Too many Harley parts now my bike leaks oil

Ok so maybe the harley parts (mirrors, seat, saddle bags, and now forward controls) don't have anything to do with it.

I just changed the oil the other day: used Rottella 15w-40 (first time I used this stuff but I've heard great stuff), new "Wix" filter with new O-Rings, replaced drain screw with stripped head with the one from my donor engine (Which was holding oil.). Now after a ride when I stop some oil will drip on my headers and smoke (4 into 1 runs right under oil filter) and a few drops will make it to the ground. I would think that the leak is from the drain plug,if I pull that and wrap it in Teflon tape is that ok? I've kept an eye on the oil level (oh yeah were should I be looking in the sight glass, I've always filled it to the top of the sight glass while the bike is level on the center stand, is that right, just double checking) and its not a bad leak by any means but I want to get it all fixed up.

 

The Teflon's probably a decent solution IF the leak is coming from the plug - although a new plug washer may be in order...

I'd suggest getting a can of Gunk Foamy Engine Brite, stopping in a you-wash-it car wash, and cleaning off the filter basket and pan really well. You should then be able to see very easily where the leak originates.

Cheers,
Paul

 

You need to fond the source as Paul suggests. He oil should be right near the top of the window. There are some marks but hard to see. I try to leave a small bubble so I can see if any gas is leaking into the oil.

 

Is the metal gasket on the drain plug? Could you have pinched the oring on the oil filter cover?? Did you replace the oring on the oil filter bolt? Doesnt make much sense if you changed oil and you now have it leaking on your headers. At first I was thinking it was a blown head gasket but sounds like you have a leak at either the oil drain screw or the oil filter.

Sean

 

OT - Just curious, does this mean if you DID have gas in your oil, it would stay seperate, and float?

 

Volume increase.

 

I would find exactly where it is leaking before pursuing a fix.

I had what I thought was a leaking valve cover gasket, so I replaced that and the cam plug seals for good measure, and it turned out to be my tach pickup seeping oil out onto my headers and burning off the front of the cylinder heads.

 

I have a 4 into 1 header and the collector gathers right under the oil drain plug (bad design) so I have to remove the headers every time I change the oil.

I did replace the orings (one on filter cover and one on the filter screw I could replace the metal ring on the drain plug but I'm gonna try the Teflon tape first. is there any harm in using the oil I just had in there again if I drain it into a clean pan and put it back in?

 

IMHO that would depend on your catch basin. Mine is open and gathers dirt/dust etc. So I would not do that in my situation. If you have a clean basis I don;t see why not. For that mater you can buy a cheap one for less than the cost of new oil.

 

It only takes one good sized BOULDER of sand you didn't see in your pan and got dumped back into the motor to do a world of hurt before it gets caught by the filter. Personally I wouldn't do it. Oil=cheap Motor=not so cheap.

 

If you have help, you could run the front wheel up a ramp, pull the plug, and not have to drain it.

 

The leak is coming from the oil filter. I put on new o-rings but maybe it got pinched or something. I can trace the drips to the point where the filter cover and engine meet, and drip along the bottom tree fins of the Oil filter cover and down onto the header.

can someone post the exploded view of the filter area for a 750 seca, I assume it went the same way it was before but I may have mixed it up or something.