Forum

[spro]

Hi
having bought a 2006 eletra x 3 weeks ago sunday was the first good day for a ride.set off ok and had a very enjoyable if chilly 60 mile ride (still some snow in the derbyshire/staffordshire hills).on returning home i was a little worried to find the back wheel and the rest of the back of the bike covered in oil.on checking the source of the oil slick found to be from the crank case breather pipe that was not connected to the breather pot(blow off fell off?)checked oil level had droped to min.engine is running ok no noises or lack of power.outside of engine is dry only sign of oil is faint trace on barrel next to head gasket.is it possable the headgasket has failed or is it something worse,has anyone else had the same problem
please help!!!!!
cheers
spro

[Riggers]

Hi Spro. I don't want to be a prophet of doom but I think you'll find a few Electra owners have been through the same troubles. My mate's exact same problem turned out to be massive piston blow-by causing a build up of crankcase pressure ultimately resulting in your symptoms. The blow-by was in turn caused by the crank itself running out of alignment. Did you buy the bike from a dealer? If so that's your first, and only port of call. If you bought it privately I would still go back to the seller for an explanation because this could be expensive to sort out. Cheers. Riggers.

[PeteF]

On the other hand, it could just be the whole breather system is bunged up with gunge. Not unknown. Personally I would try ditching the breather pot sytem in favour of a plain old duckbill pipe. Try it first and see what happens. Of course, if you did get it from a dealer that's the first port of call.

[Dennis O]

Hello SPRO, I would first look at the breather system as Peter f has suggested. Take off the seat and remove the oil catch can and take it apart for to clean it out. Also clean out all the breather hoses. I use a length of wire with a piece of cloth on the end to pull out the mayonnesse which I am sure you will find mostly on the engine block to catch can hose. If you do mostly short runs you will have to do this on a regular basis. Easy way to check is to pull off the hose from the crankshaft breather and look inside. If mayonnesse is building up you must clean out the whole system. I have started to use diesel Spec 15/40 oil which appears to help prevent this problem. Other than that lead a new breathe pipe with duck bill valve directly onto the rear chain and put up with the mess this causes. Also I had a suspect oil leak from the cylinder head which turned out to be the tappet cover leaking and the wind while riding blew the oil up over so it looked to be coming from the head gasket. Please do not ask me how I now know.
Hope this helps to solve your problem

[spro]

thanks for the replys hope riggers is wrong did by from a bike dealer and taking the bike back on sat for them to look at see what they come up with
many thanks
spro

[grunda 12]

hi spro,when rebuilding my helectra over christmas a 2006 model ,i drilled the crancase breather stub at the bottom of the barrell,now i have 2 breathers no catch pot ,no oil comes out of the oiltank breather now the other oils the chain, the hole from the crancase to the oil tank is a slack idea in my book as when the crank turns and piston go,s up and down it preasurises the oil tank anyway good luck with your helectra i,m superbly happy with mine with a list of oneoff mods that would fill a bike shop window

[spro]

Hi all
picked the bullet up on sat and had a good run yesterday and not a leak in sight.leak was caused by a blocked breather,so all fixed and can get on with ejoying the bike
spro

[Alan R]

Hi SPRO------------ glad to hear that problem solved --- for the moment that is.. I would be inclined to take on board GRUNDA's idea... The standard breathing system is just about adequate so any improvements are worth doing IMHO.... Seize the Day !!!