner pump tower; clean the check ball, replace if pitted & re-install. Crank over the motor with the plugs out & leads grounded until the oil is out of the cases. Re-fill oil tank, warm up bike & top off oil level.
What should I do if my engine oil keeps blowing into the air filter?
Purchase an engine flush formula from your local parts store and follow the directions. In general you will pour the formula into the oil and run the engine for a period of time. Once the engine has been flushed drain the oil and fill it with fresh engine oil. Replace the filter and see if the problem persists.
What causes the oil to blow by in a diesel engine?
Causes of Diesel Engine Oil Blow By. by Tony Oldhand. In a diesel engine, blow by is defined as the compressed fuel/air mixture in the combustion chamber leaking past the piston and entering the crankcase. Blow by is not good since it robs engine power and builds up gas pressure in the crankcase.
Answer: Actually, oil coming out the breather may not be a problem at all. The check ball on the oil pump may stick or leak allowing oil from the tank to fill the crankcase. When you crank or start the engine oil is then forced out the breather.
How can I get the oil out of my bike breather?
When you crank or start the engine oil is then forced out the breather. As long as it stops after a minute or two you are probably OK. The longer the bike sits between starts the more oil there will be. Put a clean container under the breather and just pour the oil back into the tank.
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.
How can you tell if oil is reaching the farthest parts of the engine?
To check whether oil is reaching the farthest parts of the engine, the rocker boxes, take the socket cap plugs out of the rocker-boxes and see if oil dribbles out while the engine is running. Also take the cap off the oil tank and look for return flow, In both cases oil flow will be sporadic at idle and increase as the engine is revved.