Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[johnnymap]

Last week I was cleaning on the bike and noticed oil residue on the block just inside the primary.  Followed it around to the other side and could not really tell where it was coming from.

Long story short, took it to the dealer.  They called yesterday and said the base gasket for the rear cylinder was leaking.  They ordered the parts yesterday and said they would be in Thursday.  Only going to do the rear.  First it was the rocker box cover and now this.  Will it ever end?

john

[Chief]

Last week I was cleaning on the bike and noticed oil residue on the block just inside the primary.  Followed it around to the other side and could not really tell where it was coming from.

Long story short, took it to the dealer.  They called yesterday and said the base gasket for the rear cylinder was leaking.  They ordered the parts yesterday and said they would be in Thursday.  Only going to do the rear.  First it was the rocker box cover and now this.  Will it ever end?

john

John, it is probably the head gasket causing the problem, showing up at the cylinder base. There are plenty of members here suffering the same problem. I am on the second round. First time it was a new head gasket, revised gasket, and new base o-rings. 3,000 miles later and the smae is happening again, although this time, the leak at the base is more pronounced than the leak at the head gasket.

Chances are that what they will do will not fix the problem, only delay its reappearance. To educate yourself on the problems, do some searching on the site for Head Gasket, Compression Releases. There are some good pictures showing the failures too.

Welcome to the club.

[Coyote.]

Yup, what Chief said. I'm on my second round of attempted repairs as well. The head gasket leaks and the oil runs down the bolt holes and out the bottom. I even got the improved head gasket the first time but in only 20k miles, the leak started again. We'll see what happens next week after they try again.

[Unbalanced]

3rd round here and have had replacement rear jugg as well.    I have posted some good pictures on the compression release thread as well what has transpired thus far with my bike.

good luck with it.

I am considering cometic 3 parts this next go around to see if it makes any difference.

[GMR-PERFORMANCE]

Got a Sweet little trick to locate oil leaks.  Start out with a clean area that you think the  leak is in. Then borrow the wife's spray on deodorant must have baby powder in it. Spray the area down let it dry, then take the bike for a short ride. The leak will be extremely visable even on silver engines. Leaks can be tricky some times as the air will blow the oil else where. 


This has worked for use for years, and has saved us time , and we are able to pin point the leak the first time around.Clean up is easy some mild soap and water will remove all traces of the baby powder.

[johnnymap]

Thanks guys for the input.  I really did not want to be a part of this group, "Leaks Annonymous", but I guess I am.

I have seen the pictures of the head gasket leaking.  I had been watching for that.  There is no oil residue on the outside of the jugs.  Is that what you are talking about?  I have had the flash light out looking and not seen anything.  The oil is all on the block.

I am disputing what you are saying, just trying to understand what is going on.

john

[Coyote.]

It can actually appear to be leaking at the base when it's really the head gasket. My understanding is, once the oil gets past the head gasket, it can travel down the bolt holes and end up on the outside of the o-ring. I spent a fair amount of time with the regional factory support rep a few weeks ago. It would appear the moco is well aware of the problem. Now if they could just fix it. 

[Hoist!]

It can actually appear to be leaking at the base when it's really the head gasket. My understanding is, once the oil gets past the head gasket, it can travel down the bolt holes and end up on the outside of the o-ring. I spent a fair amount of time with the regional factory support rep a few weeks ago. It would appear the moco is well aware of the problem. Now if they could just fix it. 

That's what's happening. The Base O-ring gasket seals the cylinder spigot to the case to prevent oil from the case to leak out of the cylinder base. If the oil is outside of the O-Ring, which it would be if it going past the head gasket and down th cylinder stud hole, then it would be on the outside of the O-ring. djkak explained why the gasket is inadequate. So this all makes perfect sense, and will never stop until they design a proper gasket for these engines! They can replace all the head gaskets, base gaskets and cylinders they want, but if they use the same parts, it will start leaking the same way all over again. And they got some set of balls putting us thru this over and over. Definition of an idiot is to do the same thing over and over and expect different results. Well that's what they're doing and expect us to be idiots and accept that. Unfortunately for them, we're not idiots and won't stand for it. We should all get together and get a lawyer and start a Class Action Lawsuit to get them to see that this group of idiots won't stand for this any longer!!!

Hoist!

[GasRat]

This just really sucks.  It wouldn't be so bad if the MOCO would just be up front and honest with us and the dealers.  Mine goes in next week for the 3rd time.  Same leak same spot, starts slow then progressively gets worse.  My dealer didn't even know that they had a revised gasket, or so they said,  the last two were off the shelf stock gaskets.  I had them check into it and then they saw the new #.  But as far as they are concerned they think that this is just an isolated incident.  What to do?  just grin and bear it I guess because I really love the bike otherwise.  What really sucks is I only have 7000 miles on the thing.

[johnnymap]

I intened to say "I am not disputing......."

What both of you guys are saying makes sense.  Is there a  TSD out about this or they just handling it case by case?

john

[Chief]

This just really sucks.  It wouldn't be so bad if the MOCO would just be up front and honest with us and the dealers.  Mine goes in next week for the 3rd time.  Same leak same spot, starts slow then progressively gets worse.  My dealer didn't even know that they had a revised gasket, or so they said,  the last two were off the shelf stock gaskets.  I had them check into it and then they saw the new #.  But as far as they are concerned they think that this is just an isolated incident.  What to do?  just grin and bear it I guess because I really love the bike otherwise.  What really sucks is I only have 7000 miles on the thing.

I know its nothing to hang your hat on, but when I had mine in for the second time, the SM contacted the Powertrain Division and was told to not put on new parts right now. I think the important part of that coded message was the refernce to "now". This was taken to mean "We're looking into it and will be in touch." As of last Friday, no new news, but I'm still hoping.

There is also a chance that this is a total load of horse crap and they're just blowing smoke up our collective skirts.

Mine is weeping, but isn't too bad yet. I'm sure it will be getting worse with time.

Hopefully this chapter will end soon.

[Hoist!]

I intened to say "I am not disputing......."

What both of you guys are saying makes sense.  Is there a  TSD out about this or they just handling it case by case?

john

Case by case and sweeping it under the carpet. Make believe they don't know anything about it. Treating us like fools! Enough is enough, I say. Who's up for a Lawsuit with the MoCo?

Hoist!

[Chief]

Case by case and sweeping it under the carpet. Make believe they don't know anything about it. Treating us like fools! Enough is enough, I say. Who's up for a Lawsuit with the MoCo?

Hoist!

I'm in. Just tell me where to sign. 

[GasRat]

The way I see it with mine, this should qualify under the Calif. Lemon law.  I wonder what would happen if I tried to push the issue when this new gasket starts to leak?

[Chief]

The way I see it with mine, this should qualify under the Calif. Lemon law.  I wonder what would happen if I tried to push the issue when this new gasket starts to leak?

You'll probably lose out going after lemon law because the depreciation rate is horrendous.