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Oil leak fun.............yeah

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Old Sep 20, 2018 | 10:50 AM
  #21  
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Nothing like finding a wet spot the old fashioned way...
 
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Old Sep 20, 2018 | 02:46 PM
  #22  
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A little oil leak detour here. Pesky *** leak at shifter shaft. Has a pretty long section with minimal support after the seal, gonna punch out the side cover, and insert a bronze bushing that I am going to ream to precise size. When you have a lot of vintage bikes, there is always a little oil somewhere!

Back on topic, waiting for that seal to hopefully fix buddy's Shovel, and also check insert. Thanks all so far!
 
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Old Nov 2, 2018 | 04:34 PM
  #23  
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Ok, he finally brought it back after a run and it's leaking.

Outside of shaft seal appeared dry, and no oil on the splines.

Oil in between the stator and the steel insert, but only on the bottom.

Pulled the stator, and it looked bone dry all around the insert, except at the bottom where the stator meets the cylindrical steel insert. there was zero oil running down the inner face of the casting. That is what is driving me nuts. I figure if it was leaking where the insert meets the case, then why isn't it running down? Unless the stator has such a good metal to metal fit against the bearing insert face it can't flow past it and down????????????

99.9% sure it isn't leaking past the rubber seal, as the splines are dry. POSSIBLY leaking from outside of pressed in seal, but I couldn't find any pooled oil at the "lip" where seal goes in a little deeper past the insert.
 
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Old Nov 2, 2018 | 05:32 PM
  #24  
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you could try and put some air into the engine cases ( 5 pounds only ) and look for bubbles with soapy water sprayed around the area you think its coming from
 
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Old Nov 2, 2018 | 05:51 PM
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Originally Posted by johnjzjz
you could try and put some air into the engine cases ( 5 pounds only ) and look for bubbles with soapy water sprayed around the area you think its coming from
Yeah, good idea. As much as I hate to tell him, most of the evidence points to the insert. I remember guys doing the Loctite 290 trick on some Evos with minor leaks where it wasn't loose per say, but would let oil past when hot. He wants an easy fix, and I cannot tell him 100% at this point.
 
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Old Nov 2, 2018 | 06:21 PM
  #26  
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Safe bet easy isn't going to make it here sorry to say, had this conversation with a few owners and it was never simple.
 
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Old Nov 4, 2018 | 07:41 AM
  #27  
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Default That's exactly what mine does

Cases are original also on mine so just going go with it doesn't lose enough to worry and lowers all good bearing and such just going after top end this winter Checked end play back and forth up down was with in what specs call for.
 
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Old Nov 5, 2018 | 05:20 PM
  #28  
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It's official. The insert is the cause. Pulling a mill is a joke for me, so I will get him rebuilt and back on the road.

Just to be 100% sure, I installed another seal, and the oil is there around the bottom of the insert where it meets the stator. Runs strong, but the oil doesn't lie.

Shovelheads!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
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Old Nov 5, 2018 | 07:19 PM
  #29  
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new cases are in order
 
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Old Nov 5, 2018 | 07:30 PM
  #30  
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Originally Posted by johnjzjz
new cases are in order
Why cant they be repaired? Whats the root cause of the leak then, a tweaked or distorted case? Better yet, just put a stock primary on it and forget it.
 

Last edited by hellonewman; Nov 5, 2018 at 07:31 PM.
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