HarleyTechTalk

I'm not sure whether to Post this in General, or here in the Twin Cam Section.
An acquaintance of My Buddy and I has a 2012 Dyna.
Had an Issue with an excessive amount of Oil all over the Air Filter and Cover.
He took the Bike to an "Authorized" Repair Facility that shall remain nameless.
The Facility told Him it was the Breather Valves in Both Top-ends and replaced them.
The Guy picks up the Bike and is all happy.
He rides the Bike Home about 10 miles, and notices Oil all over the Rear Head around the Sparkplug.
He has those Chrome Covers that cover the Head Bolts and around the Spark Plug.
Oil all around that area.  He calls the Facility back and tells them all about it.
He got the standard response..." It was OK when it left here", and doesn't want to know sh*t.
He brings the Bike here last night...
The Rear Breather Valve Left Side Mounting Bolt was all the way thru the Head and sticking out a little.  You can see the threads on the Bolt.  Guess where the Oil is coming from.
The Bolt broke thru the Head and popped out a piece of the Head about the size of a Pencil Eraser.
The broken piece was caught by the Cover and got stuck in there, so it's still around to prove the Issue.
The Facility still doesn't want to know sh*t.
The Front is OK, and the Right Rear Side is OK.
The Bolts are OEM and 1 1/2" long, and of course have a Torque Requirement for them.
Somebody with a heavy hand, and maybe unfamiliar with how to use a Torque Wrench must have gone nuts on that Bolt.
So today I get to take the Rear Head off and bring it to the Guy that does all of My welding.
He says no big deal, and He can take care of it and fill in the hole.
The moral of the Story...Torque Spec's are there for a reason.

My neighbor broke off one of the breather bolts on his hi flow filter backing plate kit. He said a new one costs $150 or so, at the time he had to buy a whole new kit.
Gentle does it, re-torque after 100 miles or so.

Anyone who does TC rocker box work should be in the habit of using q-tips to remove the oil from the bolt holes. Oil gets in there, and the bolts become a hydraulic press, eventually breaking the thin aluminum section at the bottom. You can use Loctite 567 or 545 on the bolt to seal the hole.

I also wanted to add, what the hell? What kind of shop is that? Seems pretty straight forward work, certainly nothing too technical. And then to not stand behind the work?
Document with pictures all work done to correct the problem, try to get your money back. Small claims court probably not worth the time and effort, but could be a consideration.
A review on their website wouldn't hurt either.

Quote from: Fugawee on September 18, 2024, 06:36:59 AMI'm not sure whether to Post this in General, or here in the Twin Cam Section.
An acquaintance of My Buddy and I has a 2012 Dyna.
Had an Issue with an excessive amount of Oil all over the Air Filter and Cover.
He took the Bike to an "Authorized" Repair Facility that shall remain nameless.
The Facility told Him it was the Breather Valves in Both Top-ends and replaced them.
The Guy picks up the Bike and is all happy.
He rides the Bike Home about 10 miles, and notices Oil all over the Rear Head around the Sparkplug.
He has those Chrome Covers that cover the Head Bolts and around the Spark Plug.
Oil all around that area.  He calls the Facility back and tells them all about it.
He got the standard response..." It was OK when it left here", and doesn't want to know sh*t.
He brings the Bike here last night...
The Rear Breather Valve Left Side Mounting Bolt was all the way thru the Head and sticking out a little.  You can see the threads on the Bolt.  Guess where the Oil is coming from.
The Bolt broke thru the Head and popped out a piece of the Head about the size of a Pencil Eraser.
The broken piece was caught by the Cover and got stuck in there, so it's still around to prove the Issue.
The Facility still doesn't want to know sh*t.
The Front is OK, and the Right Rear Side is OK.
The Bolts are OEM and 1 1/2" long, and of course have a Torque Requirement for them.
Somebody with a heavy hand, and maybe unfamiliar with how to use a Torque Wrench must have gone nuts on that Bolt.
So today I get to take the Rear Head off and bring it to the Guy that does all of My welding.
He says no big deal, and He can take care of it and fill in the hole.
The moral of the Story...Torque Spec's are there for a reason.

hence why I do my own work.

Can't remember off the top of my head. But aren't there 2 different length bolts for the breathers depending on which ones you are using ?
         Coff 06

Quote from: Coff 06 on September 18, 2024, 12:24:53 PMCan't remember off the top of my head. But aren't there 2 different length bolts for the breathers depending on which ones you are using ?
         Coff 06

Correct, the older plastic or cast breather assemblies used longer bolts than the newer stamped breather assemblies....

regardless of bolt size, leaving oil in the blind holes is a sure fire way to breal out the bottom of the blind bolt hole. There have been numerous reports of that happening.

I used to use q-tips, now I give a good blast with an air compressor..

I also learned to use a rag to catch the high speed splash!     

this is what I use to get to the bottom of the blind holes .....

And the rag FSG 😁👍
At 16 years old as a first year apprentice I tapped a blind 3/4 hole on a compressor, tradesmen told me to blow it out, a face full of trefolex and shavings learnt me real quick 😜

The Head has been off the Bike since noon today.
Waiting for the Owner to stop by and put an eyeball on it.
As far as a review, or other money back type of stuff...that's for the Owner to decide.
We are staying out of it.

Quote from: rigidthumper on September 18, 2024, 07:42:28 AMAnyone who does TC rocker box work should be in the habit of using q-tips to remove the oil from the bolt holes.

Whole heartedly agree with that, or blowing the holes out with air...or both.
Other alternatives to Welding were brought up, He wants it welded.
Fine...it's His Bike.

Quote from: Hossamania on September 18, 2024, 09:09:56 AMWhat kind of shop is that?

Simple...a hack shop that Myself and others have heard about for quite some time now.
I wouldn't set foot in, or even piss in their parking lot.

Quote from: RoadKingKohn on September 18, 2024, 09:50:53 AMhence why I do my own work.

Me too...but I do try and help out those that are new to the HD World when I can.

Quote from: hattitude on September 18, 2024, 01:08:29 PMCorrect, the older plastic or cast breather assemblies used longer bolts than the newer stamped breather assemblies....

These are the Stamped Metal Ones...the Bolts are 1 1/2" long.

Quote from: FSG on September 18, 2024, 01:30:08 PMthis is what I use to get to the bottom of the blind holes .....

Wow...that looks just like Mine.

So anyways, His Bike will be fixed, and it'll be just fine.
It's just gonna' take a few days due to My Schedule to be able to re-assemble everything.
I feel really bad for the Bikes Owner.  He got screwed, and His finances are a little lighter as well.
I/We never bothered to ask what it cost Him.  Thats His Business.  I really don't want to know.
This is His first HD, and He's got a pretty lousy taste in His mouth right now.

Thanks All for Your interest and responses.

Every shop can have a problem/screw up.  It's how they handle them that separates the good shops from bad.

Quote from: calif phil on September 18, 2024, 03:14:20 PMEvery shop can have a problem/screw up.  It's how they handle them that separates the good shops from bad.

100% correct

Replace the word "shop" with "Human" - Its so true.

Thanks
Pauly

Quote from: calif phil on September 18, 2024, 03:14:20 PMEvery shop can have a problem/screw up.  It's how they handle them that separates the good shops from bad.

I am guilty of this too.  I had those plastic breathers in mine and changed then out when the stamped metal variety came out.   Although the new kits came with shorter bolts I did not realize the holes has filled up with oil and the hydraulic pressure broke through.  Fortunately other than that small initial amount of oil no more ever leaked out.  I guess if the bolts stay tight it won't leak.

Actually for me thanks to the guys in this site, I've conditioned myself to blow out oil and spray brake clean and blow out again all threaded holes in the drivetrain parts that are aluminum. Then always use Loctite 243.

Quote from: FSG on September 18, 2024, 01:30:08 PMthis is what I use to get to the bottom of the blind holes .....

For anyone without a compressor those canned keyboard dusters work great too.