EVO engine case drip
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Road Master
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 1,161
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From: Potter County, PA
EVO engine case drip
I was looking at an EVO today and the owner said it had an occasional spot under the crankcase. It hasn't leaked in it's current location. We are going to look hard for a cracked case. The bike has been always stored indoors and has never been apart; I don't know if it was heated or not.
Now with it being a dry sump system as long as the cases are not cracked, will it be much of a concern if it is a minor drip between the case halves? The bike has 25,000 miles or so. We don't want to split the cases until it needs a full rebuild if possible.
I know the leak may be somewhere else and finally exiting from the bottom of the case. We will look hard for that as well. What say the masses?
Now with it being a dry sump system as long as the cases are not cracked, will it be much of a concern if it is a minor drip between the case halves? The bike has 25,000 miles or so. We don't want to split the cases until it needs a full rebuild if possible.
I know the leak may be somewhere else and finally exiting from the bottom of the case. We will look hard for that as well. What say the masses?
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 7,736
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From: Coromandel Peninsula New Zealand
Evo cases as such shouldn't leak, what year is it?
Can leak on startup if been sitting but that comes out of the breather, they can leak out of the alternator socket or behind the primary.... needs a thorough inspection.
Can leak on startup if been sitting but that comes out of the breather, they can leak out of the alternator socket or behind the primary.... needs a thorough inspection.
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Road Master
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 1,161
Likes: 653
From: Potter County, PA
It is a 1998. No evidence of leaking near the breather or primary. The spot is right under the middle of the crankcase. The motor looks bone dry from above. I will get a good light and try to get it up off the ground a bit for a good look. I just hope it doesn't develop into a gusher. I doubt that because not much oil should pool in there if everything related is functioning properly. I am a Shovelhead man; a little drip here or there is no big deal to me, LOL!
Road Master
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 1,216
Likes: 286
From: Buford, GA
Check the seams on the case good. If it's leaking where the case halves meet, the only way to fi that is to split the cases.
My 91 Heritage had a small leak when I bought it 10years ago and wound up having to do a ground up rebuild.
My 91 Heritage had a small leak when I bought it 10years ago and wound up having to do a ground up rebuild.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 12,878
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From: la la land jerzey
It comes down to nice and condition - you can live with it this year then next season but plenty of time now for this year is it a pain yes is it doable you need to be mechanical handy but durable - and you need the time < that is the spot only you know
Road Master
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 1,054
Likes: 441
From: Tejas
It is a 1998. No evidence of leaking near the breather or primary. The spot is right under the middle of the crankcase. The motor looks bone dry from above. I will get a good light and try to get it up off the ground a bit for a good look. I just hope it doesn't develop into a gusher. I doubt that because not much oil should pool in there if everything related is functioning properly. I am a Shovelhead man; a little drip here or there is no big deal to me, LOL!
You're not seeing anything heavy while looking, so it's probably migrating to the lowest point. Maybe trying to determine what type of oil it might be would answer the question as well.
Griz
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 9,493
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From: Long Island, New York
I had a lifter block gasket leak, for two days I was convinced it was the cases. Clean everything, run the motor and be patient. Very unlikely that the cases are leaking, 90% chance it is something else up higher, good luck.
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Tourer
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 469
Likes: 158
From: Alberta
I would second that the oil is migrating from above somewhere. Could even be from the oil pump lines or does the bike have an oil cooler. The factory oil cooler for that year had the oil lines run down the right side of the bike ( as you sit on it ) and then join up between the oil tank and the oil pump. Clean the underside of the engine, and then try putting something like talcum powder on the lower engine cases and see if you can find the oil trail. Also put some paper towel or a clean pan under the engine and see exactly how big the leak actually is. Bike parked upright or on the jiffy stand will also have an affect on the oil's path.
Oil can travel quite a distance before it becomes a drip. It would also be interesting if this still happened after the engine/bike has been ridden for several hundred miles. Sitting for a long time is hard on rubber stuff. I don't think it would get cold enough in your neck of the woods, but I know where I live if the bike sits in freezing -20C weather in the winter they can have a tendency to develop a leak that goes away once the weather warms up.
Oil can travel quite a distance before it becomes a drip. It would also be interesting if this still happened after the engine/bike has been ridden for several hundred miles. Sitting for a long time is hard on rubber stuff. I don't think it would get cold enough in your neck of the woods, but I know where I live if the bike sits in freezing -20C weather in the winter they can have a tendency to develop a leak that goes away once the weather warms up.
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Thread Starter
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Road Master
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 1,161
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From: Potter County, PA
We get to -30F at times. We haven't for a few years though. A few years ago we stayed below zero for 11 days. That is cold enough to crack cases if too much moisture is allowed to accumulate. That is my main concern. I know a guy with a 2003 Anniversary model with a nice chunk out of the case right at the bottom from just that very thing. The bike just sits. He was at one time considering patching it up with JB Weld and keeping tabs on it.
