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Baf
Posted on Sunday, May 27, 2012 - 10:10 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

I just finished doing my 12k valve check. Took the bike for a ride, and when I got back, I find it has puked oil all over (to the point of dripping down the rear fender, belt guard, motor, etc; a fair bit of oil considering I only rode 5 or 10 miles). It looks like the oil is coming from the rear valve cover, either through the bolt on the top of the cover near the cam chain (is this possible?) or from the valve cover gasket. I looked around as best as I can, and it seems like the gasket is in properly all the way around, but who knows if it's pinched or something.

So how screwed am I, timewise? Do I really have to pull everything apart and rotate the motor again to get the rear valve cover off? Is the bolt under the rear shock mount the only issue with pulling that cover w/o rotating?

(Message edited by baf on May 27, 2012)
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Pmjolly
Posted on Sunday, May 27, 2012 - 10:54 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

It's probably the gasket. It is very easy to get it wrong. You're not screwed, but it is going to take time to fix. I don't know if everything has to come apart again or not. You might be able to get at it without rotating the engine. I used an inspection mirror, similar to a dental mirror to check mine. I used a small curved pick to hook and pull the gasket into the proper position where it was not right. I did this with the cover still sitting on the head, but all the bolts loose.
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Baf
Posted on Sunday, May 27, 2012 - 11:03 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

I'm just glad that it's not the front one that's leaking. At least being the rear one, I have a shot at fixing it without rotating again.
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Rogue_biker
Posted on Sunday, May 27, 2012 - 11:50 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Sorry.

You may need to rotate again. It may be possible to lift the valve cover up enough to re-position the gasket without rotating. Yup. You will need a mirror like Pmjolly said and A LOT of patience. Then there's cleaning up all that oil.

When I did my valve adjustment, I followed a simple rule someone once told me: double check everything, re-assemble once. : )
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Russmannnn
Posted on Monday, May 28, 2012 - 12:04 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Just a shot but are you sure you dident pinch the crank case breather? That will give you oil in that area to. Just a thought.
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Rodrob
Posted on Monday, May 28, 2012 - 02:18 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Dude, i did the exact same thing this weekend. Sucks!!
So far I have not been able to fix it without rotating the motor. ARRRRGH!!
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Boogiman1981
Posted on Monday, May 28, 2012 - 02:21 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

8 bolts and a few wiring connectors the entire frame sub frame and front end come off in one piece. it isn't pretty but it is effective
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B2tomtom
Posted on Monday, May 28, 2012 - 03:22 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

The same thing happened to me. I was able to reseat the gasket by taking the top bolts of the subframe and rear shock loose and rotating the subframe down slightly. Its a pain and a bit time consuming but much easier than rotating the engine again. Have a small mirror handy to double check it before you put it back together.
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D_adams
Posted on Monday, May 28, 2012 - 08:14 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Pull the frame off. It's a lot easier. The first valve check/adjust I did, I rotated the motor down. 2nd time, frame came off. Took maybe 1/2 hour longer and that was simply because of the zip ties on the wire harness that were hard to get at.



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Baf
Posted on Monday, May 28, 2012 - 09:05 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

@Russ - it could be, but it leaked a lot of oil, and it really looks like the valve covers.

It seemed easier to rotate to me than to mess around pulling the frame. Overall, it wasn't very hard at all to rotate, just time consuming. Perhaps I'll try taking the frame off next time.

As far as the leak, I was able to get the valve cover bolts out and get the cover lifted up enough to see the gasket. It looks like a little rubber piece from the wiring harness was caught in between the gasket and the valve cover, keeping the lip on the gasket from going up in all the way. I'm going to seat it back on more carefully, and see if that solves it. Gasket looks good otherwise.

Just take the rear coil off, unplug all the connectors there to get the wiring harness out of the way as much as possible, and disconnect the pressure regulator from the rear injector and fuel line from the pump, and you get a pretty clear shot at the cover. With enough finangling, I may be able to get the cover out as-is, though I have no reason to at this point.

(Message edited by baf on May 28, 2012)
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Luisemilio25r
Posted on Monday, May 28, 2012 - 11:01 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Pulled frame as well. Lots of room to work on your valves. It is so critical to get the measurements right that it is worth the extra work. Plus you get to know your bike pretty good. Next time you have an issue you pretty much know everything about her. Plus if it is a 2008 you can install some heat reflecting material on the entire frame. And if your wallet allows it, get your headers ceramic coated.
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