| Author | Message | ||
     Desmo900 |
I left on a 4 day trip with friends and half way to the middle of no where I notice my swing arm, panniers and under the seat are covered in oil. Everything in front of the swing arm is clean I cleaned everything up. checked the dip stick, checked the drain plug and oil lines but found nothing leaking. Ride some more and everything is covered again and this time the oil level on the dip stick is down. I added more oil and headed for home. I disassembled everything blocking my view and started the engine, revving it for more oil pressure. Nothing. took off the shock and worked the swingarm up and down with the engine running still Nothing. Went for a short ride, and everything is coated again with oil. Ahhgggg. The return line at the top right side of the swing arm at the fitting seems loose to me and you can move it in and out 1/8". Is this normal? Any ideas guys, I'd hate to have to take it to the dealer, but i'm out of things to try. | ||
| Mnrider |
Take a close look at the rear cyl.head gasket. If that leaks the oil goes in the fan well and blows every where. | ||
| Chrisp |
I've had those same symptoms twice, and both times it was the rear rocker box gasket. As Mnrider says, the fan blows the oil everywhere. The play in the oil line fitting is like mine, and, in my case, had no bearing on the leak. | ||
| Mnrider |
I meant to say rocker box gasket. I bought my first Uly used and it had to have tranny work done cause the PO had drained the trans doing an oil change and didn't refill it. The tech screwed up the rear rocker box gasket and it leaked bad. | ||
| Rwven |
I'll be doing my rocker box gaskets soon. Are the Buell/Harley parts the way to go, or are there better choices? | ||
| Desmo900 |
I have heard people mention rocker box leaks, but I assumed it was a seeping leak. I never thought it could leak this much. If it is the gasket, then it must have failed badly for the amount of oil I have all over the place. Thanks guys, Ill pull the comfort kit and fan to take a look. Umm I'll have to rotate the engine to change this gasket right? | ||
| Hughlysses |
I agree- I don't think you'd get THAT much oil from a rocker box gasket in that amount of time. I had one, and it didn't leak nearly that much. I had to look hard to see where the oil was coming from. A better possibility may be one of the PCV hoses coming off at the rocker boxes. Pull off the airbox cover and baseplate to check. | ||
| Desmo900 |
I should clear on the amount of oil that is leaking. everything rear of the swing arm pivot, the underside of the tail and the rest of the swing arm is Dripping with oil. Not a mist or a coating. Every time I stop for a moment it looks like Arco broke another well with all the oil on the ground around the bike. | ||
| Swampy |
The rocker box leaks start slow then go BIG! Fast! | ||
| Zac4mac |
That much oil almost sounds like a split oil line. Check the lines to the swingarm/oilbag. If it's wet back there, find and fix ASAP. | ||
| Chrisp |
Yes, you'll have to rotate the engine to replace the rear rocker box gasket. But it's not that hard to do. The first time mine went I replaced it with Buell parts. The second time, ~ 9k miles later, I went with Cometic gaskets. That was over 16k miles ago and it's still good. In comparison, the two gaskets appear nearly identical. Both are coated metal. The only obvious difference is the color of the coating. So I'm not sure why one has held up better than the other. | ||
| 7873jake |
If you had to guesstimate on a total time required, what would you say it took to do the rotation and replace the gasket? | ||
| Desmo900 |
It turned out to be the Rear rocker cover just like most of you thought. Who would have thought so much oil could leak out that o-ring. Thanks for all the advice. | ||
| Johnboy777 |
""Who would have thought so much oil could leak out that o-ring. " By o-ring, do you mean the PCV Grommet? My rear cylinder PCV Grommet (atop the rear rocker cover) went bad. The PCV Valve was hitting against the frame and rocking the PCV Valve back and forth in the Grommet, to the point that the Grommet went bad. Oil all over my fan, etc. I thought at first it was the Rocker Cover Gasket. John | ||
| Desmo900 |
Johnboy, you have me wondering now. The dealer Said it was the rocker gasket, but due to the other things they Said they did but didnt, Im wondering now if it could have been the PVC grommet.. I just dont see how all the oil dripping on my bike could have been the O-ring of the valve cover. I mean even if the O-ring was missing the cover would still be deflecting the oil back at the rocker and valve stem. Plus there is just not that much oil in the valve train anyway. To make the mess i had there would Have to be a big hole for it to get out. But in the end its all fixed and I'm back riding so that's the important part. | ||
| Marks3tbillet |
Chrisp: Can you let me know the part number of the Cometic gaskets you used? I need to do the same on my '07. Thanks, Mark | ||
| Chrisp |
Mark, Cometic Stock Code; C9195 Description; HD '2007 - Up Sportsters "EST" Rocker Box Rebuild Kit Price; $43.73 in 9/08 The kit includes every gasket, O ring, seal, and grommet, for both the front and rear cylinder, plus a few extra bits. I guess for different models. I ordered directly by phone from Cometic. |
