Posted by Steve from Mass \(at home\) on August 15, 2009, 11:10 pm
Shirley, a round for the house.
You know, that Simple Green shit really is amazing stuff. Never used it
before. Not that I was intent on cleaning my bike for poser points or
nuttin', but Mule's sure nice and clean now.
Been leaking something under the primary when leaned over on the stand since
well before the EKIII run, and after the run, she was filthy from top to
bottom and in every nook and cranny. It was time for both a poser and a
"maintenance" level cleaning.
When I stopped overnight in Owego NY on the EKIII return trip, I noticed she
was leaving three or four thick spots of lubricating fluids on the pavement,
but I didn't know where from. I did know it was now more than just the minor
primary fluid drip I've had for a while now, and that it was more than could
be accounted for coming outta the rocker covers on the rear jug, even after
hard riding. Something else musta gave way.
So, after commutting with her all week since my return, I finally cleaned
both the shiny side and the dirty side this afternoon after draining the
oil. The Simple Green and a dish scrub brush made pretty easy work of
getting the years of oil soaked grime off the bottom of the motor (and
between the fins on the jugs) where a human can reach through the frame.
Once it was all clean, I added the fresh oil and let it sit for an hour to
see if it was just seeping outta the joints or hoses somewhere. Nope, no oil
marks. I then fired up the motor and let it run about 5 minutes. And there
on the driveway, dripping off the lowest point of the crank case, was a
small puddle.
So, I got up underneath to see what was going on, and followed the stream
back to the fitting for the oil filter feed tube. The nut was a bit loose so
I tightened it up, but the exhaust is in the way, so it's gonna have to come
off to get a good idea of whether the filter tube fitting just needs to be
tightened some more, or if I'm gonna need to replace the seal.
Butt, that's all fine, pulling the exhaust is something I intended to do
anyhow. As I mentioned in an another post, I started to hear a cracking
sound under load after running hard from Corning to Owego, and that turns
out to be (I believe) the exhaust leak in the crossover pipe (Ebay'd a
header a month or so ago). Fresh gaskets for the exhaust system were already
on my list along with the motor oil and filter, so I should be able to get
cracking at it first thing in the morning and be on the road well before
noon, to nowhere, maybe north by northwest.
It's good to know where the problem is. I'll tighten up the fitting and keep
an eye on it. If it still leaks, I'll put in a new seal on the next oil
change. It's as good an excuse as any to put another 3000 miles on her
before too long.
Then I'll be needing tires. (It never ends, ...thankfully.)
Steve from Mass
EKIII '09, ....
'93 FXRS-C "Mule"
"no salt, no plans"
Posted by Schmoe on August 16, 2009, 11:34 am
> Shirley, a round for the house.
> You know, that Simple Green shit really is amazing stuff. Never used it
> before. Not that I was intent on cleaning my bike for poser points or
> nuttin', but Mule's sure nice and clean now.
> Been leaking something under the primary when leaned over on the stand
> since well before the EKIII run, and after the run, she was filthy from
> top to bottom and in every nook and cranny. It was time for both a poser
> and a "maintenance" level cleaning.
> When I stopped overnight in Owego NY on the EKIII return trip, I noticed
> she was leaving three or four thick spots of lubricating fluids on the
> pavement, but I didn't know where from. I did know it was now more than
> just the minor primary fluid drip I've had for a while now, and that it
> was more than could be accounted for coming outta the rocker covers on the
> rear jug, even after hard riding. Something else musta gave way.
> So, after commutting with her all week since my return, I finally cleaned
> both the shiny side and the dirty side this afternoon after draining the
> oil. The Simple Green and a dish scrub brush made pretty easy work of
> getting the years of oil soaked grime off the bottom of the motor (and
> between the fins on the jugs) where a human can reach through the frame.
> Once it was all clean, I added the fresh oil and let it sit for an hour to
> see if it was just seeping outta the joints or hoses somewhere. Nope, no
> oil marks. I then fired up the motor and let it run about 5 minutes. And
> there on the driveway, dripping off the lowest point of the crank case,
> was a small puddle.
> So, I got up underneath to see what was going on, and followed the stream
> back to the fitting for the oil filter feed tube. The nut was a bit loose
> so I tightened it up, but the exhaust is in the way, so it's gonna have to
> come off to get a good idea of whether the filter tube fitting just needs
> to be tightened some more, or if I'm gonna need to replace the seal.
> Butt, that's all fine, pulling the exhaust is something I intended to do
> anyhow. As I mentioned in an another post, I started to hear a cracking
> sound under load after running hard from Corning to Owego, and that turns
> out to be (I believe) the exhaust leak in the crossover pipe (Ebay'd a
> header a month or so ago). Fresh gaskets for the exhaust system were
> already on my list along with the motor oil and filter, so I should be
> able to get cracking at it first thing in the morning and be on the road
> well before noon, to nowhere, maybe north by northwest.
> It's good to know where the problem is. I'll tighten up the fitting and
> keep an eye on it. If it still leaks, I'll put in a new seal on the next
> oil change. It's as good an excuse as any to put another 3000 miles on her
> before too long.
> Then I'll be needing tires. (It never ends, ...thankfully.)
HHH here on the east end of Long Iiiiiiiiisland. 85 w/85 humidity. Scorcher.
Summer's finally here just in time for fall to come around the corner.
Bike's a dirty mess, just enough to make me wash it today. Riding home from
EKIII was the filth kicker. 160 mile ride home later will be a hot one. If I
hit typical Summer Sunday traffic, it could get ugly. :/
--
Numbero #128
Posted by Schmoe on August 16, 2009, 11:35 am
BTW, I'll be up in your neck of the woods this Thursday in Burlington, MA.
Might ride up, not sure.
Posted by Steve from Mass on August 17, 2009, 6:50 pm
Schmoe wrote:
> BTW, I'll be up in your neck of the woods this Thursday in
> Burlington, MA. Might ride up, not sure.
Weather looks iffy for Thursday from this early in the week.
Mule's currently laid up as I look for advice on the rocker cover gasket
issue. Not leaking motor oil anymore underneath, which is good. Musta been
that fitting on the oil filter feed line. Still dripping primary fluid
though (slowly), which is now more obviously sourced at the meeting of the
primary and the crankcase. I don't want to remove the primary to replace the
big O ring gasket.
But sooner or later, I will.
Also got the tank off as the crossover tube was weeping fuel and stinking
the place up (it's the original and 16 years of gas does a number on
rubber). So, there's a few moderately inconvenient repairs in the works.
Hope to be back up and running ASAP though.
An account of the lay up, I'll be caging it, but we certainly could meet
somewhere for a burger, or whatever. I work in Maynard, right on Rte 62 at
the Acton/Maynard line. There's a Wendy's right there, and up the street is
a Papa Gino's in the Stop and Shop strip mall on 62.
With a little lefting and righting, we could go to Not Your Average Joe's
(more upscale, nice place, may have a wait) at the junction of Rte 2 and 27,
on the way to Rte 111(yet another a strip mall, this one on the left of 27
south right after you get off 2).
Just saying...
I'd be okay with a mid day meal during work hours (anytime 11 to 1:30), or a
late afternoon something or other with a libation before heading home
(anytime after 4).
You've got my gmail addy. You can get my number that way.
--
Steve from Mass
EKIII '09, ....
'93 FXRS-C "Mule"
Posted by Schmoe on August 17, 2009, 9:38 pm
> Schmoe wrote:
>> BTW, I'll be up in your neck of the woods this Thursday in
>> Burlington, MA. Might ride up, not sure.
> Weather looks iffy for Thursday from this early in the week.
> Mule's currently laid up as I look for advice on the rocker cover gasket
> issue. Not leaking motor oil anymore underneath, which is good. Musta been
> that fitting on the oil filter feed line. Still dripping primary fluid
> though (slowly), which is now more obviously sourced at the meeting of the
> primary and the crankcase. I don't want to remove the primary to replace
> the big O ring gasket.
> But sooner or later, I will.
> Also got the tank off as the crossover tube was weeping fuel and stinking
> the place up (it's the original and 16 years of gas does a number on
> rubber). So, there's a few moderately inconvenient repairs in the works.
> Hope to be back up and running ASAP though.
> An account of the lay up, I'll be caging it, but we certainly could meet
> somewhere for a burger, or whatever. I work in Maynard, right on Rte 62 at
> the Acton/Maynard line. There's a Wendy's right there, and up the street
> is a Papa Gino's in the Stop and Shop strip mall on 62.
> With a little lefting and righting, we could go to Not Your Average Joe's
> (more upscale, nice place, may have a wait) at the junction of Rte 2 and
> 27, on the way to Rte 111(yet another a strip mall, this one on the left
> of 27 south right after you get off 2).
> Just saying...
> I'd be okay with a mid day meal during work hours (anytime 11 to 1:30), or
> a late afternoon something or other with a libation before heading home
> (anytime after 4).
> You've got my gmail addy. You can get my number that way.
I'll ping you Wednesday. If I don't ride I'll cage. Hope to ride.
--
Numbero #128
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> You know, that Simple Green shit really is amazing stuff. Never used it
> before. Not that I was intent on cleaning my bike for poser points or
> nuttin', but Mule's sure nice and clean now.
> Been leaking something under the primary when leaned over on the stand
> since well before the EKIII run, and after the run, she was filthy from
> top to bottom and in every nook and cranny. It was time for both a poser
> and a "maintenance" level cleaning.
> When I stopped overnight in Owego NY on the EKIII return trip, I noticed
> she was leaving three or four thick spots of lubricating fluids on the
> pavement, but I didn't know where from. I did know it was now more than
> just the minor primary fluid drip I've had for a while now, and that it
> was more than could be accounted for coming outta the rocker covers on the
> rear jug, even after hard riding. Something else musta gave way.
> So, after commutting with her all week since my return, I finally cleaned
> both the shiny side and the dirty side this afternoon after draining the
> oil. The Simple Green and a dish scrub brush made pretty easy work of
> getting the years of oil soaked grime off the bottom of the motor (and
> between the fins on the jugs) where a human can reach through the frame.
> Once it was all clean, I added the fresh oil and let it sit for an hour to
> see if it was just seeping outta the joints or hoses somewhere. Nope, no
> oil marks. I then fired up the motor and let it run about 5 minutes. And
> there on the driveway, dripping off the lowest point of the crank case,
> was a small puddle.
> So, I got up underneath to see what was going on, and followed the stream
> back to the fitting for the oil filter feed tube. The nut was a bit loose
> so I tightened it up, but the exhaust is in the way, so it's gonna have to
> come off to get a good idea of whether the filter tube fitting just needs
> to be tightened some more, or if I'm gonna need to replace the seal.
> Butt, that's all fine, pulling the exhaust is something I intended to do
> anyhow. As I mentioned in an another post, I started to hear a cracking
> sound under load after running hard from Corning to Owego, and that turns
> out to be (I believe) the exhaust leak in the crossover pipe (Ebay'd a
> header a month or so ago). Fresh gaskets for the exhaust system were
> already on my list along with the motor oil and filter, so I should be
> able to get cracking at it first thing in the morning and be on the road
> well before noon, to nowhere, maybe north by northwest.
> It's good to know where the problem is. I'll tighten up the fitting and
> keep an eye on it. If it still leaks, I'll put in a new seal on the next
> oil change. It's as good an excuse as any to put another 3000 miles on her
> before too long.
> Then I'll be needing tires. (It never ends, ...thankfully.)