First long run with oil leak!

Yesterday I made my first ride with the Dixie Thunder Run which was started by SFC Tony Shackelford and all the proceeds go to wounded warriors and their families in need. We started at the local convention center here in Tupelo, MS and the end point is Chunky River Harley Davidson in Meridian, MS. There were probably about 300-400 bikes involved with just this leg, there were two other legs leaving from the Mississippi Gulf coast and Jackson, MS. I just wanted to ride with them to West Point, MS about 60 miles south of Tupelo for my first long run on the Norton. I did a pretty thorough check of the bike to include rocker arm to valve clearances, new oil, etc. Filled the bike up with premium 93 non ethanol at a local store and made my way to the rally point. No problems when we got going and the bike felt good and strong, handled the road well and we all kept good distance from one another. About 30 miles out I looked down and saw some oil on my timing cover and in the valley behind where the tach goes in the crankcase. I pulled off at a exit and had oil everywhere on the engine, gearbox, just everywhere! I pulled out a rag and wiped everything down to see where the oil could be coming from and could only figure from the intake valve cover, upon prepping for the ride I used Permatex gray 1 minute gasket maker which did a good job but I did not have the tank off to get the intake cover on so I am sure I did not have a good seal on that one. I also found the rear iso on the oil tank was broke in half, these are the ones Matt from CNW sent me when I had the tank modification done so I am going to have to replace that. Rode up the highway about 12 miles and stopped at a gas station that sells non ethanol fuel to top off, get some water and let the bike rest for a few minutes to let the oil cool down. I did notice on the way back that under 70 there was not a problem with oil coming out but when I hit anything over 70 it slowly started coming out. I let the bike cool off and checked it out again before setting off. Got back to Tupelo with no problems but as stated before, anything over 70 the oil appeared and seemed to be coming from between the barrels. I also noticed when I checked the gearbox oil it seemed to have a good bit of brass shavings in it, the lucas gear oil I use looked nuclear green when I put it in. Guess I need to tear the gearbox apart and get than squared away too, ugh. So for a first long run I am happy that I did not get stuck on the side of the road with a broke bike!

Re: Fist long run with oil leak!

Congrates on getting out and back under your own power on new re-build. Oil leaks at speed imply two things poor torque levels being fooled by stupid factory manual or lack of experience avoiding twisting bolts in half, plus need of one way check valve in breather hose on its crankcase exit. Also suspect tach drive as main dumper for amounts you mention.

I'm half fast pleased to hear the CNW oil tank mod failed you. Half disappointed its not fool proof robust and half that my hick way held up on Ms Peel rough ryder.
Look it over and see if you can't modify to refit CNW kit to last as intended. Basically I found oil tank has to be wedged against rear attachment almost solid by rubber cushion under and at front brace attachment cushion. If tank can be bumped by fist and sense a jiggle, then expect bad juju later.

I gave up on sealing with anything but Hylomar Blue Racer's Hi Temp though others seal fine it seems on lesser goops, once nipped up well and PCV vented good. I nip up until I"m pensive of over torquing then up the force till no leaks nor un-loosing after heat cycles. If not that brave then expect oil leaks or need to replace bad threads you discovered ahead of time.

Re: Fist long run with oil leak!

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But oil blowing out indicates… dare I say it… a breather problem.

Re: Fist long run with oil leak!

But oil blowing out indicates… dare I say it… a breather problem.[/quote]

I think dave may be onto something, since problem comes on at high speeds which with sustained higher RPM's you may be over pressuring the crankcase with blowby.
Do you have a reed valve breather like MikesSX650?

Re: Fist long run with oil leak!

Dave is right. Trying to get a Norton, with a pressurized crankcase, not to leak is like trying to have a dry submerged submarine with a screen door for a port cover. You've got to stop the crankcase from filling with air on the pistons' upstroke.

Re: Fist long run with oil leak!

Try flating the cover, Rub it on a sheet of fine enery placed on a pane of glass, these covers get bent from over tightening.

Re: Fist long run with oil leak!

Reed-valve crankcase vent.

Best oil leak fix anywhere, after all the proper engine fitment is done and you still have oil niggles.

Re: Fist long run with oil leak!

+1 on the silicone gaskets. Easy to get the covers on and off, reusable, and a good seal.

http://www.rockypointcycle.com/Merchant ... y_Code=N10

You may wind up playing whac a mole with oil leaks after you seal up the rocker covers but it makes sense to start there. The oiltank has to be setup with no stress on the rubber parts, usually takes some tweaking of the brackets.

Re: Fist long run with oil leak!

Actually the permatex has done a great job on the front valve covers, but I should have taken the tank off to put the intake valve cover on since the permatex is like a silicon application and I had some issues putting it on in a tight area. I need to look at a reed valve and have read some on it but not sure where to buy and how to put on yet. The amount of oil was very little, probably a few ounces but enough to puddle behind the tach input andon top of the timing cover. Had a coat of oil from the front of the engine to the pea shooters. Unfortunately I have a course to go to for the nexet few weeks so I wont get to do any work for a while.

Re: Fist long run with oil leak!

Sure sound like over pressure in cases is blowing the most out the tach drive to me.
Not to worry they sell a fix for that too. Get the sillycone rocker gaskets or suffer stipped tiny studs they leak even more. Goop of TS cover and rocker covers is a hassle as they need to be opened now and then and hassle to clean up and re goop and wait for set up to run, if the paper gaskets still intact enough to allow sealing.

Re: Fist long run with oil leak!

warpedscout said:

Actually the permatex has done a great job on the front valve covers, but I should have taken the tank off to put the intake valve cover on since the permatex is like a silicon application and I had some issues putting it on in a tight area. I need to look at a reed valve and have read some on it but not sure where to buy and how to put on yet. The amount of oil was very little, probably a few ounces but enough to puddle behind the tach input andon top of the timing cover. Had a coat of oil from the front of the engine to the pea shooters. Unfortunately I have a course to go to for the nexet few weeks so I wont get to do any work for a while.

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Keep in mind that the next time you go to adjust the valves you'll be wishing you had gone with the silicone gaskets. :mrgreen:

Re: Fist long run with oil leak!

Phil will add the o-ring for the tach drive. Mine is dry.

Dave
69S