My '02 is trying to act like an older Harley - leaking oil

[Andy(SC)]

My '02 has never left a drop on the garage floor and has been clean underneath. About 2 weeks ago I drove it 10 miles or so from my old place to a new house I just moved into. Parked it and the next morning when I cam out there was puddle underneath the bike. The next day it got bigger - about 10" across.

I looked under the bike and based on where the puddle is centered, it appears to be coming from the bottom of the center of the engine . . . . and there is a good deal of oil visible now. I have added a photo of the oil puddle and the underside of the engine.

Any thoughts on what challange I might be up against?

Thanks in advance

Andy (SC)

[gearheadfla]

The best thing to do is give it a good cleaning and then watch it to see where it is coming from, it maybe the oil seal behind the water pump or more so the seal for the clutch rod. The clutch rod seal has been known to "ride" out on the shaft and just needs to be pushed back untill it's flush with the engine case, dont push it in more than that as it can go all the way into the case. Also if it is over full on the oil it will leak. 3qts, 22oz. Contact Carl Leo and he can walk you thru anything.

[Nathan (South Carolina)]

To check the clutch rod, remove the cover by the driver foot peg and see if oil is visible along the engine behind the cover. This will also give you a better view of the water pump.

[biggersm]

It looks like it is leaking from the filter. Is the large O-ring seated correctly and in good condition? Do you change the O-ring each oil change? Is all the filter bypass components assembled in the right order? There is a good example of the parts order for the bypass system in the owners manual.

PS, thanks for the picture it sure does help with diagnosis.

Everyone is right, get some engine cleaner in a can, clean everything and find the leak.

[Andy(SC)]

Was pressure washing the deck so I did a quick pass under the bike and cleaned the gunk off . . . . it does seem to be dripping from the plug but I have not touched the oil since changing it a few months back and that was 1500 miles ago. Seems odd that it went from no leaks to what you see after a 10 mile drive.

I'll pull the side cover and look at doing another oil change to ensure there is no problem with the filter / plug.

Andy

[phill12]

clean it real good then get you some spray deodorant and spray it real good. Run then check where the oil is running. I would bet it is the clutch rod seal. Had the same thing on our 1994 and it did the same.

Phill

[Andy(SC)]

I had 100 things that kept me from getting into working on the bike until last weekend. I started by degreasing the undercarriage and letting it dry off. I got in touch with Carl and he had me check a few areas but no leak was found and no problems located.

I drained what little oil was left and refilled it with new oil. Started the bike and let her run until she was hot. Not a drop of oil was visible. Got on and did 10 miles . . . . still nothing. Went 50 miles (stopping every once and a while to check) and still nothing. Put her on the center stand with a piece of cardboard under it and after 2 days, not a drop.

If that is not the strangest problem and easiest repair I've ever heard of . . . . . . .

At least it looks like I am back up and running (even if it is pushing 100F every day).

Thanks for the suggestions but still can't figure out what the cause of the oil hemmoraging was or how it fixed itself

(Unless it heard I was calling Carl and that "scared it straight" )

Andy

[phill12]

I will bet the clutch rod seal is out just a little and that caused the leak. When you rode it again it made just enough seal that it didn't leak. It would be worth your time to take a look.
Just my 2 cents
Phill

[Andy(SC)]

That was one of the areas Carl had me check and the seal was perfectly flush with the case and no sign of oil present . . . . really one of the strangest issues I've come across.

As you can see in the photo at the top, it was not just a little drip but a major leak yet now, not a drop anywhere

[Ohio Mike]

...assuming you replaced both o-rings on the filter cover when you changed the oil I would bet on either a defective or dirty o-ring. It could have taken the oil a while to migrate thru or past the bad or dirty spot but once it lubricated that area it would have been just like opening the flood gates. Glad you found (or at least eliminated) the problem.

Ohio Mike

[pasanby]

She was just marking her new territory .