Oil Leak Cyber-wall of Shame!! -- "oil seepage" and coolant explosions ok to

The Kurgan · 01-15-2013, 05:38 PM

Is it just me or are there other esteemed inmates plagued with oil and/or coolant leakers? And I'm not talking about shovelheads and vintage Brit twins either.

My contribution to the wall of shame, in order of period of ownership, including approximate mileage:

1975 Honda CB500T (#1), head gasket leak, about 20,000 miles
1975 Honda CB500T (#2), head gasket seepage, about 1500 miles (yep, mileage didn't matter on those embarassments!)
2003 Suzuki SV1000S, coolant malfunction, green driveway, and two dead squirrels, about 750 miles!
2008 KLR 650, two leaky shift shaft seals in a row, from new -- 15 miles! (and just about every other rubber part dry rotted within 1 year of ownership!)
2005 Triumph Tiger 955i, head gasket leakage (thankfully covered under warranty), about 1500 miles!
2001 BMW K1200RS (aka "ol' sivvy"), timing chain cover leak, about 15,000 miles, though I'm sure the honest PO cleaned that section real good before trading it back to the stealership, and then on to the next sucker-me
2001 Honda CB750 Nighthawk, neutral (light) switch seepage, about 5100 miles

God, what next?

The only dry "moto-contraptions" I've owned were a 48cc Tomos moped, and a high mileage 172cc Yamaha Riva scooter - that wouldn't start if there was a temperature fluctuation greater than 2.5 degrees!

Jim K. · 01-15-2013, 06:35 PM

My friend, you have some bad ju-ju. I've never been more than 2 weeks without a bike over the last 40 years & a dozen bikes & I've had exactly 1 fluid leak in that time. My old CX 500 had an o-ring dry out, lost about a shot glass worth of coolant, it cost $0.27 & 15 min to fix. Rather than seek advice here, you might be better served seeking an exorcist. Clearly there is something very dark & damning in your past that you need to atone for.

Tuna Helper · 01-16-2013, 03:25 AM

So far I've only had one real leaker, it was an '81 CB650. One of the o-rings that seals the oil passage between the block and the head started leaking, and I could see a stream of oil run down the motor and onto my shoe.

I started with just pulling the head to replace all the gaskets and seals under there, then decided to replace the base gasket. At this point my buddy decided to clean the carbon off the pistons and lost a circlip in the case. Then I had to split the case to get it out, and wasn't sure if it was put together right, so I took it to a dealer. IIRC that cost $500.

I also have an '03 HD that drips oil from the rocker cover breather, so now I have to figure out what to do about that.

oldenuf · 01-16-2013, 06:53 AM

If it's not enough to lower the sump over an interval of oil change, clean it off with a bit of WD40 and think of it as rust and corrosion prevention.

Art

strongbad · 01-16-2013, 03:55 PM

Kurgan, what are you using for coolant? I've found the hard way that different brands cause differing amounts of seal swell, and if you switch from a seal-swell brand to a seal-shrink brand...

conchscooter · 01-16-2013, 04:03 PM

Don't buy a new Bonneville. Without new valve cover gasket AND spacers the valve cover will leak sooner or later after you check the valves....a lesson in how far almost no oil at all can spread.

YJake · 01-16-2013, 04:20 PM

To the PO, you sir has shit luck.

Bought a Bandit 1200 with a valve cover gasket leak and from several bolts holding it on...

I just keep riding it

I have noticed Zero loss in oil between oil changes (one drop must really cover a large surface area

), but next change I may replace the gasket just for the hell of it, tired of smelling oil when I stop at lights.

-Jake

01-16-2013, 03:25 AM	#3
Tuna Helper Rawrr! Joined: Jun 2010 Location: Red Five standing by Oddometer: 493	So far I've only had one real leaker, it was an '81 CB650. One of the o-rings that seals the oil passage between the block and the head started leaking, and I could see a stream of oil run down the motor and onto my shoe. I started with just pulling the head to replace all the gaskets and seals under there, then decided to replace the base gasket. At this point my buddy decided to clean the carbon off the pistons and lost a circlip in the case. Then I had to split the case to get it out, and wasn't sure if it was put together right, so I took it to a dealer. IIRC that cost $500. I also have an '03 HD that drips oil from the rocker cover breather, so now I have to figure out what to do about that. __________________ '08 XB12S, '03 Road Glide, '73 CB750Four, '76 KZ750B, '95 ZX 600R in restore, '76 Honda Chopper under construction.

01-16-2013, 06:53 AM	#4
oldenuf Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Mar 2010 Location: Port Angeles, WA Oddometer: 177	Leaks If it's not enough to lower the sump over an interval of oil change, clean it off with a bit of WD40 and think of it as rust and corrosion prevention. Art

01-16-2013, 04:03 PM	#6
conchscooter Beastly Adventurer Joined: Feb 2007 Location: Florida Keys Oddometer: 1,323	Don't buy a new Bonneville. Without new valve cover gasket AND spacers the valve cover will leak sooner or later after you check the valves....a lesson in how far almost no oil at all can spread. __________________ http://www.keywestdiary.us IBA#39,523

01-16-2013, 04:20 PM	#7
YJake History Repeats... Joined: Apr 2009 Location: Central FL Oddometer: 202	To the PO, you sir has shit luck. Bought a Bandit 1200 with a valve cover gasket leak and from several bolts holding it on... I just keep riding it I have noticed Zero loss in oil between oil changes (one drop must really cover a large surface area ), but next change I may replace the gasket just for the hell of it, tired of smelling oil when I stop at lights. -Jake __________________ Commuting Daily

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01-15-2013, 05:38 PM	#1
The Kurgan ^OP Firing on one cylinder Joined: Nov 2007 Location: North of 49, in a place called The Hammer Oddometer: 240	Oil Leak Cyber-wall of Shame!! -- "oil seepage" and coolant explosions ok to Is it just me or are there other esteemed inmates plagued with oil and/or coolant leakers? And I'm not talking about shovelheads and vintage Brit twins either. My contribution to the wall of shame, in order of period of ownership, including approximate mileage: 1975 Honda CB500T (#1), head gasket leak, about 20,000 miles 1975 Honda CB500T (#2), head gasket seepage, about 1500 miles (yep, mileage didn't matter on those embarassments!) 2003 Suzuki SV1000S, coolant malfunction, green driveway, and two dead squirrels, about 750 miles! 2008 KLR 650, two leaky shift shaft seals in a row, from new -- 15 miles! (and just about every other rubber part dry rotted within 1 year of ownership!) 2005 Triumph Tiger 955i, head gasket leakage (thankfully covered under warranty), about 1500 miles! 2001 BMW K1200RS (aka "ol' sivvy"), timing chain cover leak, about 15,000 miles, though I'm sure the honest PO cleaned that section real good before trading it back to the stealership, and then on to the next sucker-me 2001 Honda CB750 Nighthawk, neutral (light) switch seepage, about 5100 miles God, what next? The only dry "moto-contraptions" I've owned were a 48cc Tomos moped, and a high mileage 172cc Yamaha Riva scooter - that wouldn't start if there was a temperature fluctuation greater than 2.5 degrees! __________________ 2001 Honda CB750 Nighthawk The Kurgan screwed with this post 01-15-2013 at 06:04 PM

01-15-2013, 06:35 PM	#2
Jim K. Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Jan 2011 Location: New Haven, Ct. Oddometer: 396	My friend, you have some bad ju-ju. I've never been more than 2 weeks without a bike over the last 40 years & a dozen bikes & I've had exactly 1 fluid leak in that time. My old CX 500 had an o-ring dry out, lost about a shot glass worth of coolant, it cost $0.27 & 15 min to fix. Rather than seek advice here, you might be better served seeking an exorcist. Clearly there is something very dark & damning in your past that you need to atone for.

01-16-2013, 03:55 PM	#5
strongbad Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Jun 2006 Location: Arroyo Grande, CA Oddometer: 428	Kurgan, what are you using for coolant? I've found the hard way that different brands cause differing amounts of seal swell, and if you switch from a seal-swell brand to a seal-shrink brand...