Vector airbox full of oil

[Vector88]

So I finally got the sled up and running back to normal so I thought lol went for 1 ride worked awesome and got back home I discovered a bad oil leak leaking for under the belly pan. researched this forum and found 9 chances put of 10 it was leaking from the airbox. So I pulled the cover off of the airbox and full of oil it was! So I cleaned it up because I recently changed the oil and maybe over filled it alittle which I've also read that if overfilled it spits it out in the oil box. So now the oil level is now at 1/2 on the dip stick. So I left it like that and went for another ride. Got back it was still leaking with oil in airbox again. So now I am going to pull the airbox to check for other problems. Pulled the hose off of the airbox that comes from the oil tank and out comes the oil!!! So then I knew I had a blockage either the crankcase hose was blocked or the oil return check valve was stuck. So I pulled the airbox and the crankcase hose was kinked about 4 " inches from the bottom of the airbox! So I've found my problem at last . I'm wondering how many guys had this problem with that hose? I'm wondering if there is a better way to route this hose because I'm going to replace the whole line. Thanks for reading and happy sledding!!

 

[4strokeluvr111]

I can't recall in my 10 years of watching this forum that the now infamous "bottom of the airbox hose" being kinked was the cause of this type of problem. But then again only a very small percentage of all Vector owners with the 973 carb'd engine likely frequent this board.

If the result is oil all over the place be thankful? I dunno.....I've heard of people puking all the engine oil out, running the engine dry and it melting down.

So what EXACTLY did you do to your sled to get it back to 100%? I know it was a long process filled with hurdles!

 

[Vector88]

I only did go for short runs to discover the oil leak. I'm happy I did. Also don't these things have a low oil warning light ? Lol well to answer your question I did several things to get it back but I bought a used airbox from eBay because the one I had has a huge hole in the bottom which the previous owner did a airbox mod? The Sled didn't do it at all until I got this airbox from eBay. Then I synced the carb with a homemade tool I made, changed the secondary back to stock going to a 39 degree angle instead of the team secondary which had a 56-44 helix . Then I dropped the gears from 20-39 to 18-38. Which the stock vector calls for 18-40. I'm glad I got the power/bog issue found so now I got a new problem ill be fixing today . I'm shocked you didn't see the linked crankcase hose causing this problem . Do a search there's been several issues with this happening

 

[4strokeluvr111]

I think the warning light will come on indicating low oil pressure but by the time that comes on the damage is done?

As to not seeing it I can't say I've seen nor remember all the problems posted here.

Just happy to hear you got it running the way it can and should!

 

[STAIN]

Funny, I just had the same problem and came to check this site for solutions. I have oil pouring out the hose pictured and my lower hose is not kinked. As a matter of fact I have the air box off and at idle oil comes out the hose. It did not do this last year. I just took it out of the trailer for the first time since last year, removed and cleaned the carbs and started it and found the oil leak. I tried starting it before I cleaned the carbs to find #1 cylinder not working properly. I then removed the carbs. I don't think the oil leak happened until after carb reinstallation.

 

[STAIN]

After further reading this seems normal.
I reinstalled the air box and let it idle, no oil in the air box. This return system seems a little flimsy to me with oil being pretty important and all.........

 

[STAIN]

After thinking about this awhile it seems crazy that much oil goes through that box. Has anyone cleaned or replaced the check valve above the oil tank?