I have a 09 Ultra Classic that after about 1000 miles starts "burping" a small about of oil from the air filter causing a mess underneath the breather. Th e 05 Ultra that I traded in never had this problem unless I over sprayed the oil on it after a filter cleaning. I've had 2 dealerships tell me this is normal that I need to clean the dry filter about every 500 miles!! This sounds like BS to me, any others had this problem????

 

I have had this issue on my 09 UC as well. I found I was adding too much oil (4 quarts) when I changed my oil. Now, 3 1\2 quarts does the trick. Double check to make sure you are not adding too much oil. My problem went away.

 

You either have a blocked a/c breather tube, or tad full on oil-level. There's a lot of controversary over running oil 1/2 between full - add, but this has always worked for me w/bikes. Might want to give it a try, but the oil on filter will take awhile to "seep" out so there could be drips for the next few months.

 

Cost me lots of time and money on this problem with my '09 for no good reason.. The answer is definitely 3.5qts .vs 4qts. Seems too simple, but that's really the fix!

 

Breather air is an oily mist. The reed valves can't trap all of the oil droplets, therefore some oil is bound to collect in the air cleaner. The severity of this varies amongst bikes depending on state of tune, 96 vs 103, types of service; such as extended high speed running or putting around.

It has always been an issue since the first OHV Harley in 1936, but back then the breather mist was exhausted into the primary which eventually ended up on the ground. Not EPA acceptable now. So we have a system that will always at best be a compromise.

My 2011 RK is a bone stock 96 with a basic Fuel Moto stage 1. I always put 4 quarts of oil in and have had no issues so far. Others with the problem have had mixed results with 3 1/2 quarts.

 

When you change oil there is a half a quart that does not drain out. So when you add 4 quarts you now have 4 and 1/2 quarts in the motor.

 

What he said

 

It is a built in assumption with any engine, car or motorcycle, that there is a certain amount of residual oil left in the engine.

The recommended volume of oil to add with filter is calculated by factory engineers with assumed residual volume taken into account.

 

Of the 8 HD's we have owned in the last 17 years (1987 thru 2012), 5 of them did, 3 didn't. Simple solution to keep the mist of oil off of the timing cover: Put a panty liner in the inner bottom of the aircleaner cover. The pad will absorb the small amount of oil that usually falls on the timing cover. The pad will catch all the oil misted out between oil changes. Or you can just change it every 28 days.

Bill

 

I use 3 qts , that must be why mine is halfway between add and full , no oil out the breather