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[phato1]

Went out for a ride with the local HOG chapter Sunday and at a rest/fuel stop I looked down at the bike and noticed several drops of engine oil on the tranny top cover... I was concerned of course so I looked closer, it appears that the rear cylinder head gasket is leaking on the exhaust (back) side.
We finished the days ride without any further problems and the bike is now parked in my garage waiting for me to get back home from my latest business trip. I'll be taking it to the dealer this Friday to see what they say about it.

I was planning to bring it to the dealer anyway for a noisy compensator and a preventative lifter change, i have @ 20k miles on the SE lifters without any issues but I don't want to push my luck any farther with that since I've already had one lifter failure and everyone knows how that works out...

Anyway, I was curious if anyone else with a late model (after 2010) has experienced the head gasket issue..

I should have taken some pics, and will do so upon my return home - I didn't clean the oil off because I want the dealer's service guy to see exactly what I'm referring to.

[jpb]

Rear head gasket leaks mostly show up right where you described.  I check there daily and am always almost afraid to look.  Had it once with the factory 2007 110 and again with my rebuild after 40,000 miles.  I used Feuling studs and head-bolts.  I had an excellent mechanic tell me he had problems with them coming loose over time.

[Unbalanced]

Phato,

Generally I have seen this issue when someone hasn't warmed the bike sufficiently and then off takes off and gets it a little to hard before the motor/metals are at temp.   Seen other things cause it, but this is the typical scenario when the head gasket lets go.

[phato1]

Phato,

Generally I have seen this issue when someone hasn't warmed the bike sufficiently and then off takes off and gets it a little to hard before the motor/metals are at temp.   Seen other things cause it, but this is the typical scenario when the head gasket lets go.

I would have thought the nearly 100 degree ambient temps would've warmed her up quicker   

I still have ESP coverage so hopefully it'll be taken care of without any problems. So far the ESP company and my local dealer has been very good to me whenever I need something done.

Unfortunately it just seems to be to often that I need something repaired.



 

[johnsachs]

Quick check...On cold engine.
A little liquid dish soap and water in a spray bottle. Remove rear spark plug, install spark plug air fitting adaptor. Connect air line, pressurize, spray soap solution around suspect area. Be careful if there's a leak to not get soap spray in your eyes.
Also, if an exhaust guide gets loose, or a seal bites the bullet, you'll get oil drops on the trans. cover from the exhaust port.
John

[phato1]

Thanks for the tip John. A new twist on a compression leak down test. I'll try and perform that test before I take it into the shop, just so I have a better idea what the issue might be.
Am I wrong in thinking that a compression check would also show a little lower pressure due to compression pressure escaping out the head gasket and/or valve seal/guide?

Of course whatever the source of the problem it will require the top end coming off to adress it, just would be nice to narrow the cause down a bit so my BS detector will be calibrated before any repairs begin.

Depending on the extent of repair work needed, it might open up another whole pandora's box.