| Author | Message | ||
     Bullseye |
Riding home yesterday and its dark now since daylight savings time. All of the riding I have done has been in the daytime. Anyway, while sitting at a stoplight near home, I noticed some smoke in the headlight. Did a quick check and saw nothing and couldn't smell anything so just went home. Pulled it inside looked around the rocker cover (dry) looked around the base of the jugs (dry again) pulled out the flashlight and looked lower. The top of the exhaust was, and still is black, the front of the swingarm, black, the front of the clutch cover is damp front to back and the entire underside of the engine is wet, fresh wet. DAMMIT, I knew it was a good deal and now I know why. I will keep diggin in the knowledge vault and will be tearing into it as I see fit soon, just have to order a repair manual first. I love my bike and have great time ridin it. I just don't feel good about colder weather and an oil leak near the rear tire. I guess waiting till the first snow is a little ambitious. I know what I'll be doing while I get the bodywork painted, and the wheels powdercoated. She'll be a new beast this spring. Till then bring on the snow so I don't see nice weather over my workbench. | ||
| Spiderman |
Best thing to do itde-grease the whole bike. Every ounce of oil off the cases... then go for a ride around the block, park her in the agarge on some cardboard and set her level. If the leak is a small one it should be easy to pinpoint. If it is a large one well that may take a little longer... | ||
| Bullseye |
I brought home a fresh piece of cardboard from work tonight and time permitting I'll be doing just that this weekend. Fingers crossed its something simple. | ||
| Cpres |
Take a long hard look around the starter as the gasket can leak and if some one routed the hoses that run near it wrong you could have a crushed breather hose. That is experience talking, I have lots of love for the dealer techs (not). Good luck. | ||
| Bluzm2 |
The starter gaskets suck. I've had to replace three of three different bikes. | ||
| Malott442 |
Hmm, did you check the fittings on the oil pump???? I had one wait 9000 miles to come loose.... Same symptoms... Derby cover, exhaust, bottom of motor, rear wheel..... Another thought. Where does your transmission vent to? Yet another. Rocker box vents go where? | ||
| Malott442 |
OOOHHHH!!! Almost forgot! Rear shock... You sure it is oil? I had a rear shock blow out about 3 years ago, (THANKS VIRGINIA DOT!!!) and it didn't actually go spongy for about 2 days. But the bike was COVERED underneath. | ||
| Bullseye |
I looked under it a little while ago and the starter is wet where it meets the engine case as well as the left side cover (clutch cover) has seapage from front to back, as well as out of the inspection cover. Gonna pull the seat and rear section off, remove the battery and see how everything looks from the top. I may re-prioritize my honey-do list. Thanks for all of the tips I'll keep diggin in the knowledge vault and maybe snap some pictures for grins. | ||
| Sanchez |
If the top of the engine is wet around the starter, it's the starter gasket. The oil will drip from the top, making it look like the primary cover is leaking. It's a relatively easy fix. Best way to pinpoint oil leaks: 1) Pressure wash the affected areas with a can of carb cleaner. It pushes the oil right off and dries quickly. 2) Spray the areas down with Curex (the white aerosol foot powder). The leaks show right up in it. | ||
| Leftcoastal |
Geez Sanchez - that # 2 above could have been stated "roll 'er in flour and look for the wet spot" couldn't it? At least I think that was the punchline to that old joke! | ||
| Bullseye |
A wet spot in flour under my Buell isn't as much fun as the type of wet spot your talking about. Tee hee. I have heard that the ride is about as fun though. |
