Hitchcocks Forum

As posted in another thread................ Just got back from a longer ride, in which I gave the bike a good hard run. Arriving back home I noted with some concern that the whole rear right hand side of the bike from the Side panel/Air box cover to the the number plate had a liberal coating of oil. Initially, I was rather worried that it was the conversion I had carried out on the gear box, allowing oil to leak. I was able to discount that fairly quickly for a couple of reasons a. on inspection the oil appeared to rather light in viscosity for EP90 (and it had some mayo in it), even when it was cold and b. it seemed that the vast majority of it was coming from behind the right hand side panel......... Closer inspect revealed that the casing breather pipe had been secured to the central frame rail with a cable tie - the air box having been previously removed in order to fit a cone type S&S filter........... Having breathed a slight sigh of relief it wasn't the gearbox, I then went on to the dip stick; the casing seems very, very full. I haven't got the relevant information to tell me if the oil level is measured with the stick screwed in or out - either way round I think somebody over filled the casing by at least 250ml, most of which, if not all, was residing over the rear of the bike and a brand new rear tyre Immediately washed off when I got home.................... A few of my mates warned me that Brit bikes tend to leak a bit, but I don't think this is normal lol...............

Hi Skip. THIS IS AN AMAZING COINCIDENCE!!
This afternoon I took my 350 Classic out for a run of about 30 miles or so. Everything running absolutely as normal. When I stopped for a break, I had EXACTLY the same experience as you did. I noticed a generous coating of oil over the top of the right hand air filter box cover, over the right suspension spring, rear of the number plate, and all over the right side of the tyre.
I also have the conical filter with the old air filter removed from the box. (Amal carb).
Like yourself I was a bit alarmed to say the least. I let the bike cool down and checked the oil level and bizarely it appeared no lower than normal. (At the top of range on the dip-stick). However, the oil seemed to have more than the usual concentration of "mayonnaise" in it. I then phoned my regular motorcycle mechanic who is very knowledgeable about british singles. I started the bike up and confirmed that it was still sounding fine. There was also no sign of where the oil might be coming from. (Cyliner head, gear box etc).
He told me that he was almost certain that this had been caused by oil being blown through the breather. (Probably caused by more condenation than usual due to the warmer weather today).
I have regularly used the bike over the winter months and never experienced this before. I carefully rode the bike home, approximtely five miles, and everything seems fine.
Like yourself I'd be relieved to hear that it's nothing to worry about!!

Tim, well there you go!! Best to check all the fluid levels once the bike has had chance to go cold.................... I'm really rather concerned now about my bike as this is the second thing that has cropped up which is patently 'User' caused. When I first got the bike, I had to carry out a left hand to right hand gear lever conversion and when I opened up the gearbox the oil in there was definitely NOT EP90, from what I could tell it was 10/40 same as the engine. Now today, I go for a first longish ride and the bike ends up covered in oil that has been blown from the casing breather pipe - even after the bike was left to cool a while, dipping the oil showed it was right at the top of the dip stick marker leaving me in no doubt it had been well over filled. I think my next course of action tomorrow will be to warm the bike and drop the engine and clutch oil and replace them with measure amounts - the gearbox should be okay as I replaced that during the rebuild!

Hi guys-------have either of you got our hosts breather mod fitted ??----------- If not, it's well worth the money !!

These bikes do that when overfilled. Drop the oil to halfway down the dipstick and all should be fine.

Alan, any chance you can point me in the direction of the 'breather mod'??? Tnx Skip.

Can somebody confirm for me if I'm checking the oil level in the casing with the dip stick screwed in or out please???

Found the breather mod kit - not available for the Electra X - guess I'll have to make my own then...............

Dipstick resting on neck not screwed in all is well you have too nuch oil

What worries me is that I haven't needed to top the oil up since the last service which was approx 500 miles ago. So if the bike was over-filled during the oil change, why has the problem only manifested itself now?
To be honest, at this stage all I'd like to know is that there's no potential damage done!