Shovel oil leaks
#1
Shovel oil leaks
'76 HD FXE. Leaking oil from head & rocker gasket areas, and pushrod covers. WTF? Replaced rear cyl gaskets after removal for spark plug hole repair. Now I've had this Shovel since '78 and rebuilt it frame off in '02-'03.
Are my oil lines clogged somewhere? Did I close off an oil line passage with the new gaskets? Too heavy an oil (60W)? Too many questions. Bike runs as great as ever and does not overheat, but this is more than it's history of marking its spot as all old HDs do. Thanks in advance for any tips. I'm about to pull both heads and redo all gaskets. I do also run an aftermarket horseshoe oil bag and exterior spin-off filter.
Are my oil lines clogged somewhere? Did I close off an oil line passage with the new gaskets? Too heavy an oil (60W)? Too many questions. Bike runs as great as ever and does not overheat, but this is more than it's history of marking its spot as all old HDs do. Thanks in advance for any tips. I'm about to pull both heads and redo all gaskets. I do also run an aftermarket horseshoe oil bag and exterior spin-off filter.
#2
Gasket quality for the shovels has been steadily getting worse for number of years now and rocker boxes & pushrod orings & corks are a big offender for leaks if you still use the old paper style gaskets . Spend the money and go with the new metal wafer ones they well worth it . When you have it down check all the studs if some of them have the big thread above the flat surface it can hold the rocker box up and not get a seal , it's also common to find threads pulling out . 4 out of 5 sets of heads I'll see have pulled studs needing helicoils. Check the rocker boxes on a plate of glass or a known flat surface , may have a slight warp . Same with the head gasket surface on the heads it's common for the threaded holes to be pulled up a bit from over torquing without a torque wrench , doesn't take much to leak by . If you don't have one get a torque wrench that does inch pounds , don't rely on 2 clicks of the elbow for tight . White knuckle tight on rocker studs is not a good thing it will blow out a gasket .
The steel oil tubes & fittings , the little rubber seals in the kits are crap they are all under size anymore I use 1/8" vacuum line and cut my own . All the orings in the new gasket kits are junk anymore most measure out undersized compaired to oem , cheap *** import crap . Hit the dealer for these if you can .
Next Check to make sure you have the oil lines to the filter hooked correctly , get them crossed and it will back pressure into the motor and start blowing everywhere .
Take your time don't get frustrated is the trick , good luck .
The steel oil tubes & fittings , the little rubber seals in the kits are crap they are all under size anymore I use 1/8" vacuum line and cut my own . All the orings in the new gasket kits are junk anymore most measure out undersized compaired to oem , cheap *** import crap . Hit the dealer for these if you can .
Next Check to make sure you have the oil lines to the filter hooked correctly , get them crossed and it will back pressure into the motor and start blowing everywhere .
Take your time don't get frustrated is the trick , good luck .
#3
Gasket quality for the shovels has been steadily getting worse for number of years now and rocker boxes & pushrod orings & corks are a big offender for leaks if you still use the old paper style gaskets . Spend the money and go with the new metal wafer ones they well worth it . When you have it down check all the studs if some of them have the big thread above the flat surface it can hold the rocker box up and not get a seal , it's also common to find threads pulling out . 4 out of 5 sets of heads I'll see have pulled studs needing helicoils. Check the rocker boxes on a plate of glass or a known flat surface , may have a slight warp . Same with the head gasket surface on the heads it's common for the threaded holes to be pulled up a bit from over torquing without a torque wrench , doesn't take much to leak by . If you don't have one get a torque wrench that does inch pounds , don't rely on 2 clicks of the elbow for tight . White knuckle tight on rocker studs is not a good thing it will blow out a gasket .
The steel oil tubes & fittings , the little rubber seals in the kits are crap they are all under size anymore I use 1/8" vacuum line and cut my own . All the orings in the new gasket kits are junk anymore most measure out undersized compaired to oem , cheap *** import crap . Hit the dealer for these if you can .
Next Check to make sure you have the oil lines to the filter hooked correctly , get them crossed and it will back pressure into the motor and start blowing everywhere .
Take your time don't get frustrated is the trick , good luck .
The steel oil tubes & fittings , the little rubber seals in the kits are crap they are all under size anymore I use 1/8" vacuum line and cut my own . All the orings in the new gasket kits are junk anymore most measure out undersized compaired to oem , cheap *** import crap . Hit the dealer for these if you can .
Next Check to make sure you have the oil lines to the filter hooked correctly , get them crossed and it will back pressure into the motor and start blowing everywhere .
Take your time don't get frustrated is the trick , good luck .
I'm going to check the oil line routes for blockage before I get into a big butt ache pulling the tops.
Thanks again. I'll post the results after the cussin's done.
#5
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#8
That's myth bro , they can be a bitch to get them all under control but aside from a lazy owner or a guy who just doesn't know how a shovel doesn't have to leak . I make it a point of pride when one leaves my shop it's clean & tight . In your defense gaskets anymore are crap and the newer metal composite ones cost an arm & leg but the work and don't leak . To bad most guys who have shovels are also on a tight budget .
#9
i know they dont have to leak.. an old long beard biker told me that when i was working on an ironhead once..it did run great before i took it apart and sealed it all up,could barley get it started or keep it running after..tore it apart again pealed all the permatex off of the cases ..it ran rite again,so i sold it..