Bonneville America Forums Forums Technical Forums Performance Mods Found my oil leak and it blows

Well it looks like the engine gets to go under the knife again. After big bore things were good untill I started loosing oil. When I hit it hards I lost more oil. Well I did finally get to the bottom of it and it turns out I blew the head gasked and oil is blowing out of there. No Ga trip for me. Now I wonder what else is wrong in there. Warped head? Is the big bore too much? Oh well "s#it happens". I think I'll go play with the boat instead.

Hey Jango, where did you notice the oil collecting/dripping?

For a while I was getting oil on my right chrome filter cover and airbox side cover. Just a film of oil. I thought it was the oil cooler banjo so I resealed that. But I generally saw a film around the right side. I never had a drip under the bike. Went through near one qt one ride when I rode hard. The right side had light film all around. I am concerned the head is messed up but I guess I will find out when I tear into it. This big bore is great but getting a little frustrating. Hey worst case, I buy a performance head. I guess I'm a glutton for punishment.

Jango

You have my sympathy. My bike has been leaking oil like a grounded Liberian tanker since I picked it up from the dealer. They're now replacing the oil cooler. I think my issues are simple compared to a headgasket but very frustrating.

I'm about an expert on pulling that top end down these days. I can't really complain too much. Doing the big bore was by my choice and this is what one might expect on occaision. But Thanks.

i never heard of anyone having a problem wiht the big bore. who did your mechine work?

Frank

I think the issue may have been with my torque wrench or bolts. I was not getting that click at the torque settings. Instead the bolts felt like they were stretching. I stopped on the 2 or 3 in fear of breaking them. It just so happens they were on the same side where the gasket is gone. In speaking to my dealer about other things they asked if I had trouble not tightening the bolts. When I questioned him he told me he had heard of others having the same issue. I wonder if it's others as in their shop or factory?

Sounds like time for head studs and nuts, with parallel gound flat washers. ARP will make custom pieces for ya....

I hope to tear it down this weekend. I would bet a couple of those that I suspected stretching broke on me. I do recall a couple of strange sounds when I was riding.

Well it turns out I have one loose bolts and likely others not to proper torque specs. Not sure if the head is warped but will check that this week. Ordering all 8 bolts to be on the safeside and start all over.

Good luck!!