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[Norm]

Frank another thing is the Electra doesn't have a seal on the timing side shaft, they figured that if the timing chest oil drained into the sump, so what the pump would clear it quickly and the 3 piece oil ring is the same as used in a wet sump motor so oil up around the underside of the piston would not be a problem

[Thack]

Norm, I don't think it could have been a blocked breather. It happened once, and only once. A blocked breather stays blocked. And it's too much of a coincidence that it happened after standing for six months, and never before or since.

I think the only thing it could have been is a sump full of oil which got pumped into the air box.

However, I'm still open-minded if you'd like to explain it further.

[Thack]

Incidentally, I do understand that the scavenge pump clears it quickly, but a few seconds is all it takes to pump oil into the air box.

Secondly, oil won't emulsify when the engine is not running. It happens on short journeys, primarily.

One last question: doesn't the breather lead into the air box? So why would blocking it cause oil to get pumped into the air box?

Very interesting subject!

[Thack]

By the way, although I can't explain all the symptoms fully, I'm guessing the OP's cutting out problem is caused by a faulty ignition switch, as discussed in other threads. Next time it happens I'd give the switch a good wiggle to see what happens. Does anyone have the wiring diagram for the EFi?

[Norm]

Thack, you must be right

[Thack]

Don't say that, Norm - you're supposed to be disagreeing with me!

I want you to prove me wrong so I can say I've learned something today.

[Frank]

If you remove the main crankcase breather and connect a clear tube to it instead you will be surprised how much oil and how high it rises up the pipe. That is the oil that can make it's through the system to the airbox. It continues long after any wet sumping has cleared. The pipes block through a mixture of water vapour and oil. Once blocked solid pressure builds up and oil can be forced out of every join and opening possible,and it will be forced past the rings and burned causing smoke to bellow from the exhaust. It happened to me, the first long run after a lay up. Wet sumping and the air filter filling are two seperate issues. It doesn't take 6 months for it to wet sump, check the oil 6 hours after a run and you will be lucky to find a drip on the dipstick end.

[Thack]

Frank, are you sure what you describe applies to the Electra X (AVR) engine? It's just that I never detected any reduction in oil level while it was standing from day to day, or week to week. Unfortunately, like an idiot I didn't check the oil level before driving it after that six month break, so I'll never know for sure if it had wet-sumped. But I feel pretty sure simply because the bike never misbehaved in any way before or since. I would have thought a blocked breather would tend to stay blocked. By the way, I do accept that the breather can block, but I don't understand how it can then cause the oil to get pumped into the air box. Bearing in mind that the breather goes straight from the oil tank to the air box, surely if it's blocked the air box would be the last place to find any oil, wouldn't it? Or have I misunderstood. Has anyone got a diagram of the Electra X breather system?

[Thack]

Sorry, I think I should have said it goes from the crankcase to the air box. Whatever, my puzzlement remains.

[Frank]

Yep we are talking Electra X here. What is supposed to happen is that gases come out of the crankcase and go up to the catch can in which there is a duckbill valve to stop any oil flowing back down. Instead any oil is supposed to drain back down the pipe leading to the timing chest. Gases then get filtered at the top of the can to get rid of oil and then travel to the airbox where it is sucked into the engine and burned. It's all about emissions. What actually happens is that the oil fills the catch can, doesn't drain properly back to the timing chest but instead gets into the airbox. The damage is done then. Because the system is a closed loop and the engine doesn't get hot enough to rid itself of water vapour it builds up, emulsifies and blocks the pipes causing more problems and pressure build up, sapping performance and forcing oil to places it shouldn't be. The damage in the airbox is already there. The first long run after a layup is the straw that breaks the camel's back because there is more condensation to cause problems.