| Author | Message | ||
     Tempest766 |
OK. So my 08 XT with 43k miles is starting to leak oil behind the rear cylinder and foul the fan(s). I don't have the resources or motivation to drop the engine and do a top end rebuild. I replaced the fan last spring and the new one died this last fall. I'm wondering if anyone has done or considered relocating the fan to the air scoop intake. I know the existing fan wouldn't fit so a different fan of similar capacity, but different footprint would be required. The mounting and electrical hookup wouldn't be problematic, but I wonder if pushing the air toward the rear cylinder would have an adequate cooling effect, especially when not moving. I'd remove the rear fan completely and leave that space open. Otherwise I'm more tempted to part the bike out since there are more liable, and much easier to work on bikes to be had. Thoughts? | ||
| Ourdee |
Rotate the engine and fix it. It will be worth it in the end. | ||
| Chazaag |
While there may be more reliable bikes, none are as much fun! The time and effort in relocating a fan is about equal to fixing the problem. You are considering parting out a bike for what is probably a rocker gasket leak.... Fix the problem, ride a great bike.... | ||
| Pushr0d |
There's a good chance the leak is just the PCV hose or the valve grommet leaking. I bought my '08 with a terrible mess on the front cylinder - I thought I'd be rotating the engine. Turned out the problem was a loose connection of the hose to the front PCV. Two zipties fixed it. | ||
| Falloutnl |
I got the feeling your mind was already pretty well made up Tempest, but then I saw Ourdee just going for it, so I'll risk saying it too: why not try to save it? Just open a new thread here for your project and the boys here will be more than happy to help figure it out. Unless you really are not mechanically inclined, then I can see it's maybe too big of a task to take on. Two zipties fixed it. Haha, that must've felt pretty good. (Message edited by falloutnl on December 20, 2019) | ||
| Tootal |
As said, I don't think you need a top end rebuild. It's either the PCV grommet/hose or a rocker cover gasket. You will have to rotate for the rocker gasket but not very expensive. I'd do both while your there too. Many here have done rotation and are willing to help. | ||
| Ourdee |
Just trying to encourage a brother. I know I have missed my XT ever since it left my drive for the last time. It is worth the effort to fix. | ||
| Mark_weiss |
The oil on my fan was coming from a rocker box leak. Yes, engine rotation is needed and I decided to replace the front gaskets as well. Time consuming but well short of a top end rebuild. | ||
| Tempest766 |
The bike has been a lemon since 2012 when New Castle Harley phuct up the oil delivery system and ECU. I'm very much over "The Church of Erik". If it can be kept on the road with minimal effort as a local riding junker/hooligan bike then that's great. If it requires money, time, or tools I don't have, then I re-coupe the expenses I've suffered, by parting it out. Rotating the engine is not an option for me since the header bolts are rusted too badly and I have no intention of screwing with a removal drill jig and the effort involved. I'm gonna stick to machines with better parts supply chains, and that are easier to work on. For now the FJR gives me many smiles to the mile, and in the spring I'll probably do a DR650 for forest service road camping. But to the question I actually asked, I guess no one has relocated a Uly fan to the air scoop intake? | ||
| Ourdee |
I have not heard of anyone performing any mod of any similarity to that. If you are just going to hooligan it locally, why even worry about having a fan on it? | ||
| Tempest766 |
@Ourdee - fair enough question: a permanently on check-engine light bugs me, and the bike has always had temperature management problems, even with a running fan. That back cylinder NEEDS air flow over it. | ||
| Ourdee |
I know you did the SPAL $60 fan last time. If you did that again, is there a way to protect the electric motor from the oil with out cooking it? | ||
| Arry |
Just to clarify a small point. You don't have to remove the headers, to do a motor rotate. Only need to remove the muffler. | ||
| Rr_eater |
 Arry is right.......just FYI | ||
| Biffdotorg |
Have you ever replaced your starter on your XT? I just replaced mine for the second time with a starter with the proper seal, and my oil leaks went away. Unless you have confirmed it's a rocker leak, it may be the issue. Rocker leaks are common, but so are starter leaks. Mine took a solid day with the starter out to just clean up with engine cleaner!! It's great now! Good luck | ||
| Tpehak |
Here are few places can fail and form oil puddle behind rear cylinder: -stator wires grommet -starter to engine seal -starter clutch seal -rear cylinder pushrod cover upper seals (2) -rear cylinder pushrod cover lower seal -rear cylinder rocker box cover seal -rear cylinder PCV valve grommet -rear cylinder rocker box seal -rear cylinder upper seal -rear cylinder base seal -transmission vent hose -transmission vent nozzle -engine cases split line (Message edited by TPEHAK on January 06, 2020) | ||
| Tempest766 |
Don't know as I'd label that as "a few"...Comes across more as evidence of a pi$$-poor design in the first place. I'm over the whole Cult of Erik. I'll either sell the bike as is or part it out. There are much more reliable bikes that also match my riding goals. | ||
| Tpehak |
On my 2009 Buell XB12 SCG with 25000 miles 95 % of those places from this list started leaking at least once. Not too bad to contaminate and stop the fan, but there is always something was leaking. During this mileage I changed all the gaskets on the rockerbox 4 times and on the cylinders 2 times! I tried to fix all leakages really hard, but there is always something was leaking. And even currently I have leaking rear cylinder push rod cover upper o-ring seal. I replaced the seals just less than 1000 miles ago with fresh James gaskets set and push rod cover upper seal started leaking just after 50 miles. I gave up with this crappy design and allow it to leak and I just wash the oil puddle under the started with chain degreaser and strong stream water each time I wash my motorcycle. (Message edited by TPEHAK on January 11, 2020) | ||
| Ourdee |
Did you try using plain 20 w 50 instead of synthetic oil? | ||
| Tpehak |
No, but I am sure it does not prevent leakage at all. |
