Topic: Oil gusher. **Update**

[Rgconner]

Well, got the bike together after replacing all the seals from the block base on up.

This has solved all of the leaks except... the block base gasket.

From there I have practically a gusher, I lost over a quart on the 3.5 mile test loop I ride.

Any ideas to mitigate this without pulling the whole block again and getting a new gasket?

They were Versah gaskets, which I now hear might be a bit dodgy.

The leak seems even across all the back and the sides. Front seems to be holding.

I am guessing maybe I did not torque the bolts enough?

[bryanj]

More likely not clean enough, there is nothing wrong with Vesrah gaskets I been using them since 75.

[Rgconner]

I cleaned it with a scraper, then took the Dremel wire wheel to it to clean it down to the metal.

To get it any cleaner I would have had to take it and have it planed.

IF I do take it back down to the cases, do I need to get new gaskets for the head? Or can I reuse it seeing how it has just a few miles on it?

[Duke McDukiedook]

You may have to replane it, it may have gotten warped, did you check?
If it is leaking with the current gasket I would go with OEM or Cometic as a replacement.

[Rgconner]

Well, the nice old man across the street, who is a retired Santa Fe/Union Pacific locomotive mechanic, sauntered over this morning to see what I was up to on the bike. I was removing the cover so I could check the torque on the bolts.

Normally he just hems and haws and maybe tells me a story from the good old days.

Today, after I told him what happened, he asked to see my torque wrench and applied it.

"Nope, your wrench is wrong. I'll be back in a bit. Don't touch anything."

Interesting... first time in a month he has offered any advice.

So I went a got  cup of coffee for him, and hung out till he showed up with his torque wrench. One of the older dial types.

He asked for the spec, then set to tightening them properly, to the upper range.

"Well, I gotta go, looks like your wrench is off by 4 or 5 footpounds. Maybe you should get a better one and use that for a breaker."

After a more few sips of coffee he and his wrench headed back across the street. 

I got the bike hot in the driveway, then ran the bike around the block a few times, getting it up to 7000 RPM.

So far, no sign of a leak. I need to take it out on the freeway to feel more confident the problem is truely solved, but at least it is not a gusher anymore.

[KingCustomCycles.com]

I was going to suggest the block was not seated properly.  I can imagine those dowels with a bit of gunk holding it up very easily.  You will need to remove the .060 or so slack from your cam chain now.  Calibration, calibration, calibration, at least that is what the FAA is always saying............

[Rgconner]

Yep, I was worried about those dowels too.

But, it seems I did most everything right, just need a tool I can trust.