| Author | Message | ||
     Grovskopa |
OK so I got this leakage which is pretty damn bad since it leaks onto belt somehow and from belt it sprays half rear tire + right side of engine. So I thought it was the new oil pump that was leaking (didn't leak before that was changed).. But seems not since I made sure all nuts on it were tight.. Could be a hose clamp but neither did tightening of those help. It is getting worse and worse.. Every time I take bike there is like a 1x1dm puddle of oil just beneath rear shock (rear shock is also drenched in oil, I am pretty sure it comes from above it) Any help appreciated! I sure hope it is just a hose | ||
| Mm128 |
Check the Tranny Vent line... it runs right there around the front sprocket area... the line may have been cut by the belt if there was ANY slack in it... Matt | ||
| Grovskopa |
Will do that tomorrow! Thanks =) I don't think it comes from in there though, since most oil is around oil pump/rear shock | ||
| Stevem123 |
Could also be the neutral indicator switch leaking since it is also in the area of the front drive pully or possibly the output shaft seal. BC Steve | ||
| Spiderman |
Here's what I want you to do. Clean the hell out of that bike, use degreaser or what you have to, to get the bike oil less (on the outside that is) Then put talcum powder on the bottom of the engine. Roll the bike onto a fresh clean sheet of cardboard and run the bike and check for leaks, if no leaks show right way, let it sit and check. If no leaks show, then your shock is the culprit or you are leaking from the drive shaft exiting the tranny | ||
| Grovskopa |
OK sounds serious.. Maybe I should just return bike to repair shop? It didn't leak before they had it in for that cylinder/gearbox/oilpump repair | ||
| Scott_in_nh |
It is probably leaking from the gearbox cover at the lower corner toward the back. If the cover was never off - the factory gasket eventually starts to leak. If the cover was off - did they replace it with the upgraded steel/rubber gasket? | ||
| Grovskopa |
I'll deffo rule out rear shock since leak started before I put it on. You guys don't seem to think it is a hose to -or the oil pump itself? There are literally drops of oil hanging from it when I check it.. Gearbox cover would make sense since he had that opened for sure when repairing fourth gear.. But if it was that, wouldn't most of the leaking oil be towards back of bike instead of front of it? The pools of oil always collect just about under oil-pump / rear shock canister.. As soon as I can I will strip the bike from front pulley cover and clean it up proper and do the Spiderman.. Not sure when I have that amount of free time though. | ||
| Spiderman |
and do the Spiderman.. Sounds like a cool new dance move  BTW It is hard to say if it is serious, trouble shooting over the web without pics is pretty hard... | ||
| Kilroy |
The trick is to find where the leak is starting from, not where the oil has collected by gravity to the lowest point on the housing, where it forms droplets and drips off. That is why the talcum powder suggestion above...... | ||
| Mick |
I had a leak in the hose that runs from the bottom of the oil tank around behind the primary case. The hose was tight around the edge of the tranny and had rubbed thru the protective covering on the line and made a pinprick hole that you could barely see, but it was enough to piss oil out of when hot, I'd be pulling that hose and checking it, specially if its a tight fit around the edge of the tranny case. if the coverings worn thru I'd replace the line. | ||
| Scott_in_nh |
The pools of oil always collect just about under oil-pump / rear shock canister.. This is where my oil appeared when my gearbox gasket went. There is a 90 bend on the rear corner of the gasket that is a good distance from any of the mounting bolts and right above where your oil is appearing..... | ||
| Shadowracerx1 |
I had a leak like this... it turned out to be the hose from the gear cover to the top of the oil tank wasn't on tight. | ||
| Preybird1 |
I had the same leak in the same spot, mine was bad primary cover gasket at bottom, also i had a leak on hose fitting as it went into oil pump,I installed new updated rubber\steel gasket tightened up lines and 1 month later no problems primary gasket took me 20 minutes to do, and i was real careful not to damage shift lever seal. | ||
| Grovskopa |
Still didn't have time to check it.. Degreased it all but had to leave for a job. Will run it ASAP and try to find that bitch! | ||
| Sloppy |
I had a similar leak - took a long time to find it as well. Came from the Starter Motor gasket. If you still have the original paper gasket this could be the problem. The oil weeps out and forms a puddle in this area. Once the puddle has gotten big enogh, it starts dripping down onto the shock and anything else underneath and you'll never see the leak 'cause it's hidden under the starter. Here's an easy way to diagnose. Spray diluted laundry detergent or engine degreaser in the area and hose off well to clean. Once dry, wrap up a paper towel a few times crammed under the starter motor to wick up any puddling oil. If the oil leak stops, check the paper towel after a few weeks and see if it's drenched in oil. If so, you've found the leak. Note that I rode for 6 months like this before I had a chance to replace the gasket with the updated gasket. | ||
| Kalali |
I also rode my bike with a leaky starter motor gasket and I can now identify the spots I had parked by bike by the pattern of the leak; two spots, one under the shock and the other near the kick stand. Took it to the dealer and he diagnosed it it 15 seconds. Three hours and $210 later it was all fixed! I can also tell they used a metal primary gasket by touching the edges. | ||
| Pkforbes87 |
I think I just developed this leak as well. Found 2 spots under the rear of the shock/muffler area. no evidence of oil from the front of the engine - it looks like it just "appears" around the starter and drips down. I'll try the clean everything -> insert paper towel idea, just to make sure | ||
| Grovskopa |
Still no luck in finding source of leak.. All of bottom of engine gets all greased up, especially around oil pump and connecting hoses.. Not really around the connectors though. Strange strange.. | ||
| Pkforbes87 |
Metal starter gasket runs $1.02 at the dealer =] Check the stator wires too. They enter the primary just a couple inches in front of the starter and one of the dealer techs said he's seen them leak before. | ||
| Grovskopa |
There is no oil anywhere near starter... | ||
| Preybird1 |
Nice now i got this leak not bad. But i can see a little oil under starter area by the rubber plug with the wire through it and my shock cover looked greasy like oil that has seeped around it so i put my finger under and i got a black looking oil hanging out on the bottom most rear part of shock tube, And why is it black! i got fresh oil in motor and primary! Man i really hate leaks its my major pev! well im wondering if the little pool of oil by starter is running down back as i pop wheelies...maybe helping it leak by doing wheelies. Ill check it tomorrow as i just got caught in a flash storm and got mildy wet bike needs a bath! | ||
| Pkforbes87 |
the oil from my leak is black too even though all the fluids in the bike are relatively fresh. its probably just dust collected in the oil AFTER it leaks. | ||
| Jos51700 |
Leaks at the starter are common, as are leaks at the stator plug (The rubber plug with wires poking out. There's an updated starter gasket, and you can silicone the stator plug while you're there (wash with LOTS of brake cleaner first), but the nasty part is you've gotta pull the primary cover to do it all. Of course, then you can install the updated primary cover gasket. All oil leaks end up black. It's dirt-collection thang. | ||
| Jos51700 |
If you can isolate the leak as not being from a pinhole in a hose, or a gearcase cover (cam cover) leak, the trouble spots can be narrowed down to a few spots. I've highlighted the major areas with red dots.  On the Main Drive Gear, the MDG end-seal(30) can leak, but it usually doesn't leak alot. You'll know that one because the inside of the front pulley will be wet and dirty. It's usually the quad seal(17) or the main seal(15). Sometimes, it's as simple as tightening the pipe-thread hose fittings a little, or replacing clamps.  The only oil pump sealing mechanisms are the o-ring and pump body gasket. Buy a couple cans of Brake Cleaner, and wash wash wash. It helps to have a compressed air source, and wash, dry, wash, dry, wash, dry. You can use the baby powder/foot powder technique, but I personally use a darkened room and a UV flashlight (these are available in most autoparts stores for a few bucks, but save the coin on the dye if you use HD oil as it shows up without the dye.) Wash it, turn the lights out/wait till night/find a dark place, the darker the better. Fire it up, lay on the floor with your light, and just observe (and for Gods' sake DON'T do this in an enclosed room). Oh, watch out for hot exhaust systems, too. The talc powder thing works ok, but once it's oil, it can be hard to tell where it came from. The UV light works well, but you've gotta look everywhere, constantly. And, while rare on bikes with mileage, it is possible for the case itself to leak. Sometimes a crack or porosity will develop. I've seen a few do that through the years, and it's always freaky to see oil just "appear" out of nowhere. | ||
| Grovskopa |
WOw thanks a lot!! | ||
| Oldog |
Hey Jos Have you ever seen oil seep between the head and the jug? on the exhaust side of course its the rear head. never gets worse just there | ||
| Grovskopa |
I found a 60 year old man in the countryside who had the same Sportster since 70s (and did all the maintenance himself) He will help me tomorrow. I am sure he will figure it out =) | ||
| Preybird1 |
Hey Jos i already had the primary gasket blow out, So put the new gasket it and its ok. Im going to go and wash the bike here in a minute and check the leak some more! | ||
| Jos51700 |
"same Sportster since 70s" Just be aware that: A: '70's Sportster technology is way different than evo sportster technology. B: '70's Sportsters are messed up if they DON'T leak. |
