Head breather and Oil leak

[davy]

Hi,

I bought the SS Teardrop air cleaner for my 98 sportser xl1200. The bike is running great with it. However, I noticed the head and base gasket started leaking.

Could it be possible that head breather assembly (banjo and rubber) is more restrictive than stock and causing that problem ?

Time to change all those gaskets... ?
The bike as 70 000km.

Thanks so much

[JacksBrother]

Originally Posted by davy

Hi,

I bought the SS Teardrop air cleaner for my 98 sportser xl1200. The bike is running great with it. However, I noticed the head and base gasket started leaking.

Could it be possible that head breather assembly (banjo and rubber) is more restrictive than stock and causing that problem ?

Time to change all those gaskets... ?
The bike as 70 000km.

Thanks so much

Welcome to the Forum!
I'm running the same set-uo on my '98 1200 as well. I like it a lot. Which cylinder is leaking?
I seriously doubt that the breather hose / banjo bolt system could have any affect on your gasket leaks. I think that the 50,000 miles on the speedometer is a more likely culprit.
Good luck with your gasket change,
Joe

[sportysrock]

The vent hole in a stock breather bolt is about 1/16". Did you notice how large the S&S are?

Sent with :-)

[kneeco]

I had same issue with a breather kit. The opening were similar size but the angle the banjo bolt creates and the longer run disrupted the airflow enough to upset my bike.

[60Gunner]

Your umbrellas may be shot too and you're sucking air in. Pressure will build.
Vent from the cam chest and your gasket leaks will be but a distant memory. Better ring seal too.
No more mess dangling from your heads or air cleaner. No more oil all over the side of your motor.
Plug them with solid bolts and never look back.

Check out "Installing the Ultimate Crankcase Vent" in the Sportsterpedia.
I use the Hayden Krankvent KVP38.

http://sportsterpedia.com/doku.php/t...ref:engmech05d

[Hippysmack]

Yes, any changes to the OEM breathing system Can affect overall breathing in general.
How much, good or bad, depends on your individual engine variables.
If you run the line up or down from the head outlet, length and height of hose.

The first things you should look at if you're having problems is the umbrella valves.
They are flimsy rubber valves and they don't last forever.
If you run a filter on the end of the breather hose, take it off. It is unnecessary and in some cases very harmful to the breathing system.
It'll cake up with condensation / oil and hinder or stop up your breathing path.
The next thing to do is perform a compression or leakdown test to check if you have excess ring or valve leakage causing more air intake into the crankcase.

[60Gunner]

Alternatively, and meeting Hippy in the middle so to speak, is add the krankvent in your breather hose after they come together. Keep it pointed down, run it under the frame, no filter like Hippy said.
This can be done if drilling/tapping a hole in the cam cover doesn't appeal to you. It's a better designed one way valve, it's external and comes apart for easy cleaning if it were necessary, and you won't have the stock umbrellas to worry about failing again and removing your rocker covers to fix. For best results they should be removed tho.
Cam chest venting is best tho imo. If for no other reason, aesthetics. Altho some of believe it's the best place to vent. A controversial subject with no definitive proof either way at best. Now you can make an informed decision that suits you.

[Hippysmack]

Originally Posted by 60gunner

alternatively, and meeting hippy in the middle so to speak, is add the krankvent in your breather hose after they come together. Keep it pointed down, run it under the frame, no filter like hippy said.
This can be done if drilling/tapping a hole in the cam cover doesn't appeal to you. It's a better designed one way valve, it's external and comes apart for easy cleaning if it were necessary, and you won't have the stock umbrellas to worry about failing again and removing your rocker covers to fix. For best results they should be removed tho.
Cam chest venting is best tho imo. If for no other reason, aesthetics. Altho some of believe it's the best place to vent. A controversial subject with no definitive proof either way at best. Now you can make an informed decision that suits you.

+1

[cycowrencher]

My root cause for excessive blow by through the head breather was my rear cylinder compression rings had the gaps lined up. I had to replace cylinders and when new rings were installed in the correct x pattern ( top comp at upper left, bottom comp at lower right, top oil at upper right, and bottom oil at lower left) my issue magically disappeared. I think I replaced the umbrellas 6 or 7 times and it was always there...even when I installed the cam chest breather setup...

Sent from my LG-LS993 using Tapatalk

[Hippysmack]

The rings are always moving around and sometimes they do all line up that way.
They will move away from being lined up also. They don't stay in one spot.
But when they are lined up that way, they could easily allow more air thru.