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I have a 1966 Shovelhead and I noticed a puddle of oil underneath. When I checked it is coming from a bolt at the front lower left side of the engine case. When I attempted to tighten the bolt, it would just spin and will not tighten as if no threads are able to catch it. It also appears that it does not hold the case together so not sure why it is there and why just spins. Now there is a steady drip of oil from that hole and will not stop dripping. What is going on? Leaking at bolt above rag
Lower front? If so the bolt goes through the case and there is another nut on the opposite end. Probably the reason it just spins when you try to tighten it.
And FYI, you have something going on there. HD did not use flat washers or split lock washers for case bolts on your '66, just the bolt and a washer.
And if that nut is rubbing against the frame down tubes you definitely need to fix that. It should ne be rubbing against the frame.
Last edited by panz4ever; Jul 9, 2020 at 07:39 PM.
Thanks for the reply. There are the bolts that go through the case and have nuts on each end, but this is not one of those bolts, it is simply bolted in my itself with nothing coming out the other side directly across from it. Any idea what the purpose may be? Difficult to get to since the frame is in the way. May have to raise the engine.
originally they would use that as a drain because after leaving 1920s and 30s machines for a length of time they would sump most of the oil into the block and they were total loss engines -- its a carry over from those days and the threads are now stripped
only way to fix it is to remove the engine - a taper 1/8 X27 pipe thread can be tapped into the hole and a pipe plug used
NO you cant fix it in the frame and yes i have seen a moron cut the frame on both sides to fix the hole only to end up crashing the bike when the frame broke in 1/2 as a result
if your not handy bring it to a real shop not a boutique - someone was screwing with that drain bolt as the threads just don't melt
I thought that too but did not realize they put a drain plug in the case. Cant really use it as the frame is in the way unless not the original frame? If it is a drain plug it is stripped out.
every machine big twin built from 1936 to 1969 the frame is in the way - it was in the engine cases program and those guys would never talk to the frame guys even on a bet
Guess it was not meant to be used after a certain manufacturing date. I just bought the bike and now I have to deal with the stripped out threads. Someone had to have taken out or raised the engine to put that aftermarket bolt in there. Wonder if you can just raise the engine a couple or inches to repair it or have to take out the whole engine?
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Oil Leaking From Engine Bolt?
