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Engine Mechanical TopicsDiscussion for motor builds, cams, head work, stripped bolts and other engine related issues. The good and the bad. If it goes round and around or up and down, post it here.
Hi folks, I'm new to HD and this is a new to me 2013 XL1200X, had some issue with TSM which I finally resolved and took it for a first ride after many things were done to it at a couple of dealerships including replacing the jugs and the heads and the bike probably never run since. After a 2 mile ride I came back home and realized there was a pretty big oil leak spraying oil on the drive belt cover, exhaust, right behind the rear cylinder and my right leg as well. When looking at the engine running I can see tiny specs of oil flying around but can't see from where, I suspect it's coming from the pushrod cover, most likely the rear pushrod cover as it is the wettest. The air filter is dry, as well as around the air filter mounting plate.
Does it sound about right? My other suspicion is a rubber tube coming out of the case right behind the rear cylinder, it looks fine but the oil ends up pooling up in that area.
I'm somewhat handy and can probably replace the o ring on the pushrod covers myself, it doesn't look too complicated, but if that's the culprit, it was done by the dealership. Is it worth fighting with them? Or just do it myself?
If it is an o-ring, you need to remove the offending push-rod to swap it out. If you paid them to do this job, I would bring it back and make them do it.
The long story is that two dealerships worked on the bike for multiple issues, some electric issues due to someone trying to steal the bike, than the first dealership overfilled the oil and somehow basically caused it to hydrolock (I was told by the previous owner), because of that, the second dealership replaced the cylinders and heads but couldn't get the engine running because the TSM was bad and no longer produced by Harley. I ended up taking the bike and bypassed the TSM so now the engine runs but leaks. I picked up the bike about 6 months ago, so I have a feeling if I take it back they might try and fight me on this as it's been a while even though the ODO only went up by 2 miles. Since the dealership wasn't actually able to fix the bike and caused a lot "emotional distress" we lowered the bill to about half the cost of the parts, so they might be unhappy to see me back
I'm looking for confirmation that it is indeed likely the pushrod cover or something else I might be missing. If that's the case I might just do it myself.
Sounds like it would be a nightmare trying to find a culprit willing to right the wrong. Just do it yourself. If you’ve isolated it to the PR and they are oem you can either go thru the top and reuse the pushrods or cut the oems and use adjustables. Maybe you will luck out and there are already adjustable ones in there and then it’s considerably easier.
Good luck and let us know.
That seems like a lot of oil for an o ring/gasket especially with how it's spraying like that. Most of the time gaskets just leak...and don't spray out like that unless it's just missing or something. Before you start tearing a bunch of stuff apart I'd just clean it up really good and (this I was told by a 30+ year wrench) and use some athlete's foot powder spray around the area to use it like leak tracing powder. It apparently washes off clean. Also if it's that bad of a leak and spraying like that you should be able to visibly see it pissing.
Sounds like it would be a nightmare trying to find a culprit willing to right the wrong. Just do it yourself. If youve isolated it to the PR and they are oem you can either go thru the top and reuse the pushrods or cut the oems and use adjustables. Maybe you will luck out and there are already adjustable ones in there and then its considerably easier.
Good luck and let us know.
Can`t have adjustable`s as the one piece push rod covers are still in place
Remember they are held captive by the cylinder heads
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Oil leak from push rod covers?
