Air Cleaner

[CRBandit]

Question for the real techie folks out here – would changing from an Arlen Ness Big Sucker Stage 1 A/C to a Screaming Eagle Stage 1 require any change to the TTS map? I have an oil blow-out with my Arlen Ness and my dealer claims that they are "well known" for this issue and is suggesting switching to the SE breather. I am concerned if I follow this suggestion that I may have to redo calibrations with the TTS.

[1550vt]

Anytime you expose more air across the element, you can aggravate the blow-by problem. It is not being sucked back into the intake, but blown away by air flowing across the element. I think your dealer may be yanking your leg. I am pretty sure lots of folks out there are running Big Suckers and don't have the blow-by issue, but since I don't run one...I can't say. I run an SE Stage II and it's about as open as you can get. The issue of blow-by and how to deal with it is discussed in threads all over all the MC forums.

HEY....YOU GUYS WITH THE BIG SUCKERS....chime in here and tell Bandit if you have any issues. Changing the air breather may very well help/solve your problem. I just think you need to get some feedback from other folks running the Big Sucker. You may be better off handing the blow-by issue as opposed to spending more $ and not solving anything.

Did you have the problem with the stock air breather?

[CRBandit]

No problem with the stock but I upgraded to the Big Sucker when I changed the exhaust dropping the cat in the header, swapped the mufflers and did the Woods TW 6-6 cam and the TTS. That was near the end of last riding season and didn't get the chance to operate in any high heat after the swap. I only get the blow-by with high air temps (like 90-100).

[1550vt]

I'd wait and see if you get any input from other Big Sucker users. If I didn't....I'd start another thread titled "Big Sucker Users...Help". That should get somebody's attention. The stock air cleaners tend to direct any small amount of blow-by back into the intake. When you go to an aftermarket air breather, you can easily upset the natural vacuum created within the breather and cause the blow-by to simply get blown out of the filter element and all over you and your ride.

I have a hunch you have likely had some amount of blow-by all along. Some riders will swear they don't and they are the lucky ones, or either don't know what they are talking about. By the very nature of the way the motor vents, blow-by vapor/mist is created and is either introduced back through the engine via the intake or vented to the atmosphere. Some do ...some don't very much, but just about every Harley I have ever owned had a little bit. The high performance breathers simply aggravate the issue and if you put-it-in-the wind on a hot day running 75 and 80...it will show up. Your dealer is indicating the breather is causing the problem, which to some degree it is only aggravating the problem.

You can spend big $ to try and eliminate it, or simply vent the stuff away from your breather and that can be done in a very attractive and professional manner.

[trikermutha]

I have no problems with blow by..But I still have stock cam and mufflers at this time.

I would recheck your settings on the TTS incorrect timing could cause blowby..

[screwball]

Ya got kind of confusing. First post, I'm getting blow by after I changed to a Big Sucker. Nest post, Oh, did I mention new headers, mufflers, and cams. Should we wait until post 6 or 7, or is this all you did to the engine.

As was said before, crankcase pressure is vented into the intake. Sometimes a burp of oil gets into the line and makes a mess. Occasionally, no problem. Often, problem

good luck!

[CRBandit]

My signature line has always shown what I have done to my TG. There is nothing to add in post 6 or 7.

[eagle1]

how about redirecting the oil blow-by tubes in the oil filter to the ground . don't know of anyone who makes a "kit" that would make this look good". but just a thought.

[1550vt]

eagle....I agree. There are so many "kits" and gizmo's out there to redirect the blow-by that it boggles the mind. You can spend hundreds (or more) for a kit that looks like crap, or design your own particular method to deal with it. This problem is not limited to the Harley V-Twin. Some of the metric bike V-Twin owners simply re-direct their hose over to the chain.....but we don't have a chain.

I have attached a few pictures of my technique, which will likely spawn the posting of many other postings on how others handle theirs. In my particular situation, this 1550 Stage II has the larger oil pump, the older style umbrella valves and the head-breather drain-back holes enlarged...all to no avail in eliminating the blow-by completely. I have ran a single hose down to a billet filter/breather and all I have to do is pop it out after a long days hot-ride and wipe off the oil residue.

Since Bandit has had some engine work done, the very first thing we will have to assume is that the oil pump is properly aligned and all the other stuff that one normally does to try and prevent the blow-by has been done. AND....don't forget that dropping the oil level by 1/2 quart will also clear this up in some cases. This is a dry-sump motor....it doesn't care if you have 4 or 3.5 quarts of oil in the pan.

I have done many others just like this and in some cases, use SS hoses and AN fittings for those that wanted it. It's just my method....but there are many more out there. I just like to limit all the hoses and try and make things look like they belong there, or are hidden.

[msocko3]

eagle....I agree. There are so many "kits" and gizmo's out there to redirect the blow-by that it boggles the mind. You can spend hundreds (or more) for a kit that looks like crap, or design your own particular method to deal with it. This problem is not limited to the Harley V-Twin. Some of the metric bike V-Twin owners simply re-direct their hose over to the chain.....but we don't have a chain.

I have attached a few pictures of my technique, which will likely spurn the posting of many other postings on how others handle theirs. In my particular situation, this 1550 Stage II has the larger oil pump, the older style umbrella valves and the head-breather drain-back holes enlarged...all to no avail in eliminating the blow-by completely. I have ran a single hose down to a billet filter/breather and all I have to do is pop it out after a long days hot-ride and wipe off the oil residue.

Since Bandit has had some engine work done, the very first thing we will have to assume is that the oil pump is properly aligned and all the other stuff that one normally does to try and prevent the blow-by has been done. AND....don't forget that dropping the oil level by 1/2 quart will also clear this up in some cases. This is a dry-sump motor....it doesn't care if you have 4 or 3.5 quarts of oil in the pan.

I have done many others just like this and in some cases, use SS hoses and AN fittings for those that wanted it. It's just my method....but there are many more out there. I just like to limit all the hoses and try and make things look like they belong there, or are hidden.

Pretty close to what I've done on my 06 Ultra which I run a Doherty power pac setup on. Only different is I don't run a filter, I just let the open hose point towards the ground. The only thing I really get out of the hose is water vapor with a slight amount of oily film while its warming up, once the engine is up to temp I don't get much of anything out of the hose. This is with a 95" 10.1 compression build making 104/100. On the Triglide I have the SE Ventilator which is still venting into the entrance of the induction module. For the most part I haven't gotten much more than what I've experienced with my 06 Ultra, both have run at 80 - 85 mph in 95 degree weather for hours.

[1550vt]

I don't get a lot either Mike. That little expensive Golan catch-can with the foam filter element was handy, so I used it because I thought it looked real cool and it's easy to un-screw and clean.

Hey...I am off toward Yellowstone Country day-after-tomorrow. You and your dad be sure and keep a watch-out for that bottle of octane booster/fuel treatment I promised to leave on a tree stump. If it looks yellow and smells funny....don't pay any attention to that....just pour some in.

[1852cc]

I run a Big Sucker, as well!
Motor has SE-255 cams, Thunder-Max tunner, no cat, SE 4in slip ons,Rivera Pro clutch.
No blow by issues, but have always vented it out of the air cleaner.
Picture I added shows what I used on my Ultra, use the same thing on the Road Glide trike.

Vent it out of the air cleaner its is way cheaper than replacing it, my tunner and motor wrench (Trask Performance), says the Big Sucker is the best out there.

[1550vt]

Man....that chrome almost blinded me, but I think I found the catch-can. That's just another way to solve the problem. GET RID OF THE CRAP!

[Greydog]

Question for the real techie folks out here – would changing from an Arlen Ness Big Sucker Stage 1 A/C to a Screaming Eagle Stage 1 require any change to the TTS map? I have an oil blow-out with my Arlen Ness and my dealer claims that they are "well known" for this issue and is suggesting switching to the SE breather. I am concerned if I follow this suggestion that I may have to redo calibrations with the TTS.

I ran the Big Sucker on my Ultra/Trike for about two years and did have blow-by especially if I ran the bike hard on the interstate in hot weather. I believe the SE Stage 1 and Ness Big Sucker are very similar in construction and air flow and would not require a map change if you swapped one for the other. I do think you will still get blow-by with the SE cleaner. I swapped the big Sucker for the Screaming Eagle Heavy Breather and the bike ran pretty lean due to the increased air flow. My dealer installed a map for a 105" build (for free) and it runs great now. The heavy Breather doesn't get a lot of blow-by oil in the filter due to the filter being out on the end of the curved chrome pipe further from the intake which allows the oil mist to be sucked back into the intake before it can reach the filter.

[Maryland Triker]

I had a blowback problem with mine and at first thought it was just overfill on oil, but after I cleaned it up a couple of times realized it was some other problem. Took it to dealer Ft. Washington HD (love that warrenty) and they removed the heads and replaced some kind of intergrated filter. I've put a couple hundred miles since with no problem, the real test will be the ride to Maggie Valley and see what happens. Oh I put mid-range cam, Tuner, and screaming eagle mufflers on her (a little louder than stock). When warrenty runs out in couple years I may replace the brains with an SS computer and replace headpipes where HD puts the cats after 2009. But we'll see, if I stay happy with her I may just leave well enough alone.

[1550vt]

One of the recommended "fixes" is to replace the in-head breather valves with the early version. Maybe they just replaced the umbrella valves, but in any event....I commend your dealer for looking at the problem. Usually, the canned-answer is...."that's normal".

[msocko3]

Hey...I am off toward Yellowstone Country day-after-tomorrow. You and your dad be sure and keep a watch-out for that bottle of octane booster/fuel treatment I promised to leave on a tree stump. If it looks yellow and smells funny....don't pay any attention to that....just pour some in.

Now thats funny. Have a safe trip, hope Mother Nature is kind to you.

[rwhgme]

Now thats funny. Have a safe trip, hope Mother Nature is kind to you.

At least he didn't say it was lemonade!