She's leaking
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Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 89
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From: oklahoma
She's leaking
Well I've got an oil leak. The weather has been terrible the last couple weeks here so I haven't done anything with my 98 Road king. Went to the garage yesterday to start it and found a pretty good puddle of oil. Its not had any leaks before and hasn't been rode or started in about two weeks. Could sub 20deg weather cause an oil leak? As soon as it warms up I will attempt to locate where its leaking
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 14,744
Likes: 402
From: Phoenix '53, '88, '09 Big Twins
looks like motor oil, could be primary- so smell it.
is it smells at all gassy, it is motor oil.
if it smells at all burnt, it is primary.
if you have water in your oil/cases, as it freezes the ice expands and can affect gaskets..hopefully not enough to bust a case. (I've seen a chrysler 440 block bust open from no antifreeze in the coolant)
put a pan under it until it gets warm enough to ride...if more oil drops into this clean pan, that may help us determine what is going on
oil will always move to the lowest point...which on our bikes is the inner edge of the primary ( when on the jiffy stand).
a slight seep can be hard to find- spray on foot powder ( 99˘ store) will help find a seep, spray in on and see where it gets washed away
PS: just "starting the bike" is never good for the bike long term.
condensation forms in the cases and exhaust and never gets boiled out
loose piston ring fit allows gas and by products of combustion to enter the oil
both of these corrupt the oil and can form acids.
on a cold start oil is not freely flowing so there is metal on metal contact
the charging system won;t recharge the power used to start the bike
mike
is it smells at all gassy, it is motor oil.
if it smells at all burnt, it is primary.
if you have water in your oil/cases, as it freezes the ice expands and can affect gaskets..hopefully not enough to bust a case. (I've seen a chrysler 440 block bust open from no antifreeze in the coolant)
put a pan under it until it gets warm enough to ride...if more oil drops into this clean pan, that may help us determine what is going on
oil will always move to the lowest point...which on our bikes is the inner edge of the primary ( when on the jiffy stand).
a slight seep can be hard to find- spray on foot powder ( 99˘ store) will help find a seep, spray in on and see where it gets washed away
PS: just "starting the bike" is never good for the bike long term.
condensation forms in the cases and exhaust and never gets boiled out
loose piston ring fit allows gas and by products of combustion to enter the oil
both of these corrupt the oil and can form acids.
on a cold start oil is not freely flowing so there is metal on metal contact
the charging system won;t recharge the power used to start the bike
mike
Last edited by mkguitar; Feb 28, 2015 at 11:59 AM.
No.
I've riden mine below 20.
Mine were stowed to 25 below zero for spells when I lived in Northern Michigan.
There are lots of guys in Canada with their bikes stored that see minus 40.
Starting it and not riding it can introduce condensation, because everything doesn't come up to operating temperature.
I've riden mine below 20.
Mine were stowed to 25 below zero for spells when I lived in Northern Michigan.
There are lots of guys in Canada with their bikes stored that see minus 40.
Starting it and not riding it can introduce condensation, because everything doesn't come up to operating temperature.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 6,154
Likes: 2,562
From: CT/FL
did the leak appear when you started it, or was it there when you went out to visit it? if it was when you started it, sometimes when sitting a long time the oil pump check valve leaks by and oil collects in the motor. starting it up pushes all that oil out the crankcase vent. if that vent has been removed from the air filter housing, it'll puke oil on the ground right about there.
Road Captain
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 691
Likes: 35
From: Colorado
Starting the bike intermittently in the off season WILL cause a leak though, regardless of the temperature outside; just firing it up every now and then without letting the running temperature up to normal riding temperature will eventually bust your head gaskets due to condensation not being able to be burned off like it gets when you actually ride it. Never start your bike if you're not gonna ride it. Just put it on a tender.
Road Captain
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 594
Likes: 10
From: Seminole County, FL
I bet your primary case drain plug is stripped.
Ask me how I know!
I had the same thing happen, the hole is 1/2-20 thread, and on the '07 the hole is directly under the chain tensioner. I tried a rubber expanding plug from autozone, but it wouldn't go all the way in as the hole has a stop on the bottom.
I'm waiting for a helicoil kit to arrive from ebay...
Ask me how I know!
I had the same thing happen, the hole is 1/2-20 thread, and on the '07 the hole is directly under the chain tensioner. I tried a rubber expanding plug from autozone, but it wouldn't go all the way in as the hole has a stop on the bottom.
I'm waiting for a helicoil kit to arrive from ebay...
Road Warrior
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From: Virginia
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Road Master
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PS: just "starting the bike" is never good for the bike long term.condensation forms in the cases and exhaust and never gets boiled outloose piston ring fit allows gas and by products of combustion to enter the oilboth of these corrupt the oil and can form acids.
on a cold start oil is not freely flowing so there is metal on metal contact
the charging system won;t recharge the power used to start the bike
on a cold start oil is not freely flowing so there is metal on metal contact
the charging system won;t recharge the power used to start the bike
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Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 89
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From: oklahoma
It had not leaked at l during any of my rides before the real cold weather hit. It has been sitting for about 2 weeks and not been started. I was going to start the bike which is when I noticed the leak. It does appear to be leaking around the primary cover and oil plug. The oil drain plug was also loose. I was able to tighten it but did not have the right allen wrench size for the primary cover bolts. Will attempt to tighten those this week when I can get a new set of wrenches.
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Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 14,744
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From: Phoenix '53, '88, '09 Big Twins
if you have torx bolts, the size is T27.
T25 will "fit" until you apply torque, then they strip.
It sounds like your bike needs a good going over with manual in hand to ensure that you don;t have anymore surprises.
the manual will also have torque values so that none of the bolts break
mike
T25 will "fit" until you apply torque, then they strip.
It sounds like your bike needs a good going over with manual in hand to ensure that you don;t have anymore surprises.
the manual will also have torque values so that none of the bolts break
mike