rear rocker leak

[303xb]

Cleaning up the bike pre ride, I noticed a little residue near the fan. Cleaned it up, removed the airbox and grabbed a flashlight and sure enough, leak on the "drivers side" (left) rear cylinder. Didn't look bad, but the more I looked the more residue and pooling I saw. I clean the bike weekly, so I'm sure it's a new leak. Looks like I have a winter project. I have 2 questions:

Do you think I'm ok to ride the bike with a rocker leak?

When I repair it, any suggestions in other things to fix while the motor is rotated?

 

[djs2k2]

Careful with the fan!

 

[303xb]

Fan is clean. Running down the non fan side

 

[thrstrmech]

it's your call to do it now or later...best to take care of it before it gets worse.

 

[303xb]

2 months of good riding left in Colorado. Tough call for me dang it

 

[djs2k2]

You can fix it in couple days just using forum! With little experience!

 

[HDGarage]

303, I rode mine for 3 months with a leak. It was getting on my rear muffler clamps. I would ride it and just keep an eye on it. I did the repair and it's really not bad. I could probably tilt the engine in 2 hours now. I spent 3 times that just taking my time. Hardest thing lol was that big ads spring on the velocity stack. Used two small deep well sockets with extensions in the 1/4 inch drive size and just slid them over the ends of the spring and squeezed. Worked perfect but spent and hour before I figured it out.

 

[303xb]

Thanks bud. I saw someone used a ziptie to compress and hold the clamp, will probably do that.

 

[nicholas900]

I'd just order everything you need, then keep an eye on it. If it gets bad then you'll have all the stuff.

When you rotate your motor I'd take the chance to replace the pcv grommets and the pcv valves. Also might want to toss in a cyl head temp sensor if you have the extra dough and check out your exhaust flange nuts. Loose nuts mean rattling flanges and rattling flanges mean worn through studs.

Hope it lasts till winter for ya.

 

[HDGarage]

I tried the zip tie, could not get it to compress enough. I had read that as well on here. As Nicholas stated do the grommet and pcv. I did that as well. One thing you can do is take some photos prior to unhooking stuff if you have a smart phone with a decent camera. helps when hooking stuff back up. Also pay close attneion to the harness on the left side of the engine, mine had the wrapping worn thru but not to the insulation. It was good that I had to do this since I found a potental future problem for sure.

 

[HDGarage]

use a jack with a rubber pad

Oem seals, used Cometic in replacment

What I found on Harness

 

[303xb]

[up][up]

 

[jetlee]

Took me only a few hours to change mine. It's not difficult.

 

[djs2k2]

Need a torque wrench in inch pounds!

 

[Lrick1]

I tried to ignore mine last summer, it killed the fan and I was bike-less for 3 weeks because the dealer couldnt locate a fan up here in Canada. If you ride with the leak, make sure to clean it daily.

 

[UMDterp13]

It's fine till winter, Ride the bike. I had one with 30k miles, leaked since 10-12k lol Harley's leak all the time, check your oil level every week or so

 

[303xb]

Kept everything super clean..long ride today and a yellow cel is on. Fan isn't kicking on....damn.

Ordering up rocker gaskets and a new fan. First time rotating an engine.

 

[303xb]

Manual says 120-168 in.lbs for.torqueing the rocker covers, is that right?

 

[nicholas900]

My paper manual for 04 XB12r says same. I just did my rocker boxes and used the 120-168in-lbs for the rocker covers. No issues here. I split the difference and did around 145.