Swampthing sprung a leak...

[madmax-im]

Thanks Randy

[trbig]

Ben, I know you said no valve cover leak, but that's where most of them will show up if it's leaking on the left side. Especially in that U-shaped area around plug #2. Get a flashlight and look in where the #2 spark plug is and see if it's getting wet in there. It likes to blow through the head, hit the #1 or #2 carb holder, and drip down right onto that top fin of the cylinders where the head meets the cylinders. The way the motor sits, and most lean on sidestand, it'll run down around and drip at the front there looking like a head gasket. BUT... a leaky cam chain tensioner can make it up and through there the same way.

Poor Randy is shaking his head at what's become of his beauty..

[madmax-im]

Ben, I know you said no valve cover leak, but that's where most of them will show up if it's leaking on the left side. Especially in that U-shaped area around plug #2. Get a flashlight and look in where the #2 spark plug is and see if it's getting wet in there. It likes to blow through the head, hit the #1 or #2 carb holder, and drip down right onto that top fin of the cylinders where the head meets the cylinders. The way the motor sits, and most lean on sidestand, it'll run down around and drip at the front there looking like a head gasket. BUT... a leaky cam chain tensioner can make it up and through there the same way.

Poor Randy is shaking his head at what's become of his beauty..

I know you're joking but I do not appreciate the humor...
I'll look where you said in the a.m. right now I'm dealing with a sick pet...so that takes precedence...

[madmax-im]

Ben, I know you said no valve cover leak, but that's where most of them will show up if it's leaking on the left side. Especially in that U-shaped area around plug #2. Get a flashlight and look in where the #2 spark plug is and see if it's getting wet in there. It likes to blow through the head, hit the #1 or #2 carb holder, and drip down right onto that top fin of the cylinders where the head meets the cylinders. The way the motor sits, and most lean on sidestand, it'll run down around and drip at the front there looking like a head gasket. BUT... a leaky cam chain tensioner can make it up and through there the same way.

well its dry as bone in there...not the valve covers.....

[madmax-im]

Paid MLew a visit to help me pin down the source of this leak...the verdict is ...head gasket...

[BA80]

OK, where is the oil coming from? The only place there is oil that is sealed by the head gasket is in the cam chain tunnel and that isn't under pressure.

Where from the head gasket is it coming from?

[madmax-im]

OK, where is the oil coming from? The only place there is oil that is sealed by the head gasket is in the cam chain tunnel and that isn't under pressure.

Where from the head gasket is it coming from?

looks to me although Mark didnt say clearly but it seems to be on the backside of the motor under the carbs...BTW we checked all the head bolts and they are in spec...
Randy had this motor apart in a rebuild about 3 yrs ago...

[BA80]

The cam chain tunnel is in the center, front and rear. Be sure it isn't just the oil transfer tube copper gasket on the banjo bolt that connects it to the head. That's just above where the head gasket seals the cam chain tunnel. In between #2 and #3 carbs right by where the throttle cable sheath mounts.

It's hard to get to and hard to see but try and get in there with a wrench and tighten it. The tube runs up between #3 and #4 carbs and bends over to the center.

[madmax-im]

The cam chain tunnel is in the center, front and rear. Be sure it isn't just the oil transfer tube copper gasket on the banjo bolt that connects it to the head. That's just above where the head gasket seals the cam chain tunnel. In between #2 and #3 carbs right by where the throttle cable sheath mounts.

It's hard to get to and hard to see but try and get in there with a wrench and tighten it. The tube runs up between #3 and #4 carbs and bends over to the center.

Mark said he has the same leak on his bike so he is sure its the head gasket...but I will check it out...he was in there with some mirrors on a telescoping wand so he got a pretty good look back there...

[BA80]

Just trying to save you some time and money. It's free to tighten a bolt.

[madmax-im]

Just trying to save you some time and money. It's free to tighten a bolt.

Thanks Greg ..it is appreciated...i would really love it to be the culprit...a head gasket job is a major surgery and I wouldn't consider doing that unless the blow by is significant and at this point in time it is not...

[BA80]

I'm sure I've said this before but that's what it was on Doc's bike when we were sure it was a head gasket leak.

[madmax-im]

I'm sure I've said this before but that's what it was on Doc's bike when we were sure it was a head gasket leak.

I cant tell you how much i hope you're right......I mean those gaskets are what 3 yrs old???

[DAVINCI]

Doesn't add up. For oil to seep from the center tunnel to outboard of cyl #1 it would have to get by cyl #2 AND that head would have to be really loose, which would mean lots of blow-by across cylinders and rough running.

From 1000 miles away. I'm going with oil pipe. Even though those crush washers were renewed 3 yrs ago. I HAVE seen ruptured / cracked oil pipes do that.

There is also the oil pressure gauge connection to the sender there between the carbs and the head. I put braided Teflon line in there but one of the banjo's could be weeping?

It's going to take more than a mirror to figure this out, but there are some ideas from the guy who built this.

[madmax-im]

well I just tried to look in depth and i still cannot see where any oil has traveled to where i see it leaking...since i dont really know squat about the oil lines and such...theres a 99.9% chance that you get to see it in person in the next 19 days or so...