[birch]

I got a 01 Roadking with 95k miles. I want to finish out the year but I'm getting what I think is blow by. The crankcase breather hose, which doesn't really vent the crankcase but the oil tank, is blowing a little oil out. I just went to NY and lost almost a qt. of oil in 1200 miles. I am definitly burning some also. Any thoughts?

[skull2007]

i'd say it's pretty well wore out, but it's as rare as it's wore out. that is if it's 100% stock. is it? any idea how it's been maintained. ever been rebuilt? a little history would be helpfull and interesting.

[chucktx]

the resale on a bike with a worn engine wont get top dollar. check the price of a top end job compared to your model in exellent shape. the difference is what you can loose/gain.....

[birch]

I bought it new. At 80k I found the cam adjusters worn out so I installed a gear drive cam. Other than oil and tires I did replace the drivebelt and sprockets, but I really doubt if I needed to.
I changed to Red line Oil at about 15k and Mobile 1 at 70k. I don't sit and burn the back tire off, but I do ride reasonably hard. I'm looking to ride about 5k more this year and I'm wondering if she'll hold up.

[skull2007]

sounds like one hell of a bike thats served you well. goes to show what good clean oil does. wish i knew more. but i feel sure someone with more experience in this area will jump in with some good advise

[chucktx]

the question you are asking..."how long will my bike last?"...is a question that cannot be answerd with any accuracy. it is smoking with 80k on it. it will probably last another 5k but it wont get anybetter in the smoking dept.

[skull2007]

with cars i know you can often use thicker oil to cut back on the smoking. are bike engines different, will they tolerate thicker oils

[hotroadking]

Did you do any "high speed runs"?

the problem you have is symptomatic of a missaligned oil pump, usually this happens during a cam installation.

It's important the pump be properly aligned or blow by becomes a problem especially at higher speeds

I would suggest you pull the gears off the front of the cams and loosen up or remove the cam plate. Replace any o rings in the oil pump, then get the evo tappet block alignment tool from HD (it's a tapered screw) and align the pump.

One trick is to get the cams in with the cam plate snug but not tight, no pushrods, no outside chain on the cams, then put in 5th and turn the rear wheel by hand. You'll see the pump move on the pinion shaft and center it'self.

Use the tappet block alignment screws put them in across like in 2 and 3 holes to align the pump, lock in the other screws and then pull the alignment screws, put in the final screws on the pump and then tighten up the cam plate, install the rest of the hardware.

While you are in there if you didn't go on and upgrade the tappets to the latest version of HD's tappets,

This should cure your blowby problem.

[birch]

Hey Hotroadking,
thanks for the information. I was cruising about 80 - 85 for a while.
Sure thought I had it aligned when i put it together but this matches what you say.
Its been together about 15k and only recently started leaking.
Will it hurt anything if I finish the season without fixing it? 5ooo miles or so?