| Author | Message | ||
     M2statz |
Went to the work shop last nite to get the snowblower ready for more snow and notice a small puddle of oil under the M2. I can not tell where it is coming from. The bike has been winterized and not rode since the middle of November. Why would it spring a leak now and is it something that needs attention now or can it wait until spring? Thanks and happy holidays!! M2Statz | ||
| Road_thing |
Hmmm. "...to get the snowblower ready for more snow..." I think it can wait. Doesn't sound like you're gonna be riding it soon! Seriously, an oil leak an't hurt the bike if it isn't running. I'd suggest putting a pan or sheet of newspaper under it to see if it's leaking continuously or if it's just some old oil running off. Is your shop heated? rt | ||
| Kalali |
While this is not going to "hurt" the bike sitting still, this is probably a good opportunity to get it fixed and be ready for spring. The best approach is totally clean/degrease the motor area and put a clean sheet underneath the bike and go from there... I have seen leaks where they start in one place and the oil ends up in a whole different area underneath the bike depending on what "guides" the oil from the source to the ground. | ||
| Brinnutz |
Yay. welcome to the club of unfixable and unknown leaks. | ||
| Ratbuell |
Look on the bright side. If it's leaking, you're not out of oil...yet  | ||
| Natexlh1000 |
Is it the rear shock? Perhaps it's just spooge condensing out from the airbox? | ||
| Stoked |
My rear shock did that. I didn't notice any leaking gradually, then one morning pile of oil under it from a leaky shock. | ||
| Scott_in_nh |
welcome to the club of unfixable and unknown leaks. That's a myth! Find it - fix it. I have no paper gaskets left in my engine and have been leak free for 1.3 years (knock on wood!). I share a garage with my brother and it has a variety of bikes and quads in it. The only 2 that don't mark their territory is his wifes quad and my "Harley" as he calls it! suzuki = leaks ducati = leaks yamaha = leaks buell = no leaks as others mentioned, clean it well enough to find where it is coming from. Suspect any gaskets that are still the factory paper gaskets 1st! | ||
| Brinnutz |
Someone should compile a list of all the paper gaskets used. Scott, I nominate you! What gaskets are paper from the factory, so I can replace them all, as I think I might pull the motor since I'll be putting new cams in, when I get them in Jan sometime. | ||
| Texastechx1 |
I'm going through my engine./drivetrain in Jan to fix all my leaks and preventive maintance. | ||
| Road_thing |
My preventive maintenance often needs repairing, too. rt | ||
| Brinnutz |
Can someone post all paper gaskets that need to be updated? I got the rocker box ones done. | ||
| M2statz |
May be it is leaking because I cleaned the bike before I stored it for the winter. I will spend more time investigating the leak. The shop is not heated but heavily insulated. Thanks and will keep you all posted. | ||
| Ratbuell |
I *think* the only gaskets that were never paper are: Cylinder base Engine case to primary I believe all the others, at one point or another, were paper... +1 on the clean/run/trace process. My smartass comment above was just that - totally non-constructive, lol. | ||
| Scott_in_nh |
Can't promise that I go them all or that they all are literally paper, but here are the leak prone gaskets with improved versions available (usually rubber coated metal); Rocker box cylinder base gasket (this is the only one I am not sure whether it has been replaced in my bike) starter motor gasket (I've seen a very experienced rider crash due to ignoring this one!) primary cover gasket gear box cover gasket Feel free to add any I missed! Rat, the primary cover gasket was paper too (that was my 1st leak after purchase)! (Message edited by scott_in_nh on December 17, 2008) | ||
| Ratbuell |
Scott - I knew the primary cover gasket was. I just can't remember - last one I worked on was a big twin - if there's a gasket between the primary and the engine on a Buell, or if the Sporty motor has a single casting and the only primary gasket is the cover. Now that I think more about it, it's one casting. I should have remembered that from when I had to replace a mainshaft bearing in my S1W.... | ||
| Newbuellertoo |
Check and see if it's coming from the clutch cable. I usually put my bike on my center stand if its sitting any length of time. The snow came early this year and after 5 weeks on the side stand, it started leaking down the cable from the derby cover area. I assume when the bike is sitting upright, there's not as much oil in that area. Mine has stopped now. | ||
| Pkforbes87 |
The athletes foot powder spray works well for making oil leaks obvious. Spray it generously then wait for an area of white powder turning black | ||
| M2statz |
The leak has stopped and I can not tell where it came from. With the holidays rapidly approaching and the trails open for the sled it may have to wait until after the new year. I do not have a center stand to put it on. Is this a good thing to do for storage over long periods of time? | ||
| Pkforbes87 |
Personally I like getting both tires off the ground during storage. Before I got stands I just parked her on carpet which caused no apparent flat spots on the tires. Just had to keep a drip pan for those never-ending leaks =] | ||
| Kalali |
How did you guys make/put the center stand? I put pieces of wood under the side stand leg to make it as upright as possible. | ||
| Brinnutz |
Kalali, A company called "CenterStand" made a stand that went under the pegs. Only lifted the rear though.  I've got one, but they are hard as hell to find. | ||
| Dfbutler |
Al at American Sport Bike had them. Call him. I've been using one from him for a couple of years. | ||
| Brinnutz |
Oh yeah, he may have some left. | ||
| Pkforbes87 |
I've got one of the center stands and a pit bull for the front. While using both you need about a 1" block of wood or something under the center stand or the front stand will sit the rear tire back on the ground. |
