first start up in a couple of months..I'm ashamed

[HotRodShovel]

I forgot to put rags under the breather because all of you know what happened......puke

[easyricer]

  She's just lettin ya know she's upset. Women do that!LOL
EASY

[76shuvlinoff]

it happens

There were several long winters my shovel sat in a drafty wood shack out back buried in other "stuff", no wrenching, no maint at all out there because there was no room for it.  It always puked at start up.

The most interesting spring start was once when the clutch plates stuck together. I had backed it out on greasy wet grass and mud, stomped it into first and did my one and only shovel donut (more like 3/4 of a donut) then I was sitting in the wet grass and mud looking at a bike on it's side.

oops

[easyricer]

LMAO yeah that is a good one!
EASY

[HotRodShovel]

better grass than blacktop or asphalt!!!! If that happened to me while I lived in the city it would have been a disaster for me & the bike.  Count your blessings

[Dogbone45ACP]

Heck, I remembered to put a container under the breather hose for spring start up. Then I shut the garage door on the container with the oil in it. Messy

[HotRodShovel]

Dogbone..you're intentions were good....you're forgiven. At least you did something. I now have a "new" new oil stain in my driveway. Its 100 mile oil so it is still clear.

[Dogbone45ACP]

They just need to mark their spot.

[Snuff™]

...I now have a "new" new oil stain in my driveway....

I had one of those for a couple of years.  Down the driveway (200') and then another 1/4 mile down the rode....and I thought I rode straight down the rode.  Looks like I had one too many beers.

[LoRydr]

...I now have a "new" new oil stain in my driveway....

I had one of those for a couple of years.  Down the driveway (200') and then another 1/4 mile down the rode....and I thought I rode straight down the rode.  Looks like I had one too many beers.

I bout had a "Potty mouth" stain when in the new garage, with the door closed, I pushed the starter button...forgot it was in gear...solenoid stuck.

Hey Snuff. Yer just down the road from me, sort of. Same county anyway.

[a_disalvo]

My shovel does that too. Changed the ball in the oil pump several times, just the nature of the beast. Wet dream = how can the vent line be routed to the oil tank?

[DJ Baar]

I have to ask, because with any of the old Shovelhead or even the Ironhead (yes a SPORTSTER too) with open crankcase ventilation, if you overfill the oil bag I always get some extra "bluke" out of the vent after shut-down until oil level correct.  I take it that is normal because I have seen it on all the old scoots I have worked.?  (Yes if it sits too long and ball sticks I know what you mean and why I have vent where I can see where the oil is coming from  )

DJ Baar

[easyricer]

DJ, the vent tube inside the oil bag can easily be covered with oil if you overfill it. The problem you describe is very common to sportsters of all years. If oil collects in the vent, the venting air has to overcome the oil before it can vent, and then the pressure is built up. It will take the path of least resistance, out the case vent.
For many years I've recommended running the Sporties with a little lower oil level to help combat the already overwhelmed breather problems. It's easy to notice on the EVO Sporties as it will have much less oil mist on the side of the bike.
I have, over the years seen a few cracked vent tubes on oil tanks. There is really nothing you can do about it other than maybe reverse the return and vent lines. You will eventually still have to replace the tank.
EASY

[DJ Baar]

Thanks Easyricer.

Yah, I found the best level to fill the Ironhead Sporties Oil bag to and stick with it.  But on the Shovelhead (my '74 Custom Superglide Stroker) I notice it too will bluke some oil after running if too full - then when levels out no problem.  And I measured only 2.5 quarts when I change the oil (only oil bag is emptied).

DJ