OKay, I give up

[Dawgboy]

Have a small oil leak at the left-rear corner of the rear cylinder rocker box cover on my Mastiff (117). How the hell do you guys tighten that bitch? Looks like I am going to have to grind an allen down to get it between the frame and the rocker box cover.

Looks like the gasket is pretty thin on that corner. Think I should just remove the cover and replace the gasket, or have any of you guys had success just snugging the covers up?

If I need to remove the cover and replace the gasket, and words of wisdom, smart ass remarks, insults etc.

 

[chacha]

Do you have the same issue if you pull the tank?

best solution is to pull the cover, inspect the gasket (rubber so it may be ok), and replace if needed.

I have a set of short allens, so one may be needed -- just can't remember if I used it or not when I pulled the rocker boxes off....

 

[narow37]

are you sure its the cover or is it the rocker box gasket it self.

 

[Dawgboy]

Can't get an allen between the frame and the bolt head on the left rear corner. Tank isn't the issue, it's the frame. I was hoping I could just snug it down without removing the cover. If I am going to remove the cover, I think I best have a set of gaskets on hand.

Should I expect a lot of oil or will most all of it drain back into the lower end if the bike sits for a bit.

 

[Dawgboy]

are you sure its the cover or is it the rocker box gasket it self.

Can't say without removing the cover, but that aint happening until I get a tool (or make one).

 

[Dawgboy]

After closer inspection it appears the leak is at the base of the rocker box not at the cover. In any case still have to get at the cover bolt...

 

[Daddycool]

I ground down an allen and put it in the bolt. Then ran it down with a wrench. Takes a while but it gets the job done. You might as well get a new gasket, it isnt that much more work. Not much oil if you remove the entire thing.

 

[mcgroom]

I don't have the part number but MotionPro makes a tool for just that problem.

 

[narow37]

http://www.bigdogbiker.com/forums/how/4603-how-replacing-your-rocker-boxes-gaskets.html
If you need it, this is a "how-to" I did when I had to replace my gasket. I also had to grind down an allen wrench. The service manual say that a mastiff has to have the tank removed.

 

[Dawgboy]

http://www.bigdogbiker.com/forums/how/4603-how-replacing-your-rocker-boxes-gaskets.html
If you need it, this is a "how-to" I did when I had to replace my gasket. I also had to grind down an allen wrench. The service manual say that a mastiff has to have the tank removed.

Thanks for the how-to link. I guess I'll fire up the grinder and see if I can't get that cover off.

 

[Raywood]

http://www.bigdogbiker.com/forums/help-wanted/14527-05-ridgeback-rocker-box-top-bolt.html

 

[BadBrad]

The easiest thing to do is just grind down or cut the allen to fit under the frame. Make sure it's short enough to still fit after a few turns on the bolt. If the oil is coming from between the rocker box and head, then definitely get a new set of gaskets and go ahead an replace all the rocker box gaskets while you're in there. The main most thing it to determine exactly where the oil is coming from before you tear it down. I recently thought I had the same issue but the oil was actually coming from a bad O ring from the upper push rod cover and blowing back onto the rocker box and making it look like the rocker box gasket. I still had to pull the rocker box to get an O ring over the push rod but at least I didn't go in there and replace a bunch of gaskets and still have the same problem after I got it all back together. Clean your motor, take it for a short spin and find the source, then you'll know what have on hand when you tear it down. Good luck.