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18th August 2009
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Senior Chief Master Mechanic
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Join Date: Nov 2008
Posts: 960 Sportster/Buell Model: 1981 IronHead Other Motorcycle Model: 1975 Aermacchi/H-D SX 175
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Strange Oil Bottle thing
I bought an '81 IH 2 months ago and I'm still in the process of going through the bike. There's this strange little bottle type thing on the bike; it resembles the little shot, hard liquor bottles you see on airplanes and hotel rooms. It has at least one hose running to it; probably 2 though. It's protruding down from under the bike almost behind my left foot.
The individual I bought it from told me he put it there as a precautionary measure to keep oil from ever getting on the rear brake rotor. It seemed like a good thing at the time. However, I notice when I sometimes give the bike too much throttle -- when warming it up -- that oil sometimes comes out of it. Otherwise I can't really tell if the bike leaks or not.
in any case, does anyone know what this thing is supposed to be?
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18th August 2009
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XL FORUM TEAM MEMBER
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Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 4,104 Sportster/Buell Model: Ironhead XLH Sportster Sportster/Buell Year: 1978 Sportster/Buell Model #2: Ironhead XLT Sportster Sportster/Buell Year #2: 1977 Other Motorcycle Model: Honda CBX 1000 Other Motorcycle Year: 1979
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Sounds like a catch bottle for the crankcase breather tube/s coming from the front of the cam cover. Since this tube can drip or spew a little oil, the PO probably fitted a container to catch it.
Eric
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1978 Anniversary Edition XLH. Wiseco 10:1 forged pistons, Andrews R5 cams, dual plugged heads with Super Port Flow, single fire ignition, Mikuni Solex 36 PHH carb, Jagg oil cooler, '73 gauges, kickstart, Barnett kevlar clutch, Progressive front springs, Hagon Nitro shocks, all-Andrews tranny. 1977 XLT, Mikuni Solex 36 PHH carb, tapered dual exhausts, Andrews Y cams, Progressive front springs, Hagon Nitro shocks.
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18th August 2009
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Senior Chief Know It All
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Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: IN A HOUSE
Posts: 811 Sportster/Buell Model: 1200XLCR Sportster/Buell Year: 2005
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It sounds like a home made catch can. Also, it's an '81 ironhead it leaks oil!, if doesn't leak oil you don't have any. Before EPA standards became so tough h-d's cases vented to the ground.
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18th August 2009
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Banned
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Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Venetian Islands, Miami Beach
Posts: 3,923 Sportster/Buell Model: XLH/I.R.C. Special Sportster/Buell Year: 1974
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That's correct. And that's where it SHOULD be venting...
...not into any "catch can".
How the hell is that bike supposed to mark it's territoty, then?   |
18th August 2009
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Biker
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Join Date: Nov 2007
Posts: 50 Sportster/Buell Model: sportster Sportster/Buell Year: 1969
Reputation: 40
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NONSENSE.. it's the oil reservoir for the James Bond oil slick, when you"re being chased by the Po-leese...  |
18th August 2009
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Master Custom Bike Builder
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Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Athens, GA
Posts: 3,171 Sportster/Buell Model: XLCH Sportster/Buell Year: 1962
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What year bike? If it's the old style oil pump, it may not be timed correctly. That could cause the bike to wet sump and spew more oil out the vent tube than if the pump were timed correctly.
It could have a slightly leaky check valve on the supply side, causing the same problem. The ones I've seen that wet sumped from a leaky check valve were obvious. If it only catches a small amount, everything may be normal.
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18th August 2009
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Master Bike Builder
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Join Date: Aug 2008
Posts: 2,041 Sportster/Buell Model: 71 xlch Sportster/Buell Year: 73 Sportster/Buell Model #2: 74 xlh Sportster/Buell Year #2: 74 Other Motorcycle Model: BT rigid hand shift
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post a pic of this thing....I have a catch can on a big twin motor...it should have a breather on it and some way to drain it....if it is the size of a "shot" size Jackie-D bottle, it's too small to do much good
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19th August 2009
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Biker
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Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 92 Sportster/Buell Model: Xl ironhead Sportster/Buell Year: 1977 Other Motorcycle Model: Kawasaki kz650 Other Motorcycle Year: 1978
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post pictures.. id like to see the catch can idea. ive been thinking of something custom for my bike.. ive seen them before but id like to see what you guys have. no offense but i dont feel like having oil all over my rear tire.. my chances is i will roll overthe puddle i created.
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"Volkswagens made me crazy, motorcycles set me free" Julio.M
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19th August 2009
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Flat Track Champion
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Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Miami, FL
Posts: 697 Sportster/Buell Model: 883 XL Sportster/Buell Year: 2006
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'06 Sporty 883XL, took some stuff off and made it loud.
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27th August 2009
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Senior Chief Master Mechanic
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Join Date: Nov 2008
Posts: 960 Sportster/Buell Model: 1981 IronHead Other Motorcycle Model: 1975 Aermacchi/H-D SX 175
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Quote:
Originally Posted by GA_Ironhead
What year bike? If it's the old style oil pump, it may not be timed correctly. That could cause the bike to wet sump and spew more oil out the vent tube than if the pump were timed correctly.
It could have a slightly leaky check valve on the supply side, causing the same problem. The ones I've seen that wet sumped from a leaky check valve were obvious. If it only catches a small amount, everything may be normal.
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It's an 81. What's a small amount? Although something is wrong -- it stalls and front plug is lean. |
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