| Author | Message | ||
     Dom |
my 99 m2 seems to be leaking from just about everywhere. it is leaking from what looks like the base gaskets and the primary chain cover and who knows where else. the area next to the starter is always damp after i ride and i am afraid to ride it anymore since i don't want to do any more damage. i am planning on ordering some new gaskets and just wanted to make sure i am ordering the right parts, and also how difficult replacing all these will be. i have the service manual and it looks like getting to the base gaskets will be a pain? would this be a good time to convert over to the XB rocker boxes as well even though they thankfully aren't leaking? | ||
| Dom |
here are some pictures of the areas        | ||
| Littlebuggles |
Okay, couple things to consider, all leaks will dribble downhill. So consider a base gasket leak, it would run down to the top of the primary as it appears to be doing, and the top of the cam chest, downslope to puddle a bit at the cam chest hardware and then work its way toward the ground. To me it looks like you're right on target with the base gasket leak. Primary cover seems okay, cam chest is a little tougher to be sure but it looks to be all from the same source, front and rear base gasket leaks. The oil on the top of your primary under the starter may also be from a starter gasket leak. Those gaskets tend to go bad, a lot. Another possible source of that oil is the rubber grommet that the stator wires pass through from the inner to outer primary. Good news here is that you can fix either one, and preferably both if you choose to open up the primary and make some fixes there. Replace the starter gasket (new one is upgraded and works better) when you open the primary to inspect your chain tensioner and possibly replace that with the upgraded part from HD. While doing that the grommet is right there and you can spray some brake parts cleaner on it to degrease it and the metal around it and smear a bit of RTV around it to make a better seal there as well. Header does need to come off to remove the starter enough to get the new metal backed gasket in there though. Bad news is, if the base gaskets are leaking, which they appear to be, you will need to strip the top of the motor. Good news here is if you want to replace the top two levels of your rocker boxes with the single XB top cover this is an excellent time to do it. I''ve got my primary torn apart right now for clutch and tranny check and repair, if you want some pics of the grommet and updated tensioner I can snap them for you. Might be Saturday afternoon before i post them up though. | ||
| Dom |
well i am for sure going to do the base gaskets. the consensus i have seen from around other forums is to get a complete top end gasket set?? does that include the rocker box gaskets? my other question is how can i tell if my rocker box gaskets were updated or not, i doubt they were but the guy i bought it off worked at a HD dealership so maybe.... i plan on getting cometic base gaskets for sure but still undecided on everything else right now | ||
| Littlebuggles |
Original rocker gaskets were paper. There have been a few updates over the years, all of them going to rubber and metal. The newest rocker cover kit should have a metal gasket between the bottom rocker box and the head, then rubber between the next two layers. There have been a few editions of those, all of them have been far superior to the stock paper garbage that went bad very quickly, even if you babied your bike. I can't say since I haven't dealt with base gaskets, but I've been very happy with all the HD updated gaskets I've used so far, so if they are less expensive I go with them. | ||
| Buellistic |
Are you over filling the oil tank ??? | ||
| Dom |
i haven't added oil since i bought the bike which was almost 2,000 miles ago. last time i checked it was barely above the minimum spot on the dipstick after riding for an hour home from work. | ||
| Buellistic |
There has to be something causing higher pressure in the engine to all of a sudden make all the gaskets/fasteners weep ??? Check your TRANSMISSION BREATHER HOSE ... Get back to us ... | ||
| Littlebuggles |
That's more than 200 miles worth of grime on the motor. Perhaps he's not letting it warm up properly before riding, aggravating an already leaky base gasket issue, he is definitely NOT leaking from everywhere. I think it's only coming from the base gaskets. | ||
| Dom |
both of my breather hoses are uncapped and running out to the ground on both sides of the bike. not warming up my bike completely is probably likely, i leave for work at 3AM and have an hour ride so it's pretty cold outside in the morning and i don't give it a whole lot of time to idle. when i start off i ride with the choke on partially however and don't gun it as soon as i get out of my drive way if that matters | ||
| Buellistic |
If that is the way you treat your engine you should up-date the oil pump drive gear to part number 26391-06 ... | ||
| Dom |
I'll try to improve my riding habits lol going to be ordering the cometic kit from nrhs 88-C9763. Someone here on the board is selling the XB conversion kit hopefully I can pick it up too before it's sold. I'll report back on my findings once I start digging in to it | ||
| Two_seasons |
Hard to warm up a bike, with any type of exhaust, at 3am without the neighbors coming out of the woodwork after about 30 seconds with their pitchforks and shotguns!. The upside is traffic isn't pushing you at that hour of day, so you can take it easier for the first couple of miles  Good luck on fixing your leak. I would say it's very likely your starter gasket too. | ||
| M2nc |
I have the same issue with my M2 and we chased it down to front base gasket. I did have a high pressure event that probably helped everything along, but that is not the case now. I plan to do a top end gasket change soon. | ||
| Dom |
ordered the entire top end cometic kit from amazon.com for $150 then ordered all of the parts for the XB conversion. hopefully everything arrives by the end of this week and i can finish everything up | ||
| Hootowl |
Sure looks to me like the starter gasket is leaking and the oil is spreading everywhere else from there. The crappy thing is that in order to change that gasket, you've got to pull the primary. You'll need to get a new primary gasket. The new ones are metal and work a lot better (and are easier to install). FYI - check your oil with the engine hot, and immediately after you've stopped riding. Idling it in the garage won't do it. Don't fill it more than half way between the lines on the dipstick. I used to leave early for work too. Just keep your revs low for a mile or two and avoid goosing it. It'll be fine. | ||
| Dom |
Just a quick question, does the exhaust have to be completely removed in order to get to the base gaskets? The manual says you do but I thought I've read it isn't needed | ||
| Alfau |
i haven't added oil since An oil leak could leave your motor dangerously low on oil. Have you degreased the motor to established exactly where the leak is ? The whole top end has to come off to replace the base gasket including exhaust. This is not a simple task you have decided to tackle. | ||
| Littlebuggles |
Alan is right. You need to remove the header to get the starter off for that gasket anyway, which really ought to be replaced since they all seem to go bad eventually, this is a 10 year old bike after all. | ||
| Hootowl |
For the BASE gaskets, yes, you'll have to remove the exhaust. For the starter, no. It's tight, but you can tetris it out of there. | ||
| Dom |
So I have my cylinder off, is there some secret to removing the base gaskets from the cylinder? It's like seriously caked on I'm trying to use a scraper but it's not working too well. Could I let it sit in gasoline or something to soften it up? | ||
| M2marc |
theres a remover you can get at any auto parts store. Im not sure of the name. I carefully used a razor blade | ||
| Dom |
I bought some of the permatex gasket remover I used that to remove the stuff from my head but it still didn't seem to work that well. Guess I'll just keep going at it | ||
| M2marc |
You can also carefully use a razor blade | ||
| Bluzm2 |
Lots of razor blades.... | ||
| Dom |
Letting it sit in some gasoline today then going to go after it with more blades got like half of it off. Taking more time then removing everything from the damn bike. If they leak cause of my scrapes I'm just replacing the entire cylinders lol | ||
| Reepicheep |
Paint stripper, bamboo kabob sticks, 1000+ grit sandpaper... use anything metal as a last resort. It takes forever and a day. | ||
| Bluebueller |
Dom - my bike is a mirror image of yours right now. some questions -you must have pulled the engine out completely - correct? How did the job come along? did you get the XB top end on and if so how's the improvement? thanks | ||
| Harleyelf |
Only the top rocker covers get changed. The XB parts replace two layers of the M2 parts; you throw the sandwich layer into your scrap aluminum box. You keep your heads and don't need to remove the engine even to do base gaskets. Get the book. Your drive sprocket seal seems to be leaking, too. (Message edited by harleyelf on September 28, 2013) | ||
| Bluebueller |
harleyelf - I've got the service manual, has gotten me through most repairs - but for the gaskets it basically says pull the engine to do this work. sorry to jump this post - but it is the same relevant info .... I can't drop the engine to work on this, not properly equipped tool wise, and the local dealer says he has a 4 week turn around right now. the other trusted local shop has told me flat out he doesn't want the job. (??!!) Can someone direct me to some step by step on this? |
