elusive oil leak

tonynumber1 · Oct 2nd, 2009, 11:41 AM

I went out for a 50 mile ride the other day. When I got back to the house and parked the bike there was an oil spot in the garage about the size of a base ball. It's coming from near the top of the engine so I don't think the head gasket is bad. Could it be an O-ring or something else. Hopefully not too major.

glider · Oct 2nd, 2009, 12:43 PM

Only way of telling where it's coming from is to clean it down and run it again. Possible it's coming from the air filter from being overfilled?

packfrank · Oct 2nd, 2009, 01:45 PM

Check your rocker boxes
I have '08 and it started seaping out overnight

tonynumber1 · Oct 2nd, 2009, 05:00 PM

If it is coming from the rocker boxes, is it possible to tighten it up without taking the bike completely apart?

glider · Oct 2nd, 2009, 05:12 PM

On a 96 bike chances are they are hardened and need replacement.

fin_676 · Oct 2nd, 2009, 05:30 PM

if it is the rocker box gaskets that leaking its most likley itll be the lower gasket they are prone to leaking after a while
its a 2 part paper gasket but has been replaced at some point by a 1 piece metal gasket
if it is the lower gasket thats gone there is a bit of stripping to do to get to it as the rockers have to be removed to replace the gasket
best to invest in a service manual and read it a few times prior to starting the job
allow yourself pleanty of time because you could have a fair bit of time scraping the old gaskets off

Brian

tonynumber1 · Oct 3rd, 2009, 11:30 AM

I don't see any oil on or near the front half of the engine. Does anyone have any suggestions as to anything that might be less major than the rocker box? It only puddled up after sitting for several hours. It seems to be coming from somewhere above the spark plug.

NEWHD74FAN · Oct 3rd, 2009, 01:59 PM

If above the spark plug it could be the rocker box cover...clean the bike very carefully and double check after a long ride again to be sure. Don't forget to clean all the oil line hoses and fittings, some are kinda hard to get into or identify in case you find the leak is "lower", so a service manual is a must!

fin_676 · Oct 3rd, 2009, 04:57 PM

the only place you should find oil above the spark plug is in the rocker box so we are still looking at the rocker box however oil migrates round an air cooled engine very well
so clean off oil the oil using a propriety DE greaser
then run the bike and check carefully for the source of the leak

Brian

Jack Klarich · Oct 3rd, 2009, 08:23 PM

A service manual is a must for Evos u need to remove the rocker boxes in a special order as well as re torquing them buy a manual and good luck

Oct 2nd, 2009, 11:41 AM	#1
tonynumber1 Start The Engine Ride: 1996 sportster Join Date: Aug 15th, 2009 Posts: 27 My Mood:	elusive oil leak I went out for a 50 mile ride the other day. When I got back to the house and parked the bike there was an oil spot in the garage about the size of a base ball. It's coming from near the top of the engine so I don't think the head gasket is bad. Could it be an O-ring or something else. Hopefully not too major.

Oct 2nd, 2009, 12:43 PM	#2
glider Community Liaison Ride: 07 Road King Classic Join Date: Jun 21st, 2007 Posts: 20,467 My Mood:	Re: elusive oil leak Only way of telling where it's coming from is to clean it down and run it again. Possible it's coming from the air filter from being overfilled? __________________ Psssst! Please stop by the "self help section" for maintenance tips, diagnostic codes and much more. click me!>>Self Help Information and Tips<< click me!

Oct 2nd, 2009, 01:45 PM	#3
packfrank New Family Ride: 2008 Nightster Join Date: May 10th, 2008 Location: Baltimore, MD Posts: 6 My Mood:	Re: elusive oil leak Check your rocker boxes I have '08 and it started seaping out overnight __________________ Dunderfrank

Oct 2nd, 2009, 05:00 PM	#4
tonynumber1 Start The Engine Ride: 1996 sportster Join Date: Aug 15th, 2009 Posts: 27 My Mood:	Re: elusive oil leak If it is coming from the rocker boxes, is it possible to tighten it up without taking the bike completely apart?

Oct 2nd, 2009, 05:12 PM	#5
glider Community Liaison Ride: 07 Road King Classic Join Date: Jun 21st, 2007 Posts: 20,467 My Mood:	Re: elusive oil leak On a 96 bike chances are they are hardened and need replacement. __________________ Psssst! Please stop by the "self help section" for maintenance tips, diagnostic codes and much more. click me!>>Self Help Information and Tips<< click me!

Oct 2nd, 2009, 05:30 PM	#6
fin_676 Moderators Ride: 1992 Softail Custom Join Date: Dec 21st, 2008 Location: Banffshire,Scotland Posts: 452 My Mood:	Re: elusive oil leak if it is the rocker box gaskets that leaking its most likley itll be the lower gasket they are prone to leaking after a while its a 2 part paper gasket but has been replaced at some point by a 1 piece metal gasket if it is the lower gasket thats gone there is a bit of stripping to do to get to it as the rockers have to be removed to replace the gasket best to invest in a service manual and read it a few times prior to starting the job allow yourself pleanty of time because you could have a fair bit of time scraping the old gaskets off Brian

Oct 3rd, 2009, 11:30 AM	#7
tonynumber1 Start The Engine Ride: 1996 sportster Join Date: Aug 15th, 2009 Posts: 27 My Mood:	Re: elusive oil leak I don't see any oil on or near the front half of the engine. Does anyone have any suggestions as to anything that might be less major than the rocker box? It only puddled up after sitting for several hours. It seems to be coming from somewhere above the spark plug.

Oct 3rd, 2009, 01:59 PM	#8
NEWHD74FAN Moderators Ride: 2004 Sportster XL1200RS Join Date: Aug 24th, 2008 Location: Camarillo, CA Posts: 3,716 My Mood:	Re: elusive oil leak If above the spark plug it could be the rocker box cover...clean the bike very carefully and double check after a long ride again to be sure. Don't forget to clean all the oil line hoses and fittings, some are kinda hard to get into or identify in case you find the leak is "lower", so a service manual is a must! __________________ Please stop by the "Self Help section" for maintenance tips, diagnostic codes and much more. >>Self Help Information and Tips<<

Oct 3rd, 2009, 04:57 PM	#9
fin_676 Moderators Ride: 1992 Softail Custom Join Date: Dec 21st, 2008 Location: Banffshire,Scotland Posts: 452 My Mood:	Re: elusive oil leak the only place you should find oil above the spark plug is in the rocker box so we are still looking at the rocker box however oil migrates round an air cooled engine very well so clean off oil the oil using a propriety DE greaser then run the bike and check carefully for the source of the leak Brian

Oct 3rd, 2009, 08:23 PM	#10
Jack Klarich Community Star Ride: 2007 Streetbob Join Date: Sep 25th, 2009 Location: Jax. Fl. Posts: 407 My Mood:	Re: elusive oil leak A service manual is a must for Evos u need to remove the rocker boxes in a special order as well as re torquing them buy a manual and good luck

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elusive oil leak

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