| Author | Message | ||
     Dr_greg |
If you just cut the torn up piece of line out and stuck a male/male barb in it's place with a couple of worn clamps you'd be good to go. It might keep you busy checking the clamps tension for peace of mind though. I would splurge for the new lines. Take the old ones to a hydraulic/rubber/hose joint and they will make then for you while you wait (usually) it would probably be quite a bit cheaper than the dealer ones. That is exactly what I'm thinking. I've had these guys make up (longer) steel-braided brake lines for another bike, and they did a great job in a very timely manner. Regarding new oil lines...for $120 I can buy a new rear tire. Since I bought the Uly my new unit of dollar measure is a set of tires. I'll keep you all posted on the outcome. Time to walk out to the parking lot now...I'm especially interested in the rear area...that oil flow should be going away. I temporarily put a small piece of stainless sheet between the two oil cooler lines; dunno if that will make it better or worse, but I felt duty-bound to separate them. | ||
| Road_thing |
dunno if that will make it better or worse, but I felt duty-bound to separate them. Well, I doubt it'll make much difference. Since they already appear to be leaking, it sounds like the mechanical equivalent of shutting the barn door after the cows have already escaped. But it can't hurt! rt | ||
| Rr_eater |
DR Greg Just a thought, you know that rear leak is what mine looked like after I over filled the primary drive. I had not read the "almost 1 quart comment" till afterward, and was panicked for a bit. I use Amsoil in both crankcase and primary, so I thought it was oil too after having done my crankcase breather reroute, and I thought I left something off. Obviously I had over filled the primary, and it puked out the vent tube, all over the shock and rear end. Give it a check is all I'm saying | ||
| Dr_greg |
Re the primary: thanks for the tip; I've filled the tranny so many times I'm sure it's correct. But it's time to change both engine & tranny oil so I'll be doing so soon (but not before leak fixed!). I reinstalled separator and on the commute to work this morning everytime I stopped there were clouds of oil smoke, and upon dismounting there were two nice trails of oil down the front of the lower fairing. Still a trace of residual oil down the back, but not enough to drip (from my 5-mile commute). So it's off with the lines and down to PECO for a quick fix. I installed an oil pressure gauge on my Ducati using a barb fitting and it held beautifully (even at 70 psi). The Uly oil pressure is so low I'm sure it'll be an lifetime (and inexpensive) fix. $120 be damned! | ||
| Thunderbox |
Don't dispair. You are doing a great job and we all appreciate your pathfinding for us. Keep it up. | ||
| Chadhargis |
All this reminds me of the troubleshooting that is required in my job. Being in the IT biz, we use something called the OSI model. You troubleshoot from layer 1 up to layer 7 (if required). I'd shoot myself if I tore an engine down and later found out it was a leaking oil line. I can't imagine your frustration. Now, you just have to worry that you got all the fasteners installed correctly and torqued down right from the work done on the engine. Yikes!  I think the old motor in these things is pretty bullet proof, so as long as the rest of the bike holds up around it, you should be in good shape. | ||
| Dr_greg |
I'd shoot myself if I tore an engine down and later found out it was a leaking oil line. I can't imagine your frustration. Guys, can you understand that I DIDN'T tear the engine down because of a leaking oil line?!? The rear SPARK PLUG actually BLEW OUT on me. I had to remove the heads to do a thread repair. I screwed the gaskets up the first time, so I got a complete top end gasket kit and I tore the engine down to the base gasket, prepped meticulously, and reassembled. The oil cooler line leak was something COMPLETELY SEPARATE!! It was entirely due to my ignorance in not reinstalling the separator after tightening an oil cooler line two years ago!. Rotating the engine three times apparently shifted the lines slightly and exposed the leak (actually a lucky thing). I did not, er, DID NOT, um, DID NOT tear the engiine down because of a "leaking oil line." And I'm not frustrated (anymore), not ticked off (well, I'm getting ticked off as people misunderstand my problem)...I'm just trying to get the oil lines repaired in time for my Saturday ride! So just leave me alone...I'm not gonna shoot myself but I might shoot you!  | ||
| Dr_greg |
Sorry, Chad. Before I ranted I should have pointed out that the original problem started in this post. --Doc | ||
| Dhalen32 |
Greg: I have a couple of brand new oil lines that a friend on the FJR Forum sold to me. If they will help, they are yours cheap. The part numbers are as follows: L2116.02A8, the opposite side of the tag reads 52285 L2118.02A8 Rev B, the opposite side of the tag reads 52283 I'm not sure what they will fit as he could not remember which Buell they fit. Let me know if they will help you fix it right. Dave | ||
| Xbimmer |
I think most of us are speaking of the second teardown being the result of a missed oil line rupture... I'm actually now looking forward to my first rotation, lots of good pics and drama here, things to look out for,... Hell I may tear it down for no reason at all just to have a look-see. I've always felt much better digging into this bike and working around the manufacturer-required economics of assembly with my Uly. It's a great machine and responds to positive Karma. | ||
| Chadhargis |
Sorry Doc...I do recall the spark plug thread, but I didn't put the threads together in my head. I've had many of these same frustrations with bikes, cars, computers....you name it. I think the maddest I've ever been in my life was trying to rebuild and sync the carbs on an old BMW airhead, with the carbs on my Ducati Monster coming in a strong second. For some reason, carb tuning is not my bag. Give me a laptop and an ECU/Power Commander, and I'm happy. | ||
| Dr_greg |
I don't want to go into details (they'd be too embarrassing), but the reason for the second teardown was because I used a trick a buddy of mine swore by...needless to say it didn't work. The leaking oil lines were totally coincidental. I'll find out in about an hour if I have things fixed. A few more pics coming. | ||
| New12r |
Well you sure deserve a good ride, so go beat the snot out of your bike please. I am demanding you do a wheelie or two, a good wide open run through at least 3 gears, and lean over far enough to kiss the pavement without crashing.  | ||
| Wheelybueller |
 I'm having a celebratory beer for you. Go ride that thing (Message edited by wheelybueller on December 05, 2008) | ||
| Electraglider_1997 |
Wheelybueller, Do you cook that beaker beer up in you laboratory? | ||
| Chadhargis |
Now that you're an expert at this stuff. I'm sending you my spare Gixxer 600 motor that has some tranny issues. You should be able to knock that out over Christmas. | ||
| Wheelybueller |
Electraglider "Do you cook that beaker beer up" Did I miss something? | ||
| Dr_greg |
Well, fellas, I think things are pretty much under control. Gonna give it the test via a 547-mile ride through south-central New Mexico on Saturday. Great twisties, a 9,000-foot pass (no snow yet, I think). Like I said, a few more pics coming. Boy, I gotta tell ya, I'm REALLY tired of oily hands. And I had NO IDEA I would be so grateful for the epoxy floor in my garage so I can just wipe up oil spills. I may hafta change my screen name to "Dr. Oil" or some such... P.S. At my er, advanced age, I don't do wheelies much; I don't "earhole" too much (but I've been known to worry a sportbike or three), but mainly I just LOVE to ride through the GORGEOUS New Mexico countryside on my "magic carpet" Ulysses. Saturday is the day! I may even post a few pics from the ride (that is, if I get to do it, considering my oily history). | ||
| Skinstains |
Definately take some pics Doc. | ||
| Bartimus |
Have a good ride, Doc!  | ||
| Tootal |
Just run it up 536 to the crest, if there is no snow. By the time you get down you should know if the problem is solved!! Everytime I'm passing through I have to ride the Sandia Crest no matter what I have under my keester! Have a great ride Doc. | ||
| Xbimmer |
Maybe I missed it Dr_greg, but how did you fix the oil line problem? Hope you had a good ride, 547 miles is some shakedown run! | ||
| Sleez |
hey Doc, is all ok? hope so, oil free wishes your way! | ||
| Krassh |
Did he keep riding??? If so he should be in Mexico by now. | ||
| Froggy |
Either he is in Canada, or 10 miles down the road from his house in a ditch from a huge oil slick, then it all exploded and burned him alive. Lets hope its the former  | ||
| Treadmarks |
Or he traded it on the beemer. | ||
| Gotj |
Or it's still LEAKING and he's lost it! | ||
| Miamiuly |
hope it is all sealed up and he is just riding and enjoying the bike. But I would like to know. | ||
| Tootal |
Paging Dr. Greg, Paging Dr. Greg, we need your test results STAT!    | ||
| Dr_greg |
Sorry, guys, I kinda dropped the ball for a while. Here's a pic of the oil lines just after removal. The abraded parts are obvious.  Turns out that those lines can't be connected with a barb fitting; they have a teflon core. But -- PECO made up new ones for me while I waited...  Pretty cool, huh? Here's a pic of them installed:  IMHO, they look better than stock. No chance of abrading here! So that's how Friday night ended. I'm having a few celebratory pale ales, as one might expect. The only downside is that my departure on Saturday morning might be a little later than usual. That's okay -- I can try out my nice new PIAA lights! I'm going to start the Saturday ride report with a new thread. I wanna make a clean break with this whole sordid history of the spark plug blowout and the ensuing mess. So stay tuned; lots of good pics to follow! --Doc |
