| Author | Message | ||
     Noface |
Wouldn't ya know it... warranty runs out just over a month ago and I get an oil leak. First found it two weeks ago during a spirited ride with the local Buell guys. Oil all over the bottom of the engine and dripping onto the exhaust. I finished the ride (man what FUN!), got home cleaned it up good, and rode it to work the next week. Never did leak anymore. -Until yesterday. I was out flogger her real good and it turned up again. It seems it takes some extended runs at about 70mph or more (ahem.. more is better right?). I get home and really get to looking. It's apparent that it's coming from behind the front pulley cover, so I take off the chin spoiler and pulley cover to find that it's leaking from the neutral switch. I break out the tools and start to take off the wire connector on the swithc to find that the switch is loose. Kewl! (well, maybe not, depends on how you look at it) All I need to do is remove the switch, clean things up, and put it back on there tight. So I get the thing off (man, getting the wire connector off is a PITA) and cleaned up. I notice there is no kind of sealer on the threads at all from the factory. Is this normal? I debated on using some pipe thread or pipe dope, but figured there was a reason why there was no dressing or sealer on there. So I put some BLUE Loctite on the threads and put it back together. Hopefully it won't come loose again. Is the blue loctite OK to use for this? Hope so, cause I'm gonna ride the hell out of it today too!  Anyway, point is I wanted to post to see if anyone else here has had this happen to theirs, and to maybe get it down in the search archives in case others may run into something similar. FWIW, my 5/8" socket would not fit into the machined hole that the switch fits into. Buell must use a skinny socket to tighten that switch (or maybe not since mine worked loose  ) I dug up an old 5/8 socket, chucked it up in my 1/2" drill motor, poor mans lathe, and proceeded to file off some material at the end of the socket so it would fit in the boss to tighten it up. Here's a feew pics for your viewing pleasure. Damn I STILL love this bike!    HTH, Jody S. | ||
| Timbo |
Glad it was a simple fix for you Jody. Thanks for the heads up, I'll file it away in case this symptom ever shows up on my bike. On the blue loctite...It certainly won't hurt anything, but blue isn't meant for places that get real hot. Teflon tape on the threads only should do the trick if the leak reappears. Timbo | ||
| Stubby |
My tuber M2 started puking oil on the way back from sturgis, appeared on the primary cover, on top of the "hump" that accommodates the starter motor??? Doesn't look like it came from the primary gasket, figure it came from the starter motor. There was nothing anywhere nearby that would account for a "drip" from under the gas tank or anything. Where could it have been coming from? Dripped all over the exhaust too. Where is the neutral switch on that model, anybody know? Suggestions? Stubb | ||
| Noface |
It's by the front pulley like the XB's. On the other side of the bike from where you describe. I doubt it's the neutral switch causing oil to pool on top of the primary. Could be the tranny vent hose puking? I dunno how those are routed on the tube frame bikes. Jody | ||
| Reepicheep |
The vent line is supposed to connect right around that hump, and it runs out to the tail section. If it popped off there at the hump, that could explain it. If you are running normal tranny lube, it smells a lot stronger then engine oil. Does your leak smell like engine oil or tranny lube? | ||
| Stubby |
reepicheep, I'm using Mobil1 75x90 tranny oil. I'm pretty sure it's tranny fluid. If it is motor oil, where is it coming from? no signs of leaks anywhere in the engine oiling system, bladder is tight, hoses on the other side of the bike. does it help if I told you that the starter motor gasket has been replaced twice before due to similar leakage? thanx guys. | ||
| Reepicheep |
That mobil one *stinks*. Touch the leak, sniff your finger, and you should know right away. If it were the starter motor gasket, I would think it would be tranny fluid. If it is motor oil, I would look hard at the rocker box gaskets, or your breather routing, followed by the base gasket. Mine fooled me for a long time. I had a leaking rocker box gasket, but when you looked at it it looked *just* like a base gasket leak. The oil flowed from the rocker box gasket clean and hot, then pooled and accumulated dirt lower on the engine. A quick look suggested starter gasket or base gasket, but a closely detailed examination found a thin line where the trickle started from the rear rocker box. It fooled me on the first couple checks. | ||
| Darthane |
That mobil one *stinks*. <~~Reep Agreed...I think hot Mobil 1 Synth 75W90 is quite possibly the most gag-inducing smell I've ever had to put up with. INSTANTLY recognizable. Bryan | ||
| Dmuz |
Mental Note: Mobile 1 Synth 75w90 is NOT acceptable substitute if cologne is unavailable.  | ||
| Steelshoe |
Thread goop is rarely used on electrical oil switches because of the ground needed. |
