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Buellathebuzzer
Posted on Friday, April 06, 2012 - 05:07 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

I live in a warehouse that was converted to 200+ lofts. There's 4 levels of parking in the parking ramp and the management is pretty generous about letting MC riders park their bikes in those corners of the garage that you can't get a car into. I store my two M2s year round at no additional cost.

This spring a guy that I will fondly refer to as The Creep has started parking his 98 HD Sportster next to my Buells. First, he parks the thing at an angle such that a space that could hold four bikes can only hold three. Second, the dang thing leaks a huge amount of oil all over the floor. After a week there was a puddle almost as big as his bike. Third, he smokes in the garage next to the bikes and leaves cigarette butts laying on the floor (smokers, pick up after yourselves).

So, when I talk to my friends about this leaky HD they all reply, "It's a Harley, they leak oil" Isn't this essentially the same engine as my 2000 M2 which doesn't leak oil? Why should we expect the HD to leak oil and the Buell not to?
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Argentcorvid
Posted on Friday, April 06, 2012 - 09:17 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

I have a 98 and the rocker box gaskets leaked pretty bad when i bought it. also, I think the primary cover had been pulled and the shifter shaft seal fell out (it was missing) so primary lube would get splashed on the shifter shaft and run out along it after a good ride.

It doesn't leak anymore, because I take care of my bikes.
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Jramsey
Posted on Friday, April 06, 2012 - 09:26 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Get a box of Diapers and an ashtray and leave them on his seat.
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Buellathebuzzer
Posted on Friday, April 06, 2012 - 06:27 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Every time I see the guy in the hallway he smiles at me and my skin crawls. i should try to move past this.
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Azrael_cervale
Posted on Friday, April 06, 2012 - 06:37 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

My 99 doesn't leak a drop. Its far from a perfect bike but with maintenance it shouldn't leak.
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01x1buell
Posted on Friday, April 06, 2012 - 06:57 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

when i bought my x1( i am second owner) it waas leaking everywhere, now not a drop.
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Jim2
Posted on Friday, April 06, 2012 - 07:32 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Get a coffee can or flower pot half-filled with sand for an ash tray and set it in the area.

Introduce yourself by complimenting his bike. Ask him how runs and talk about how to fix the leaks. Offer to help him figure it out.

He's probably just not smart enough to figure out how to provide his own ash tray and fix his own oil leaks.


Sorry. I know I can't see the guy and he might not be someone worth approaching but it's hard to judge a book by it's cover. Sometimes you gotta open it up and see what it's about.

At least he smiles, it could be worse.
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Harleyelf
Posted on Friday, April 06, 2012 - 08:17 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Any chance of making the spot an assigned parking area for your exclusive use? The oil puddle is a potential liability to the owner if anyone slips. Make him park in his car spot. Assert your territoriality.
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Alfau
Posted on Friday, April 06, 2012 - 11:18 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Try this approach!
"Pretty bad oil leak you got there mate!
Are you trying to soak it up with cigarette butts?"
just a thought.
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Buellathebuzzer
Posted on Saturday, April 07, 2012 - 09:25 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

MN state law prohibits smoking in the common areas of the building. I'm talking to rental management about that.

I'll no doubt talk to him about the oil leak. It's funny, he picked up a bag of Tiddy Cat clay litter. I guess it keeps you from slipping on the oil, but there are a lot better products for cleaning up oil. He's got a 1" layer under his bike that is about 3 ft by 1.5 ft and it's almost completely soaked. Do you have to change our oil as often when you have a leak that severe? teehee.
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Hybridmomentspass
Posted on Saturday, April 07, 2012 - 10:48 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Yeah the harley/oil thing gets old
Seals wear out sometimes, big deal.

Why is he a creep exactly? Cause he smokes or has a leaky bike?

As others have mentioned, you should talk to him, try to help him fix it
Give you some experience on the motor should you ever have to do it on yours!
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Harleyelf
Posted on Saturday, April 07, 2012 - 08:05 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Trust your instincts. If his smirk makes your skin crawl, there's probably a personality defect behind it. My old Sportster never leaked, can you see where the oil comes from? Hoses are cheap, shifter shaft seals even cheaper. Make him pay you if you want to avoid becoming buddies.
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Hogluvr
Posted on Saturday, April 07, 2012 - 09:59 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

The whole Harley leaking oil thing goes back to the days when the primary chain was lubed by the crankcase breather, it would collect oil in the primary and leak out. Not so with modern bikes. Probably what everyone else has said, a lack of maintenance issue. Take the high road and offer to help with the leak issue, not sure what to do about the smoking??
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M2marc
Posted on Sunday, April 08, 2012 - 08:26 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

You never know when someone might need help. Maybe he is just as pissed of as you about the leak but doesnt know what to do. If you are confident enough to help him then you should do so. Smoking etiquette is something else. I've been on both sides of that debate being a former smoker.
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Buellathebuzzer
Posted on Sunday, April 22, 2012 - 11:49 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Okay, so here's the update.

1) he's creepy because he avoids looking at you even when he's talking to you. lots of little things. sometimes you just know that a person is creepy.

2) I left a simple note that started out all cheerfully with "Hey neighbor"and asked him to (a) back his bike up a couple feet to make so I could get back into the space (he was consistently blocking the way into the area and (b) if he saw anyone smoking in the area to ask them to please take it outside. in 24 hours his bike was gone and haven't seen it in like 2 weeks. hmm.
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01x1buell
Posted on Monday, April 23, 2012 - 05:29 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

interesting and kind of odd.
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Jim2
Posted on Monday, April 23, 2012 - 06:00 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

He probably took his bike to the Stealer to get the leaks fixed. It'll be back in about a month.
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Deant
Posted on Tuesday, April 24, 2012 - 12:44 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

older Harleys were supposed to leak oil in two ways. One if they were old enough to be total loss oil systems. I doubt many of them are on the road. Also for many years before sealed primaries the primary chain was oiled with a small line from the oil pump that dripped on the chain. The manual actually had you adjust the flow by the size of the spot it left. I have a copy of an original panhead manual.
I converted my pan to a belt primary inside the cover and turned the chain oiler screw shut.
So yes some old Harleys should leak oil but not any newer ones.
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Rex
Posted on Tuesday, April 24, 2012 - 01:14 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

My Buells do not leak....
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Azrael_cervale
Posted on Tuesday, April 24, 2012 - 02:01 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

There's an adjustment for that.....
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Buellathebuzzer
Posted on Friday, April 27, 2012 - 10:10 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

The bike reappeared last night. Maybe the oil leaks fixed, too soon to tell. However, I noticed his rear tire for the first time last night.

http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/406 2/677579.html
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Xdigitalx
Posted on Friday, April 27, 2012 - 02:57 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

1. Maybe he looks away from you because he thinks YOU are creepy.

2. You've seen and spoken to this guy many times, yet you leave a so-called cheerful note? Did you leave your name on it so he knows your his stalker?
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Alfau
Posted on Friday, April 27, 2012 - 06:30 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Talk to the man, if not,go to the management.
You might want to buy a bullet proof vest.
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