Topic: Sparty's bike comes to life... but... (Oil leak fixed) 10/8

[MRieck]

Yeah, and get covered in bits of smoking rubber 

Sam.

Funny guy. I've seen people stand behind dynos....they only do it once.

[MRieck]

You'd think a guy with his intelligence would stand to one side

Yeah, or at least wear goggles. 

Yeah...you're real funny too Juha.

[scondon]

   Sparty, I had the same worries when I installed my first cooler. I removed #1 & #4 tappet cover(intake) and confirmed that fresh oil had made it to the cam. I then removed the return line from the cooler and took a couple stabs at the starter button(run switch off) and coated my floor in oil(haha). Re-attached line, started engine and looked through the open tappet holes to confirm that oil was splashing over the rocker assembly.

  My cooler takes at least 20 minutes of riding before it becomes hot to the touch and it never gets as hot as the reservoir tank or the engine. For a few minutes of idling in the garage I would only expect it to rise from ambient(cold steel) to body temp. Terry makes a good product and the design is simple. When I first read your post the only things I could think of was that

a) Mike had installed a defective pump

b) Terry had supplied a plugged cooler

c) Sparty is being very cautious and has not run the motor for more than 5 minutes

   Guessing from my own experience with new motors and Mike/Terry's products I'm pulling for "c". Just holdin' the good thought for ya, Sparty, that everything is working as intended

[scondon]

  Here's the report from the morning commute:

   WARM_UP(4-5 min.)

Head fins-  Toasty

Valve cover- Lukewarm

Oil cooler-  still cold

   2 MILES_CITY

Head fins-  hot

Valve cover- warm

Oil cooler-  Body temp?(hard to say, just no longer COLD)

  14 MILE-FREEWAY@80mph(25min. total engine time)

Head fins-  Nuclear

Valve cover- OUCH!

Oil cooler-  coals are ready, anybody bring marshmellows?

Oh, I forgot... when the bike was running I could hear the cam chain, I am not 100% sure how loud it should be with the new build.  It wasn't a rattle, more like a spinning chatter at idle.  I goosed the throttle a bit, just to 3000 or so RPM, the revs come up quick with the lightened and balanced crank, Falicon rods, balanced rotor and Megacycle 125-75 cam.

I'll be waking up the neighborhood on Saturday morning to the sweet sound of the Kerker

Sparty

  It is a fact that the sound from a newly built motor will be amplified 10X for the first year of run time    My cam chain sounds like a very large, hardwinged insect(beetle?) vibrating its wings at 1000bps.

[sparty]

  Here's the report from the morning commute:

   WARM_UP(4-5 min.)

Head fins-  Toasty

Valve cover- Lukewarm

Oil cooler-  still cold

   2 MILES_CITY

Head fins-  hot

Valve cover- warm

Oil cooler-  Body temp?(hard to say, just no longer COLD)

  14 MILE-FREEWAY@80mph(25min. total engine time)

Head fins-  Nuclear

Valve cover- OUCH!

Oil cooler-  coals are ready, anybody bring marshmellows?

Oh, I forgot... when the bike was running I could hear the cam chain, I am not 100% sure how loud it should be with the new build.  It wasn't a rattle, more like a spinning chatter at idle.  I goosed the throttle a bit, just to 3000 or so RPM, the revs come up quick with the lightened and balanced crank, Falicon rods, balanced rotor and Megacycle 125-75 cam.

I'll be waking up the neighborhood on Saturday morning to the sweet sound of the Kerker

Sparty

  It is a fact that the sound from a newly built motor will be amplified 10X for the first year of run time    My cam chain sounds like a very large, hardwinged insect(beetle?) vibrating its wings at 1000bps.

Thanks for your advice man.  I am over cautious right now I guess.  I'd hate to ruin this new and expensive engine by being stupid.  I am checking everything three and four times.  I am glad to hear that the engine should be a little louder than I expected.

However,  my valve cover was quite hot after 5 minutes of running time.

[scondon]

Thanks for your advice man.  I am over cautious right now I guess.  I'd hate to ruin this new and expensive engine by being stupid.  I am checking everything three and four times.  I am glad to hear that the engine should be a little louder than I expected.

However,  my valve cover was quite hot after 5 minutes of running time.

   You're definitely taking the right approach, Sparty. Take it one, methodical step at a time and confirm for yourself that all systems are go. A lot of time, money and heart are poured into these things so there is a lot riding on the initial success. I am well familiar with the sinking feeling in the gut that accompanies the thought that things aren't right and just wanted to offer up some ideas to help ease that while you wait for your pressure gauge

[CrisPDuk]

That's just heat soak Art, the valve cover will get hot more quickly if the bike's stood still than it would with some cool air flowing over it.

I don't know about bikes specifially but it always used to be a good 20 minutes before hot oil would start flowing through the external cooler on my old VW Beetle.  Funnily enough I had the same concerns as you the first time I fired that puppy up, and that had a lot less time, effort and cash tied up in it

[andy750]

Art, not that my engine is anyway like yours but post-rebuild, my engine also sounded different and as you ride more it quietens down (or you get used to the new sound). Either way the best way to see if its all going well is to ride it.

Good luck and looking forward to that first ride report!
cheers
Andy

[MRieck]

  Here's the report from the morning commute:

   WARM_UP(4-5 min.)

Head fins-  Toasty

Valve cover- Lukewarm

Oil cooler-  still cold

   2 MILES_CITY

Head fins-  hot

Valve cover- warm

Oil cooler-  Body temp?(hard to say, just no longer COLD)

  14 MILE-FREEWAY@80mph(25min. total engine time)

Head fins-  Nuclear

Valve cover- OUCH!

Oil cooler-  coals are ready, anybody bring marshmellows?

Oh, I forgot... when the bike was running I could hear the cam chain, I am not 100% sure how loud it should be with the new build.  It wasn't a rattle, more like a spinning chatter at idle.  I goosed the throttle a bit, just to 3000 or so RPM, the revs come up quick with the lightened and balanced crank, Falicon rods, balanced rotor and Megacycle 125-75 cam.

I'll be waking up the neighborhood on Saturday morning to the sweet sound of the Kerker

Sparty

  It is a fact that the sound from a newly built motor will be amplified 10X for the first year of run time    My cam chain sounds like a very large, hardwinged insect(beetle?) vibrating its wings at 1000bps.

Thanks for your advice man.  I am over cautious right now I guess.  I'd hate to ruin this new and expensive engine by being stupid.  I am checking everything three and four times.  I am glad to hear that the engine should be a little louder than I expected.

However,  my valve cover was quite hot after 5 minutes of running time.

Keep in mind Art that is swinging a real healthy cam with .005 lash clearance. That always makes more noise.  K&N filters add to the noise too.

[scondon]

  K&N filters add to the noise too.

 Like four little megaphones attached to the intake valves. I swear I can hear the rings scraping against the cylinder bore

[sparty]

I’ll be sure to put the video camera close to the engine so that you can here the mechanical noise.  I love the sound, but it is a bit worrisome after all the work.

[Terry in Australia]

Yeah, it's probably fine Art, but just make sure you do an oil pressure test before too long. I've been fitting little chrome 100 psi oil pressure gauges to all my bikes for almost 30 years, they're freely available on EBay for under 100 bucks, and in my opinion, not just look good, but are real cheap insurance against catastrophic failure. Cheers, Terry.

[Jerry Rxman Griffin aka MuthaF'er]

I think those heavy duty springs and stainless valves will make a difference in the top end sound also.

Art - TIME TO RIDE!! Enjoy.

[sparty]

I think those heavy duty springs and stainless valves will make a difference in the top end sound also.

Art - TIME TO RIDE!! Enjoy.

Tomorrow morning I am going to look at a 1973 Honda CL 450.  My friend Eric wants a bike for a cross country ride with his buddies.  Their plan is to ride from TN to Oregon on bikes that are '75 or earlier, less than 500cc's and less than $500.  This CL has 20K original miles and is in good condition, however it needs tires and a tune-up.  they are looking for others who are interested in the ride.  they will do the trip over the Spring Break period.  If you are interested, let me know.

Around 3 PM I'll take my bike for its maiden voyage.  I plan to run it for a short time and bring it home for a once over.  I'll let it cool buy my blast fan and then take it out for about 20 minutes, then return home, check it again, let it cool and do it again for 20 more.

Earlier this evening I went over to my friend Larry's and showed him how to wheelie his new to him 2004 Speed Triple.  Man, I miss my ST, those bikes are FUN!

Sparty

[mrbreeze]

Do the oil pressure test for sure!!! I can't give you any info on the different sound your engine makes with all the mods you just did because mine is stock. I also just fired it up for the first time with Terry's cooler 2 months ago. I put a bit over 4 qts. of Castrol 20-50 in(first time running that weight). I cranked with no ignition till my pressure came up (didn't take long). Bike runs sweet but did have leaks at the cooler and adaptor!!! Fixed that and have put about 300 miles on since....................by the way Terry..........When are you gonna find me a decent filter to run? I am running a Wix filter that is white and totally looks like sh!t!!!!!!!...........My tank is red so a red filter (like Baldwin) would look OK or a black or chrome. White just looks awful and I don't want to have to paint my filters every time I change. You said something about the adaptor being able to take a stock cartridge filter so does that mean my adaptor is different from your earlier ones? The filter I am using is Wix 51390 and like you said....hard to find at the parts house. Let me know Terry or anyone running Terry's cooler that has a more common filter. Other than that........the system is fantastic and my bike is totally running great!!!!

[RRRToolSolutions]

Fred - there is no need to run an ugly filter - the K&N chromes fit perfectly onto Terry's adapter.

Here is the part you need - about $16 each if I remember.
KN - 171C

Gordon

[sparty]

Do the oil pressure test for sure!!! I can't give you any info on the different sound your engine makes with all the mods you just did because mine is stock. I also just fired it up for the first time with Terry's cooler 2 months ago. I put a bit over 4 qts. of Castrol 20-50 in(first time running that weight). I cranked with no ignition till my pressure came up (didn't take long). Bike runs sweet but did have leaks at the cooler and adaptor!!! Fixed that and have put about 300 miles on since....................by the way Terry..........When are you gonna find me a decent filter to run? I am running a Wix filter that is white and totally looks like sh!t!!!!!!!...........My tank is red so a red filter (like Baldwin) would look OK or a black or chrome. White just looks awful and I don't want to have to paint my filters every time I change. You said something about the adaptor being able to take a stock cartridge filter so does that mean my adaptor is different from your earlier ones? The filter I am using is Wix 51390 and like you said....hard to find at the parts house. Let me know Terry or anyone running Terry's cooler that has a more common filter. Other than that........the system is fantastic and my bike is totally running great!!!!

Breeze,

I am also running the white wix filter.  You can hardly see the filter, so I'll leave it white.  I looked all over for different filters, but went with the Wix because they are great filters and have the built in valve.  I bought six of them at $6 a piece.  You won't find a better filter for the money even though they are white.  It could be worse, they could be orange

[sparty]

Fred - there is no need to run an ugly filter - the K&N chromes fit perfectly onto Terry's adapter.

Here is the part you need - about $16 each if I remember.
KN - 171C

Gordon

IL,

Terry's new adapter doesn't take that filter, I tried it.  His new adapter has the oil hole further out.  That was my frustration.

[mrbreeze]

I will look into the chrome K&N....thanks Gordon. Sparty..........my white Wix filter really is an eyesore so I will look for something else although I agree that Wix is a quality filter.

[Jerry Rxman Griffin aka MuthaF'er]

Art,

Probably couldn't do a ride over spring break but I can be a pit stop for them. Plus I could map some really nice riding between Colorado and Oregon. Maybe ride with them a few miles.

Have a great ride this afternoon. Try to keep both whelles on the road at least for today.

Jerry 

[sparty]

The maiden voyage was cut short because the oil leak came back.  My rear tire stepped out on my because oil got on it.  I tried to seal it up with an o-ring and some high-temp, high pressure thread sealant, but that didn't work either.  I am looking for other suggestions at this point.  This is killing me.

Sparty

[MRieck]

 This thread has been dealt with.....period.

[Terry in Australia]

Do the oil pressure test for sure!!! I can't give you any info on the different sound your engine makes with all the mods you just did because mine is stock. I also just fired it up for the first time with Terry's cooler 2 months ago. I put a bit over 4 qts. of Castrol 20-50 in(first time running that weight). I cranked with no ignition till my pressure came up (didn't take long). Bike runs sweet but did have leaks at the cooler and adaptor!!! Fixed that and have put about 300 miles on since....................by the way Terry..........When are you gonna find me a decent filter to run? I am running a Wix filter that is white and totally looks like sh!t!!!!!!!...........My tank is red so a red filter (like Baldwin) would look OK or a black or chrome. White just looks awful and I don't want to have to paint my filters every time I change. You said something about the adaptor being able to take a stock cartridge filter so does that mean my adaptor is different from your earlier ones? The filter I am using is Wix 51390 and like you said....hard to find at the parts house. Let me know Terry or anyone running Terry's cooler that has a more common filter. Other than that........the system is fantastic and my bike is totally running great!!!!

Ha ha, geez sorry Fred, I tried to mail you a can of red paint, but the Post office won't let me send it? I tell you what mate, send me a plane ticket and I'll come over and find you a suitable filter at an auto parts store! (better put loads of beer in the 'fridge too, searching for red filters is thirsty work mate!)

I've made a lot of different cooler adapters over the 7 years that I've had this lathe, so I'm not sure which version I sent you, but if I told you that you can use your OEM filter and cover, then you can mate, no worries. Cheers, Terry.

[dgfischer]

My rear tire stepped out on me because oil got on it. 

 Usually that much oil would only come from the oil tank overflow (from having too much oil in the reservoir).I doubt that you would get that much oil would come from a leaking thread or oil line (unless it leaks alot more than the pics show).

I tried to seal it up with an o-ring and some high-temp, high pressure thread sealant, but that didn't work either.  I am looking for other suggestions at this point.  This is killing me.

Sparty

   Try getting rid of the split washers. The split in the washer leaves an open area for oil to leak out. Try replacing the split washers/nut with some "nylock" or self locking nuts and still seal the stud threads by coating them with sealer (and/or possibly an O-ring where the flat washer and case meet to seal the case, stud and washer)

My oil cooler gets plenty warm so it is easy to tell that it is working.

 DG

[scondon]

My rear tire stepped out on me because oil got on it.

 Usually that much oil would only come from the oil tank overflow (from having too much oil in the reservoir).I doubt that you would get that much oil would come from a leaking thread or oil line (unless it leaks alot more than the pics show).

   Agreed. If your rear tire is getting bathed in oil it is most likely coming from a breather tube or overflow. That stud is not under any pressure and I can't conceive that enough oil could drip out and coat the rear wheel. Fresh oil is hard to see on the engine so best to run your finger over the bike.

   Your cooler is no bigger than mine and it is still possible that you simply have too much oil in the system. I usually underfill the system by 1/2 - 1quart, start the motor and let it run for a bit before topping off.