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7th December 2019
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Chief Master Mechanic
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Join Date: Sep 2019
Posts: 456 Sportster/Buell Model: XLH Sportster/Buell Year: 1969 Other Motorcycle Model: 111 Ironhorse Outlaw Other Motorcycle Year: 2004
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oil return for stroker
Looking for objective comments from people on whether to go with external oil return lines or the traditional welding and lowering of oil returns in cylinders. What are benefits and drawbacks of each method and what is preferred?
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7th December 2019
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Custom Bike Builder
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Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Phoenix
Posts: 2,307 Sportster/Buell Model: xlch Sportster/Buell Year: 1964 Sportster/Buell Model #2: XLCH IR EFI Sportster/Buell Year #2: 1971 Other Motorcycle Model: BMW K1200RS Other Motorcycle Year: 2001
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External can be directed out of the crankcase area - good?? less windage, however less oil on skirts. More cumbersome on exterior. Just some of the things Ive considered. Been done 1000 times both ways.
My $.02
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7th December 2019
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XL FORUM TEAM MEMBER
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Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 2,260 Sportster/Buell Model: dragbike Sportster/Buell Year: 1960
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For a road bike use the internal drain for the skirt oiling.
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7th December 2019
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Chief Master Mechanic
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Join Date: Oct 2019
Posts: 452 Sportster/Buell Model: 883 Evo Sportster/Buell Year: 1989
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Drain oil from the heads is supposed to go to the skirts, a stroker only changes the exact location.
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8th December 2019
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Chief Master Mechanic
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Join Date: Sep 2019
Posts: 456 Sportster/Buell Model: XLH Sportster/Buell Year: 1969 Other Motorcycle Model: 111 Ironhorse Outlaw Other Motorcycle Year: 2004
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Let me throw this out there. The stock oiling system returns oil to the lower end by having it enter the cylinder below the piston rings. The crank pin gets a direct feed for the big end of the rods. All that oil must be scavenged out as you do not want the flywheels running in an oil bath. By routing the top end oil returns externally to the cam chest you reduce the amount of oil required to be scavenged. The oil that went to the rods is still there and the violent turbulence created by the pistons traveling up and down puts ample oil on the cylinder walls. Great for a full on race engine, who has experience with a street motor running this set up?
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8th December 2019
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Custom Bike Builder
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Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Phoenix
Posts: 2,307 Sportster/Buell Model: xlch Sportster/Buell Year: 1964 Sportster/Buell Model #2: XLCH IR EFI Sportster/Buell Year #2: 1971 Other Motorcycle Model: BMW K1200RS Other Motorcycle Year: 2001
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Those are the points I had laid out in my first reply. i have had/have bikes with relocated holes in cyls, returned through timing plug hole and directley into cam chest all on "street" engines. No terrible consequences. However some peoples expectations or interpretations of street engine may vary. Mine are anything with a license plate qualifies for street engine. Anything can be a daily rider if you dont mind spending evenings in the shop.
***Disclaimer with respect. I would not discount any advice given by MrMom9R***
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8th December 2019
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Chief Master Mechanic
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Join Date: Sep 2019
Posts: 456 Sportster/Buell Model: XLH Sportster/Buell Year: 1969 Other Motorcycle Model: 111 Ironhorse Outlaw Other Motorcycle Year: 2004
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Iron Mike I'm the same way when it comes to interpretations of what is a street engine. My shop is open 24/7. That said I know several of you have an insurmountable amount of knowledge you are more than willing to share if the question is asked. I'm here to learn.
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8th December 2019
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Custom Bike Builder
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Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Phoenix
Posts: 2,307 Sportster/Buell Model: xlch Sportster/Buell Year: 1964 Sportster/Buell Model #2: XLCH IR EFI Sportster/Buell Year #2: 1971 Other Motorcycle Model: BMW K1200RS Other Motorcycle Year: 2001
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In this classroom, my chair is pulled up right next to yours and my notebook is out!
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8th December 2019
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XL FORUM TEAM MEMBER
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Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Coastal BC
Posts: 1,266 Sportster/Buell Model: shovester project Sportster/Buell Year: 80s Other Motorcycle Model: Kawasaki kz440 Other Motorcycle Year: 1983
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I can't say which is "better" to go with but I'll join this discussion because I will have external drains on the shovster I am building (which will be for street use only). In my case it is the way to go because my Trock cylinders do not have internal drains.
I don't know yet if I will drain them through the timing inspection hole (into the crankcase where it would normally go), or directly into the cam chest. Probably directly into the cam chest to be closer to the oil pump and to reduce the amount of oil getting in the way of the flywheels.
So, along with Iron Mike and RickTompson, I'm sitting here ready to take notes
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8th December 2019
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Know It All
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Join Date: Nov 2018
Posts: 179
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Unless your rocker arm bushings are shot there is not a huge amount of oil returned, not enough to really matter as far as the flywheel chamber or pistons are concerned. Pans and shovels return the oil to one side of the piston instead of the skirts like an ironhead and their pistons don't wear differently?
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