Blown out compression release

[klammer76]

Well on my way to Laconia today puling off of the intestate I see the front compression release shoot across the exit, WTF! My vacation is over & 300 miles from home to boot. Luckily I was 1/4 mile from a HD dealer, they trailered the bike there so it's safe until I can get my truck & trailer to come and get it. I found the release on the side of the road, threads look fine but threads are gone from the head. Is this common and what causes this to happen? Manual releases put in last winter when shop was doing some head work.

Klammer

[Admiral Akbar]

I found the release on the side of the road, threads look fine but threads are gone from the head. Is this common and what causes this to happen?

The main thing is not keeping them tight.. I've blown out the rear CR on my dyna some time ago.. Happened to find the rear CR loose this morning when getting ready to start it.. These are Dekron heads tho and they is a 5/16 thread.. I made adapters out of stainless to get them to 10mm.. The adapter comes loose.. 

Max

[04 SE Deuce]

The compression release hole should be small in diameter where it enters the combustion chamber.  Put some grease down the hole to plug it and catch chips and use a bottoming style tap to finish cutting threads for a helicoil/thread insert.  After threads are cut crank the bike over to blow grease/chips out.

Just thinking how to salvage your trip.     Rick

[autoworker]

My guess is that the hole was drilled too large before tapping.

Will it crank over decent with only one compression release engaged?Before I packed it up and went home I would try to tap some threads in it and screw in bolt with some loctite or hi temp thread sealant.

Used heads are cheap to buy for replacement when you get home.

[DTTJGlide]

I'd question whoever did the install & unless they drilled out the last way into the combustion chamber way too large you should have easily been able to drive it to the dealer with only one leaking, not sure of the drill size but it's quite small & only relieves some of the compression. What they said, I'm a slow typer

[jsachs1]

The compression release hole should be small in diameter where it enters the combustion chamber.  Put some grease down the hole to plug it and catch chips and use a bottoming style tap to finish cutting threads for a helicoil/thread insert.  After threads are cut crank the bike over to blow grease/chips out.

Just thinking how to salvage your trip.     Rick

That will work fine.    
John