New Poll- CONVERTED RUBBERMOUNTS ONLY! Oil Consumption

[flourman]

Alright, now that mine is done and some miles on it I'll put in my input.

04 883 with 45,000 miles on it when converted. I stuck with the stock 883 heads and cams (didn't change valve guides) and kept the 883 front sprocket. I used zero oil during break-in but after a 1000+ mile ride, I ended up using two quarts. Most oil use was when I was running 85-90 mph on the interstate in 95+ degrees. I didn't notice any oil use at speeds under 70.

No smoking, nothing out the breather (open filter on breather) so I am now assuming it's the valve guides as they have plenty of miles on them.

Otherwise, VERY pleased in the conversion. I had an indy fit the rings, I installed them.

[iwantmybeerbackplease]

About a half quart every 3000 miles or so. Have about 6200 miles on NRHS 1212 conversion.

[lazy gee fury]

None before conversion. Minus a quarter after (4000 km) 2500 miles with SE 1200 conversion. I checked oil level after a ride today and saw that the oil was a little above min level.

[patrickd]

In my opinion the poll will get you no where without taking certain specifics into consideration. It's like asking how many riders got a flat tire without asking was it due to running over a nail or was it from a bad valve stem. Just having no air in a tire without wondering why is pointless.
Assuming all ring gaps were correct:
My suspicion with a hopped up engine using oil might be that the rider just couldn't wait to twist her up and feel his new found horsepower. Without letting the rings seat and seal through proper heat cycles the rings get too hot early on and glaze the cylinder walls ruining the cross hatch honed into the cylinder walls. Those with high oil consumption. Have you torn it back down to check anything? Have you ran a compression check before and after break in?
Another variable to be considered is this. Is your oil consumption due to improper crank case venting? Could the oil be burned through the breather and not due to leaking past the rings? When the engine was reassembled were the oil drain back passages from the top end completely clear? Those with high oil consumption have you noticed any excess oil in the breather assembly?

[Screw Loose Dan]

A little history lesson for folks just joining...this thread was started in January 2008, because for several months of 2007 there were concerns, debates, all out fights regarding certain vendors and conversions. I think this poll was to show that it didn't matter which vendor did the conversion or who did the work, a certain percentage of conversions will consume more oil. Much of the really ugly fighting from back then got deleted. Lots of peoples feelings were hurt. And some of us spent a a bit of money trying to figure things out and still have motors that use lots of oil...but we don't dare bring it up.

In other words, there's a lot more history and politics behind this thread then it would seem. And thanks again for raising a thread that reminds some of us of that painful time.

[JasonSarratt]

Can I ask a quick stupid question... When we are looking to add oil, is everyone starting the bike and warming it up prior to checking it? I've seen a lot of people complain about breather mess and oil consumption in my area too, then you find that they are letting the bike sit for a week after riding it, they check the oil before the next ride and its down a quart... so they add oil and head down the road. Had they run it and warmed it up first they would have found they weren't a quart low, the oil just migrated to the motor while it sat. So then over filling the motor then has a mess coming out the breathers.

For this study or poll... how many with what everyone is calling "blow by" or "oil coming out the breathers" are checking their oil without running the bike and bringing it up to temp first?

How many conversion guys that are using more oil now did the conversions at home as a hobby vs had pros do it in a build room... just to see if environment has anything to do with it.

[Screw Loose Dan]

We have hashed and rehashed all those angles previously. Trust me. In great detail, over and over and over and over and over.

Some say the oil consumption issues are a thing of the past. I just keep adding oil. And no, I won't discuss it any further.

[ozark]

Originally Posted by cantolina

OK, I had to get rid of the last poll, for my own reasons...(and because at least 1 non-rubbermount voted oops)

This one will be simpler...

IF you own a rubbermount 883, AND you converted to 1200:

Did you have oil consumption issues, either before or after, or both?

I don't care who did the work, where the parts came from, whatever, and I'd appreciate that staying out of the mix right now...

My last poll revealed about 12.5% of respondents had oil consumption issues...I now am curious to find out how many had those issues AFTER a conversion....

This is a pretty old thread so if I commented before have patience. For this reason I am not voting on the poll.

I had the conversion done on my 05 883 at about 300 miles. At that point it had not used any oil. I broke in the engine according to the book and use Mobil 1 15 W-50 with 3000 mile oil change intervals. I rarely if ever have to add oil.

Having said that, I have just started to see a little oil weeping at the front lifter cover. If I don't get around to fixing it this winter I might have to top it off occasionally.

Ozark

PS: Stock heads cam etc. Had a dealer install factory 1200 kit using Harley pistons, rings and jugs.

[sportsterdoc]

Originally Posted by ozark

I have just started to see a little oil weeping at the front lifter cover.

Thanks for the input, but gasket seepage is not consumption.
Consumption is burning oil due to rings not seating properly or valves.

Seepage is generally just annoying.