| Author | Message | ||
     X3rs |
I have a 2000 X-1 (1200 Sporster engine) internally stock. Externally it has a force winder air filter, oil cooler., & fan. And I have a leak I can not track down. Oil just manifests itself right around the rear brake master cyl.(right side). Don't get excited, I swapped out the master & hose that runs to the reservoir plus the res in case that was it. It wasn't. I also put the bike in neutral on the side stand (level ground) and set the engine at 3-3.2k rpm (I have a fan that comes on at 400* so no issue) & looked for the leak to appear, it didn't after 10min. Why set the engine at 3-3.2 rpm's, because that is where it cruses at 80mph & that is what I was doing most of the 60 miles Sat. I ran highway 60-80 in 5&6th gear. Yes I have a six speed. I saw no leaks coming from the oil tank or tank hoses all the way back (forward)to the oil pump. And there is never any oil forward of the downward frame tube by the rear master cyl. On the on left side. I even pulled the trans breather hose from inside the sub-frame (right side) and let it hang out on the right to see if pressure was forcing oil from there. Nothing. In fact, I thought the whole issue was fix after changing the rear brake parts earlier (completely new items)and rode it to work 4 days & no leak showed. However, I can't get out of 2nd gear going to work (3-3.5k rpm) & it is only 5 miles each way. It is enough oil to coat the rear master area, drive pulley, down the side of the rear foot peg also, rear fender, & form a few drops on the ground when stopping for gas. It showed up again on a ride Sat, noticed after 60 miles when getting gas. Work down recently just before the leak showed up: I pulled the middle and top valve covers & replaced them with XB valve covers & PVC valves. I ran both PVC's into one hose, over the rear cyl head same size hose(what is it, 5/16/) along the left top horizontal frame rail over to the rear seat sub-frame & mounted a catch can(about 6' x 3" in size) with a small K&N filter on the end with a drain valve being on the low end(end closest to the engine. The sub-frame slops up to the rear) on the under side of the sub-frame. Don't know if this has to do with anything, but I mention it. I checked to be sure the hose was free of kinks & that the catch can is passing air with & without the K&N filter on - it does. By the way no oil is catching in the can & it is on the opposite side on the bike remember. So, there I have it. Not brake fluid, but oil. Can't see any leaks in the tank or hoses going to or from the oil tank. But I keep seeing oil covering the rear master as noted above. I sure need suggestions. There just is NO one in Co Springs that deals with Buell's well & dame near every part on my bike is custom/not available anymore. It does not look stock. The last time I went to HD for crash repair, they gave me the bike with wiped out rear wheel bearings. Something that could be felt FOR SURE if test driven. I rode it 5 miles and thought the rear wheel was falling off. | ||
| Sportyeric |
Shock? You could try putting Red line oil in the tranny and that would reveal by colour. (Message edited by Sportyeric on September 22, 2013) | ||
| Akbuell |
Shock is one possible source. Might do to pull the pulley cover off and look at the seal in the center of the belt pulley, and the seal behind the pulley. Hope this helps, Dave | ||
| S1owner |
Sounds like it is getting on the belt up stream and splattering back | ||
| Kilroy |
If the last thing you did was change the valve covers and gaskets, and it wasn't doing this prior to that, start there. Otherwise my vote goes to primary/ trans breather | ||
| X3rs |
I have checked off the shock. I am running a Works shock with an aux reservoir for gas(attached to the left frame rail), but I checked in case it has oil also at the main body. I do not see anything there. I did stick some cotton down the trans breather tube & did not come up with any amount of oil. But perhaps under power moving it will be different so I will put a rage over the end & go out again. Question - Why would the trans build up pressure? Is it not sealed separate from the motor & just vented for pressure from moving gears? The counter shaft pulley can be pulled this weekend to check that out. I am assuming the previous note about pulling pulleys was in relation to the counter shaft drive & not the rear wheel pulley? I am not sure but there is probably a seal behind the front drive pulley & it is blowing back to the brake master. I understand the comment about the recent work on the valve covers. That is where my mind went first. Perhaps a pressure build up. But my hoses from the valve covers & PVC valves, are blowing air through the catch can. I don't see an additional case pressure valve. Is not all of the case pressure vented via the push rod tubes,valve covers, PVC valves? I was trying to figure if I was not moving enough air via the catch can and had a build up of pressure in the case, but then again, there is no case pressure relief valve that I see. BTY: in my ride Sat I never had any sign of power loss or oil pressure drop. In case that helps | ||
| Two_seasons |
If your crank seal blew, you are now putting engine oil into the primary. With the primary overfull, it will spit any excess out the breather tube. I would drain the primary into a pan, then pour the contents of that pan into a used, empty oil bottle. If you get more than a quart, there is your problem! | ||
| Arizona_buell |
Clean everything you can and check for leak around push rod tubes. These can leak and run down places that make you look elsewhere. No there is no PCV valve but that does not mean you can't vent the system . There is positive pressure on the crank case when these engines run . Many folks here will say this is a non issue but for me I think it is an oil leak maker . I simply added a tee fitting to the top of my oil tank during my complete rebuild of my X1 and sent the hose to a catch can . This is not a leak fixer but possible prevention . It seems to be working quite well for me. | ||
| Kevmean |
Check the rear of the cam cover gasket , mine blew out from between the cases and looked like it had never been fitted correctly from new on my X1 .... it sprayed oil onto the belt which then threw the oil all down the side of the bike including all over the rear tyre. | ||
| Ratbuell |
Easy way to check for a "blowby" leak that sprays all over the back of the bike.... 1. clean the ENTIRE bike of oil. 2. Park it on a lift. Or with the front wheel in a wheel chock. Or up against a wall. 3. Lift the swingarm with a pit stand. Or a pair of jackstands with something through the rear axle. Or, worst case, with straps from the subframe to a stepladder. Get the rear tire off the ground and make it stable. 4. Start bike. Run bike IN GEAR, simulating everything about riding except suspension travel....and wind that blows the oil back. 5. Pinpoint the leak. 6. Fix the leak. My bet is on output shaft / front belt pulley seal. If you park it on a clean piece of ground after a ride...where is the puddle? | ||
| X3rs |
The answers give here lead me to look at other things & I did find the issue. But have questions about my findings. On a normal ride up to 40 miles, I could not isolate the leak. So I ran some extra tubing off the trans breather & over to the left side seat sub frame out to the licence plate = no leak. The oil level in the trans was also normal & I saw no leak behind the front drive pulley. But on an extended run of 100+ miles oil started to come out of the trans breather and blow on the plate. Not much & it took a long time as stated. So, question 1 - does any oil out the trans breather mean a blown crank gasket? I would hate to rip it all the way down to the crank & find that gasket OK. 2nd question - Since I recently changed over to PVC valves I am wondering if that lead to this or it was just a product of standing a lot & drying out over winter. I had no test miles between sitting for winter & running the new breather PVC system. I just put it on & stated summer riding. Is there a pressure test for the bottom end I could try? If you recall my PVC breathing system is moving air. I am wondering if perhaps the catch can is to small & causing some back up pressure at high revs. 3rd question - I think there may be room to tap & run the PVC breather system directly into the intake manifold. Anybody tap directly into the intake manifold? Because when I ran the stock flapper system to the Force Winder intake before I started all of this I still got oil on my right leg. So I am figuring if I run to the intake area again with the new PVC system (eliminating the catch can), it would have to be closer to the intake ports to avoid blow back out the air cleaner like before. Now the bad news. I was going along great w/o seeing the leak originally Sun & at about 70 miles, snapped a header stud (front one)flush off,. And lost the other nut. A trip to Home Depo for a fit to the remaining stud just got me home & it was on that home leg that I also ended up noticing the breather leak finally showing up. So I have posted questions under 'Snapped Stud' for answers to this issue. | ||
| Kevmean |
If you are blowing oil out of the transmission vent then you need to replace the crank seal  when my X1 needed one it would only show up if a long run or running at high revs. | ||
| Gianni312 |
I have the same issue (Oil coming from trans vent). Currently I get about 3 ounces per 120 miles. As per other postings, I thought it was a bad crank seal. However a few things.... 1- I put in a new alternator and put in a new crank seal at that time, approximately 1000 miles ago. 2- last night I took the inspection plate off, my thought being if it was a bad crank seal, the trans oil level would be high (above the gear teeth); however, it wasn't. Also, the oil in the primary was clean but the oil in the oil tank was much darker. I'm confused and open to suggestions just as you. BTW, I have a s1. | ||
| X3rs |
What about my idea of running the PVC's directly into the intake manifold via drilling a hole & putting a hose barb fitting in so the 1 hose(running both PVC's into one) could be attached closer to the intake of the heads. Just in case my catch can is the issue causing extra pressure in the heads/valve covers & then transferring it to the case. And then the crank seal blows in the trans area causing oil to come out the trans breather. I could then run the trans breather into the existing catch can. I don't know. But perhaps my catch can is to small and causes back pressure at high revs. I can not say this leak issue was not already there when I added the XB valve covers. Could have been caused from sitting & drying out. I had no run time after winter and before installing the XB covers. But I would hate to fix the crank seal & then have it happen again & later find out my catch can was causing a pressure build up. When I ran my valve cover vents into my forcewinder intake before pre XB covers, some oil still came out my air filter. I was told that there is an overlap going on and 'suction; is not constant in the intake manifold when the bike runs. So fluttering air can let this happen. So, I was thinking of entering the intake manifold it's self(closer to the valves) to get a better draw of any oil coming from the PVC's. Anybody do this? There was one guy on this web(was selling his bike) take put XB valve covers on his X-1, but he did not say where he ran the PVC's to. In fact, I saw his bike under 'bikes for sale'. Tried a PM, but have not heard anything (Message edited by x3rs on October 04, 2013) | ||
| Mr_grumpy |
Any input into the inlet side ought to be before the fuel metering to avoid leaning out. | ||
| Alfau |
Oil breather into air intake is to comply with emmission control laws to prevent greasing up roads. What is wrong with this is, burnt oil fowls the free flow of air through the air filter affecting air fuel mixture, also when this oil burns it will gum up spark plugs. Drilling holes in the intake manifold would bypass the filter but still gum up spark plugs. Solution is, clean air filter often or to use an oil catch can. Not necessarily the cause but Too much oil in all the holes will find it's way out until the excess is blown off. These levils are then correct for your bike. |
