I Noticed An Oil Leak Today

[neilrl79]

It's not awful but it's not great either... Wondering how much of a pain in the ass this will be...

Pics aren't great, oil is seeping out of the back corner of the rear cylinder.

 

[uly luigi]

That is a base gasket leak, one of the few "leaks" that lead to a complete rebuild, not really necessary, but you will have to completely remove and disassemble the engine to replace that one gasket, so might as well, the usual cause of this type leak is a failure to allow the engine to warm properly prior to aggresive riding,

 

[user_deleted]

the usual cause of this type leak is a failure to allow the engine to warm properly prior to aggresive riding,

exactly!!
mother H-D issued a service bulletin way back in 86 when the evo all aluminum sportster motors were introduced. one of the critical things mentioned was that due to new construction techniques and materials the engine should gradually be brought up to normal operating temperature prior to high revs or partial to full throttle applications so that the cases, cylinders, heads and rocker boxes could expand at the same rates. still applies today.

 

[neilrl79]

I don't believe that I would fall into the category of riding aggressively before the engine warms up. Motor has 10,xxx miles on it now 6,741 when I bought it. I did run it pretty hard Saturday night but it was plenty warmed up at that point.

 

[SETH_TERRILLION]

there is a tsb on that gasket leaking because of high revs before engine warm up but its a gasket its gonna wear eventually sometimes sooner than expected just sux it had to be your bike my friend, sorry man but yeah that cylinder has to come off to replace that gasket, most likely pretty costly if you have a shop do it, not saying its difficult to do but time affected.

 

[MotoPhreke]

That's not a horrible job, Intimidating but not horrible, I just got done going through it but mine was for a busted rear exhaust stud..

I paid around $220, for the piston kit from HD which included all the gaskets, pistons, rings, wristpins and circlips. But you may want to replace a few other things depending on what you find. I replaced my front isolator mount as well..

Have your cylinders checked by a shop, unless you know someone that can. At 11k my cylinders were fine but I had friend hone em out and went with stock size pistons.

Take your time, make note of where everything goes, take pics of how things are routed and you should be ok.

Depending on how much time you have to put in, it will take a few days to get it done.
If you do it on the inexpensive side you can get away for around $500..

IMO, If your going in that far, it doesn't make sense to just do the gasket..

 

[neilrl79]

Yeah it doesn't make sense to tear it all apart and only do the gasket.

 

[GAXB9R]

I see a big bore kit in someone's future

 

[Rhino1]

IMO, I'd say with only 10k miles, you don't need to do anything other than the gasket. When I've done tear-downs, it's been an all or none thing for me. That gasket is important, though, if it's wetting your fan. Oil can kill a fan very quickly...

 

[neilrl79]

It's barely seeping out at this point,nothing on the fan, but i'd imagine it'll get worse.

 

[uly luigi]

won't get better

 

[g3stripes]

mine been seeping for 10k plus, doesnt seem to change much. my bike has rough life.