RAVE Leaks

[KEVIN]

On my 96 XP w/ SBT motor I have Black soot or oily substance running down the sides of the block and seems to be coming from RAVE Valves. How do I stop this??

Thanks.

[Technical Support]

Is it coming from the bellows or from the base of the housing? Can you see if the bellows are ripped at all? If not you probably just need more spring tnesion. You can either separate the spring ends, and clip off some coils for more tension, or try a zip-tie instead of the spring.

[KEVIN]

I can take a look at it, but then how do I add tension if needed..?

[Technical Support]

By doing what I said. The spring is looped into itself. Cut some coils and make it tighter.

[KEVIN]

Sorry about that still on the first cup of coffee..

[KEVIN]

So, then if it is coming from the Base, do I need new gaskets??

[Technical Support]

Yes if it' from the base call in to Julie and we'll send you a couple rebuild kits.

[KEVIN]

Well, I looked at the Raves, and couldn't tell where was coming from, and so I pulled apart, and not coming from the gasket, but there seems to be a port hole where it was coming from.

When i pulled the RAVES out they were coated w/ black sludge , is this normal, or not??

I cleaned them and put them back in

Are they supposed to be removed periodically and cleaned??

Thanks.

[Technical Support]

Yes you are supposed to clean them regularly, and using the better XPSII oil lets you go further between cleanings. The cheaper the oil you use, the more gummed up they get.

[KEVIN]

Well, I'm sure that's why the black stuff was coming out then, because I hadn't cleaned them, since i put the motor in and was a summer and a half of riding.

Thanks

[Bill O'Neal]

Yes the complete rave assembly needs to be cleaned at least once every 50 hours. The orings must be soft, not hard.

Oil and fuel blowby through the raves can be caused by an excessively rich mixture. Do you ride at high altitude ? Are your carbs adjusted too rich ?

Are the rubber rave valve diaphrams split or have a hole in them? Is the bottom of the diaphram off of the base ? Or off at the top ?

[KEVIN]

I think initially I was running it too rich, but have since adjusted. But I will re-check this spring when I take it out.

I checked the rubber diaphrams and they seem to be in place, and the orings seemed to be in good working order..