oil leak

Energy One

Stimey131

Member
I changed out my compression releases and now I have an oil leak. The weird thing is when I have up on the motorcycle jack its doesn't leak, but when I take it off the jack it starts to leak again. At first I thought it was coming from the pushrods, but I found a video on adjusting pushrods on a 117 ci S&S motor & went through the process of adjusting them properly. This did slow the leak down. After I readjusted the pushrods I can't exactly tell where the leak is coming from. It kinda looks like its coming from the top of the pushrod or it could be were the rocker box is mounted to the head but I never removed the rocker box, just the cover & rocker arm support bracket. What do in think it could be leaking oil. Thanks for any help U can give me.
 

bruce

Active Member
there are o-ring on the covers to push rods are you sure they are good and in place.
 

woodbutcher

Mr. Old Fart member #145
Staff member
make sure you are pushing the upper half of the sleeve up to engage the o-ring. then the chrome cover pops in to hold the sleeve in place.
 

Stimey131

Member
I bet that is the problem, but how can I tell if I got them in the correct place, because the top of mine are just half covers. I mean they don't go all the around the pushrod. I'm going to check it as soon as I hear back from you guys. I hope that is all it is, but other than that is seems to be running better than it was. The last place that worked on my bike was a harley service shop and I don't think they adjusted the pushrods correctly because every since I got it back from them it just didn't feel right. I don't think it was off by much, but enough I could feel it just wasn't as smooth as I felt it should be. After I re-adjusted the pushrodes correctly I could tell a difference immediatly a soon as it started. It felt like it was reving smother and faster than before. There's just a certian vibration that a good running motor has and it's kind of hard to describe, but once your familar with it, you just know when it's not right even if it's just a little off. So a soon as I can take care of this oil leak I'm ready to ride. I havent ridden my bike in over a week and that is just not right when there is good wheather outside.
 
Last edited:

spadesluck

Active Member
When you push them up into the head you will know if they are in place or not. Without the sleeve on yet push the tube up, it should just about hold itself up. Then just put the sleeve on to hold everything in place. These things only go on one way.
 

Stimey131

Member
You mean i have to push the pushrod up into the top as well. i thought it just sat there and the top was more or less just a guide for it
 

woodbutcher

Mr. Old Fart member #145
Staff member
you are doing the same thing i did. look really close at the upper edge of the lower half of the sleeve and you will find the lip of the upper half right at the top edge of the lower half. put your fingernail or a small screwdriver in the gap and it will raise so as to allow you to lift it and put it in place.
 

BadBrad

2005 Pitbull
It sure sounds like you just need to check the o-rings in your pushrod covers, make sure they're all in good shape and re-seat the pushrod covers. The top cover seems to not seat more often than the bottom cover, but you'll feel it "pop" into place when you push it up. Just be sure to hold it in place while you position the keeper in place.
 

V

Guru
You noted that you removed the rocker arm support bracket, did you torque them back to spec? They are part of what is holding on the rocker box. Check the pushrod tube first though as has been mentioned.
 

spadesluck

Active Member
You mean i have to push the pushrod up into the top as well. i thought it just sat there and the top was more or less just a guide for it
Sorry for the confusion. I was referring to the cover being pushed up into the top o-ring. As others have said you will feel it kinda "pop" in.
 

Stimey131

Member
check the upper covers on the pushrods and there was oil on the on the backs of them, so I cleaned them up and when I put them in this time I took care to make sure they were in there better. I started it and let it idle about 15 min and didn't see any oil leaking. I plan to take it out for a test ride tomorrow. I hope it's fixed this time. I let you guys know either way. Thanks for help.
 

Stimey131

Member
Started the bike this morning to take it out for a test ride and then with in just a couple of minuts it started to leak out of the top of the pushrod again. At this point i guess I have no choice, but to tear it back down and recheck that all the bolts are tighent to correct torque specs again. Also install a knew set of orings in the pushrods.
 

BadBrad

2005 Pitbull
Is there a chance that when you had it apart, the o-ring didn't get put back on the top cover tube?
 

Stimey131

Member
I could'nt figure out what the problem was and I just got tired of messing with it so I had a local bike shop pick it up, so they could figure it out, but thanks to all who tried to help me with it. At least I learned how to changed the compression releases.
 
Top