You stated it was after an engine rebuild. It is subsequent oil changes that 2 litre is too much, only put back the same amount as drains out. Had you a standard Electra X you would have noticed oil dripping out of the air filter box and oil literally blowing out everywhere.
(A lot of people on this forum have been caught out with the over filling problem. There are numerous threads about it.)
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For Royal Enfield owners and enthusiasts
- Sun Sep 24, 2017 3:05 pm
#71088
- Mon Sep 25, 2017 8:02 am
#71094
Slightly off the wall voice of ignorance, but is it possible there is a leak between the crankcase and the oil tank causing crankcase pressure to pressurise the tank? If you run the engine with the oil filler cap off and put your hand over it can you feel pressure pulses? And if you put your finger over the crank breather can you feel pressure? I am happy to be told if this is total poo, but just a thought!
- Mon Sep 25, 2017 8:28 am
#71096
Check the oil level within a maximum of a minute after turning the engine off. Any longer and the oil will drain from the tank into the sump giving a false low reading. There was an amendment in the owners handbook detailing this method of checking.
- Mon Sep 25, 2017 10:39 am
#71105
It might even be a head gasket blowing internally [and only slightly], into either a barrel stud hole, or pushrod tunnel. I have seen this happen on the older types on more than one occasion. Try tightening the head nuts and if that doesn't fix it, I would remove the head to take a look.
- Mon Sep 25, 2017 11:29 am
#71107
Mick,
not sure you understood my original post, I'm not talking about oil ways INSIDE the engine, but blocked EXTERNAL breather pipes, particularly the bit of 1/2" black hose that comes off the union on the top of the oil tank.
You say the oil tank is pressurised, and to some extent that is correct with the Electra-X: along with the later (2004 onwards) classic Bullet engines the factory changed the breather design, so that instead of venting into a breather pipe from the left side of the crankcase, the engine now breathes THROUGH the oil tank, and if the external breather hose get blocked by condensate (usually as the result of bad routing) it will fully pressurise the oil tank. The oil tank has through vents to the timing chest to allow for the return of oil, but excess pressure in the oil tank will also pressurise the timing chest. This is what forces oil from the timing chest up through the small hose back into the catch can, from where it will overflow into the air box if the original blockage in the main breather hose isn't cleared.
You probably managed 200 miles in that it took that long for the main breather hose to clog up. I suggest you go back and at least remove and clean out the hose, and if you do re-fit it to the catch can, make sure it has a constant rise with no dips where the condensate can collect and congeal (try fitting the straight end to the oil tank and the 90° bend to the catch can). I would try that before any to-end strip, as it is was a very common problem with a simple remedy.
A.
not sure you understood my original post, I'm not talking about oil ways INSIDE the engine, but blocked EXTERNAL breather pipes, particularly the bit of 1/2" black hose that comes off the union on the top of the oil tank.
You say the oil tank is pressurised, and to some extent that is correct with the Electra-X: along with the later (2004 onwards) classic Bullet engines the factory changed the breather design, so that instead of venting into a breather pipe from the left side of the crankcase, the engine now breathes THROUGH the oil tank, and if the external breather hose get blocked by condensate (usually as the result of bad routing) it will fully pressurise the oil tank. The oil tank has through vents to the timing chest to allow for the return of oil, but excess pressure in the oil tank will also pressurise the timing chest. This is what forces oil from the timing chest up through the small hose back into the catch can, from where it will overflow into the air box if the original blockage in the main breather hose isn't cleared.
You probably managed 200 miles in that it took that long for the main breather hose to clog up. I suggest you go back and at least remove and clean out the hose, and if you do re-fit it to the catch can, make sure it has a constant rise with no dips where the condensate can collect and congeal (try fitting the straight end to the oil tank and the 90° bend to the catch can). I would try that before any to-end strip, as it is was a very common problem with a simple remedy.
A.
- Mon Sep 25, 2017 11:46 am
#71108
Whoops, sorry Mick, just re-read your original reply, so a lot of what I just typed isn't relevant. Ahem...
However, the oil tank WILL pressurise if the external breather hose is blocked, whatever has been fitted in place of the original set-up. Having a longer run out to (e.g.) the back mudguard will be OK **if** there's nowhere for the gunk out of the breather to congeal and clog things up.
However, the oil tank WILL pressurise if the external breather hose is blocked, whatever has been fitted in place of the original set-up. Having a longer run out to (e.g.) the back mudguard will be OK **if** there's nowhere for the gunk out of the breather to congeal and clog things up.
- Mon Sep 25, 2017 6:12 pm
#71116
i have serviced this bike 3 times since ive owned it & this problem only started 200 mls after the last time so unless someone is sneaking up & putting extra oil in without me noticing i dont think over oiling is the problem.
- Mon Sep 25, 2017 6:33 pm
#71117
mickt, My Electra did not blow out everywhere until the 2nd time it was serviced, I cannot emphasise too much and many other here have at the same problem, if you put in 2 litres at a service that is .7 of a litre too much.
It is a quirk of the Electra X and why I made my own dipstick.
The problem has driven grown men to tears and given mechanics nervous breakdowns.
(I purchased a vacuum pump to get out the .7 of a litre that is the over fill and have not had any further problem since.)
It is a quirk of the Electra X and why I made my own dipstick.
The problem has driven grown men to tears and given mechanics nervous breakdowns.
(I purchased a vacuum pump to get out the .7 of a litre that is the over fill and have not had any further problem since.)
- Mon Sep 25, 2017 7:20 pm
#71118
That is two of us now saying check the breather pipe and you have yet to come back to say that has been done? If you can update on what you have done since the various simple recommendations have been made, including reading the revisions in the owners manual, that will help narrow things down.
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