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[Eqcons]

I've got a little oil leak on my bike.  Took me a while to work out where it was coming from, but I have at last, and hopefully it's nothing hard to fix.

On the oil filter housing (i.e. the bit the filter screws on to) there are a couple of socket head blanking screws, one above the other, facing the front of the bike.  (Hope you can work out where I mean!).  Oil is coming out past the lower one of these. 

Question is, does anything live in that hole that's going to get upset if I unscrew the plug, put some sealer on, and screw it back in?  I'm guessing the answer is no, but I'd like to know for sure......   

Jim

[Chief]

I've got a little oil leak on my bike.  Took me a while to work out where it was coming from, but I have at last, and hopefully it's nothing hard to fix.

On the oil filter housing (i.e. the bit the filter screws on to) there are a couple of socket head blanking screws, one above the other, facing the front of the bike.  (Hope you can work out where I mean!).  Oil is coming out past the lower one of these. 

Question is, does anything live in that hole that's going to get upset if I unscrew the plug, put some sealer on, and screw it back in?  I'm guessing the answer is no, but I'd like to know for sure......   

Jim

You are correct. Those pipe plugs are just there to plug the holes that were drilled when the oil passages were machined. Removing them will not hurt anything, as long as you put them back. 

[bisounours]

Jim,

No Oil leak on mine bike !

I cross the fingers !

Jacques

[Eqcons]

You are correct. Those pipe plugs are just there to plug the holes that were drilled when the oil passages were machined. Removing them will not hurt anything, as long as you put them back. 

Just as I thought - thanks Chief!

 

Jim

[Eqcons]

Well, the little oil leak has turned out to be as bad a problem as a man could have..... 

Took the bike for the first service at 1000 miles today. I mentioned that it was leaking out that plug, very slightly. When they finished the service, I asked if they'd taken it out and put sealer on it, but the mechanic said no, he'd tightened it another turn and a half as it was very loose.  So I rode for ten minutes, and checked it - still dripping oil from the plug, so back to the dealership.   He took it out this time, and put PTFE tape on it, then put it back in.  It didn't get tight, just screwed in below the flush.  Started the bike, and oil is pouring out of it now...... close inspection revealed the cause of the problem - the casting is split on the bottom side of the hole.

Which means, as the oil filter housing is not a separate item any more, that it's the whole half of the crankcase that's done for!!!

We'll have to wait to see what the MoCo say next week, but I'm wondering if the crankcase halves are matched, in which case, I'm even MORE likely to insist on a whole new engine.  All of which will take some time, and puts all my vacation plans in the balance.

Jim

[Fired00d]

Well, the little oil leak has turned out to be as bad a problem as a man could have..... 

Took the bike for the first service at 1000 miles today. I mentioned that it was leaking out that plug, very slightly. When they finished the service, I asked if they'd taken it out and put sealer on it, but the mechanic said no, he'd tightened it another turn and a half as it was very loose.  So I rode for ten minutes, and checked it - still dripping oil from the plug, so back to the dealership.   He took it out this time, and put PTFE tape on it, then put it back in.  It didn't get tight, just screwed in below the flush.  Started the bike, and oil is pouring out of it now...... close inspection revealed the cause of the problem - the casting is split on the bottom side of the hole.

Which means, as the oil filter housing is not a separate item any more, that it's the whole half of the crankcase that's done for!!!

We'll have to wait to see what the MoCo say next week, but I'm wondering if the crankcase halves are matched, in which case, I'm even MORE likely to insist on a whole new engine.  All of which will take some time, and puts all my vacation plans in the balance.

Jim

Jim,
That sucks to hear that. Wish you luck in getting this resolved as speedily as possible. If you have the chance or are able could you post some pictures of this so others can be on the look out for it in case this isn't an isolated incidence.

 
Ride Safe,
Fired00d 
 

[Twolanerider]

You suppose it wasn't cracked before the guy "tightened" it and that he then overtightened it and cracked it?  Or you think it was that way all the time?

[bisounours]

Sorry for you, Jim !

Very bad news !

I hope you've a new engine.

I've the Redline in the gearboxe and primary transmission.
It seems that it's more easy to found the neutral. Not really other differences.
I've another problem : http://www.cvoharley.com/smf/index.php?topic=12780.0 in this thread : not solved.

Good luck !

Jacques

[Puzzled]

He took it out this time, and put PTFE tape on it, then put it back in.  It didn't get tight, just screwed in below the flush.  Started the bike, and oil is pouring out of it now...... close inspection revealed the cause of the problem - the casting is split on the bottom side of the hole.

There is the problem.

First pipe tape is a no-no. Mechanic must be a rookie. Thread sealant should be used.

Second, cranking a pipe thread in will split the parent material depending on its thickness. A pipe thread is tapered. The farther you go down the threads the wider it gets.

Than again none of this helps you and I feel bad that you'll be without a bike while they scramble to cover their ass.

[Eqcons]

You suppose it wasn't cracked before the guy "tightened" it and that he then overtightened it and cracked it?  Or you think it was that way all the time?

I suspect it was that way all the time, 2L - that would be why it was leaking from the start.  The final straw would be trying to seal it......  Better to happen now than later I guess..... 

Jim

[Eqcons]

Jim,
That sucks to hear that. Wish you luck in getting this resolved as speedily as possible. If you have the chance or are able could you post some pictures of this so others can be on the look out for it in case this isn't an isolated incidence.

 
Ride Safe,
Fired00d 
 

Thanks d00d.   I won't get the chance to take pix, I suspect, but I will if I can.

Jim

[Eqcons]

Sorry for you, Jim !

Very bad news !

I hope you've a new engine.

I've the Redline in the gearboxe and primary transmission.
It seems that it's more easy to found the neutral. Not really other differences.
I've another problem : http://www.cvoharley.com/smf/index.php?topic=12780.0 in this thread : not solved.

Good luck !

Jacques

I have that same noise too (not that it matters now!) Jacques.


Yes, I got the chance to ride mine for 5 or 6km with the Redline in, and you're right - finding neutral is SO much easier!

Jim

[Eqcons]

There is the problem.

First pipe tape is a no-no. Mechanic must be a rookie. Thread sealant should be used.

Second, cranking a pipe thread in will split the parent material depending on its thickness. A pipe thread is tapered. The farther you go down the threads the wider it gets.

Than again none of this helps you and I feel bad that you'll be without a bike while they scramble to cover their ass.

I'd agree puzzled - but (and it surprised me!) that plug is NOT a pipe thread - it's parallel.  Also, I watched the guy screw the plug in; it took no effort at all, and I'm sure it just opened up the crack that was already there from day one. 

Jim

[Puzzled]

I'd agree puzzled - but (and it surprised me!) that plug is NOT a pipe thread - it's parallel.  Also, I watched the guy screw the plug in; it took no effort at all, and I'm sure it just opened up the crack that was already there from day one. 

Jim

A parallel fitting wouldn't cause the crack on its own. To much tape would. Like you said it leaked prior to the local mechanic touching it. So this one you may never know what went wrong.

[Eqcons]

A parallel fitting wouldn't cause the crack on its own. To much tape would. Like you said it leaked prior to the local mechanic touching it. So this one you may never know what went wrong.

He put very little tape on it, and it leaked from day one, so I suspect it must have come from the factory like that.....

Anyone know how long it takes the MoCo to ship new engines?

Jim