ANY oil leak is worth tracking down and fixing. That's an EVO engine and they are tight, or certainly should be. If you were dealing with an Ironhead I'd agree that it would be near impossible to stop all the oil leaks, but not true on an EVO. Track those leaks down, fix 'em, and you'll be in great shape.

 

That's a big leak....2 or so quarts over 4 moths of sitting.

I'd look to the oil filter or hose # 4 in the diagram.
The oil may be traveling along the frame tube so keep your eyes open to not only the front. Missing oil sensor at engine front possible?
Again that's a big leak.

Best advise...find the leak.

 

Where is the leak from the front coming from? As mentioned earlier,..could be the crank sensor. It's 1 bolt and 1 o-ring. I just had to do mine. The o-ring was fine,.just had to clean it off and re-seat it. But don't go loosening stuff up that's not leaking. That's a recipe for a new leak.

 

Alright, on closer inspection I've identified 3 points that oil is dripping from:

1. dripping from a bolt below the primary just above the kickstand bumper
2. dripping from kickstand perch
3. dripping from lower right frame mount (just below the oil filter, but everything north of the bolt is dry, i.e. I do not see any leaks around the filter or the hoses to/from the oil filter mount)

 

Also, where is the crank sensor? Just seems like the obvious places it would leak (at drain pipe, at filter) are not leaking

 

If you didn't have a 2qt. puddle on the floor, the oil ran into the crankcase and will return to the oil tank when you start it up. If that is the case, and you put 3 qt. in the tank, you will have 2qt. going out the dipstick hole. Just something to check.

 

If you clean around those areas, you will be able to better pinpoint the leak.

 

I'm not entirely sure how much oil was lost bc we recently moved and the bike had been sitting for 3 months at former residence. I do know that only 1qt came out of the drain pipe

 

OK I still need help here...

I cleaned the entire engine and it is still leaking from this bolt - and I can't figure out why since this bolt seems like it's just bolting the engine to the frame? It is directly below the oil filter but there is not oil leaking down from the filter, it appears the oil is seeping from this bolt itself. Please help?

 

Hey Jack, I have a 1986, 1st year Evo Sportster, I've had it since 1998, this will be my 20th Laconia with it! I have a tiny drip, from the primary chain adjustment bolt! The combo primary & tranny takes one qt.! My check valve is weak, allowing the oil tank to drain into the motor, over time! I start it up, it fills the oil tank in less than 5 minutes idling! That Big Nut in your photo is the drain plug for combo primary/trans, only 1 qt. should come out, if more comes out, somebody over filled or there's a slim chance the crank seal is leaking into primary, Doubtful! I use AMSOIL 20W-50 in motor & 10W-40 in primary /trans, less drag, more HP!

PS, The primary/trans plug has a magnet on the tip, also has an o-ring, & sometimes a copper washer, depending on year, (H-D has been making this Bike since 1957) ! Good Luck, BJ