Topic: Leak free engine...yea right!

[brandEn]

I have countless hours (and dollars) in my build the latest of which have gone into getting a leak free engine. My projects have usually snowballed into bigger ones. Like the first time I replaced my head gasket after my fresh rebuild and I pulled a head stud right out of its threads! I have replaced the head gasket and base gasket (with Cometic) a few times, various o rings, side cover gaskets, cam tower pucks, cam cover gaskets, oil filters...... etc just to get another leak someplace else. I am done chasing leaks. I just replaced another cam cover gasket yesterday just to have another mystery seep rear its ugly head. I give up. My bike has earned its name the Annoying Orange. That is all.


watch the video below. I am the apple and my leaking bike is the orange. This is what I hear every time I go to the garage...lol


The Annoying Orange

[luap]

good looking bike. great video

[brandEn]

good looking bike. great video

Thanks man, your hard tail is bad ass.

[The other Derek]

I'm sure it's frustrating, but all I can say is WOW.  It may be annoying, but it is truly beautiful.

[Terry in Australia]

Yeah, don't get too frustrated mate, remember, it's not leaking oil, it's just venting excess power. Cheers, Terry.

[killersoundz]

You have bad luck my friend!! I don't want to pour salt into your wound here but I took a seized up rusted out 750k4 motor, did a basic top end rebuild with new gaskets, haven't got a leak anywhere! Your motor sounds cursed!! Did you clean up the mating surfaces before putting the new gaskets on? Like most of the time the old gaskets will rip and leave some pieces or residue at least. That's the only thing I can think of.

[Rgconner]

Why didn't the Japanese go into space?


Honda couldn't figure out how to make it leak oil.

If it were not such clean bike, I would say look at a oil bypass mod, take the pressure off the little oil jets.

[brandEn]

Yeah, don't get too frustrated mate, remember, it's not leaking oil, it's just venting excess power. Cheers, Terry.

haha! You made me lol

[brandEn]

You have bad luck my friend!! I don't want to pour salt into your wound here but I took a seized up rusted out 750k4 motor, did a basic top end rebuild with new gaskets, haven't got a leak anywhere! Your motor sounds cursed!! Did you clean up the mating surfaces before putting the new gaskets on? Like most of the time the old gaskets will rip and leave some pieces or residue at least. That's the only thing I can think of.

good for you!

 

[brandEn]

I'm sure it's frustrating, but all I can say is WOW.  It may be annoying, but it is truly beautiful.

Thanks!

[speedy gonzalais]

sounds to me like your oil pressure is a bit high, av you checked for clogged breathers?

[liPPy]

I hear you BrandEn! Keeping these running faultlessly is a nigh impossible task.

I got my engine buttoned up with zero leaks until I accidentally caught the stator cover on a table leg in my garage. Cover had been repaired, sanded & painted but wouldn't you know the impact was square on the jb welded bit. A tiny micro crack caused it to weep maybe a single drop per 30 miles or so.

Got that taken care of and the front brake starts to drag.

Rebuilt the caliper and noticed a harmonic wobble - I'd lost a balancing weight from the rear wheel.

Got the wheels re-balanced and the brakes drag again.

Reset the brakes and I got a sticking float valve on one of the carbs.

And so it goes on!!!! It's like "whack a mole".

If these bikes were perfect there'd be nothing to fix and where would the fun be in that?!

[Killer Canary]

BURN IT!

[brandEn]

BURN IT!

Trust me its crossed my mind!

[BobbyR]

Are you using a torque wrench to make sure the fastener tensions are even?
If that is not the case:

Your problem is you are using the wrong type of oil. 

[brandEn]

Are you using a torque wrench to make sure the fastener tensions are even?
If that is not the case:

Your problem is you are using the wrong type of oil. 

Olive oil right? haha!

[andy750]

I feel your pain. I have been chasing an oil free bike for years...finally managed it on the K4 but the K2 810cc continues to elude me - sprocket seal is leaking after replacement and a tiny head leak from rebuilt engine 6000 miles later (not getting on the covers yet). As long as its not coating your wheels or your trousers then ride it! 

good luck!
Andy

[brycegp]

some may curse me...but after installing gaskets and chasing leaks on each of them....NOW i use Ultra Grey on both sides of all my gaskets when I install them.  No leaks! 

[Duanob]

You can't call it vintage if it doesn't leak a bit of oil. Just ride the piss out of it and enjoy it. Backfire moto is coming this next wednesday, go have a blast.

[seanbarney41]

Branden, this makes me feel better about all my leaky ass junk...yours is not junk!...but at least we have something in common

[Garystratos201]

Good looking bike !!!.......Gary

[Jerry Rxman Griffin aka MuthaF'er]

I know you know what you're doing as witnessed by your quality but.... U sure it's not the tach cable seal?

Bryce mentioned doctoring-up the gaskets. You have the frame kit so it's not all bad. Use one of the spray sealers like Copper Kote or whatever it's called. Not sure about Bryce's product. Unfamiliar. 

Maybe this is why mine is ALMOST done. Perhaps I wish to delay the inevitable 

[brycegp]

Ultra Grey is a gasket maker paste.  You can use it in place of a gasket for lower pressure applications.  In this case, I use it as reinforcement to the gasket..filling any inconsistencies in the mating surfaces that otherwise lead to leaking gaskets.

[Jiminy Indy]

Only because I'm such a big hearted, warm & caring human being go ahead and give me your bike. I only do this to alleviate your stress level and certainly take no pleasure in it. Just doing my part to make this a better world...

[brandEn]

some may curse me...but after installing gaskets and chasing leaks on each of them....NOW i use Ultra Grey on both sides of all my gaskets when I install them.  No leaks! 

I don't curse you, thats for sure. Whatever works bro!