Alright folks, let me tell you about my recent dance with a leaky Harley. “Harley Davidson Oil Leak,” you say? More like “Harley Davidson Oil Fountain” in my case, at least that’s what it felt like. So, here’s the story of how I tackled it.
First off, I noticed the damn oil. Noticed isn’t even the right word, more like discovered. There was a puddle under the bike after it sat for a few hours. Not good. Immediate reaction? A big ol’ groan. I’ve dealt with leaks before, but this one seemed… enthusiastic.
So, I started the investigation. Cleaned up the area, which was a mess, and fired up the bike. Let it idle for a bit, trying to pinpoint the source. Oil started weeping from what looked like the rocker box gaskets. Bingo, or so I thought.
Okay, rocker box gaskets it is. Ordered a set online, watched a couple of YouTube videos (you gotta, right?), and prepped for the job. Got the tools laid out, the new gaskets ready, and made sure I had plenty of rags. Messy business, this.
Pulled off the rocker boxes, nothin’ too difficult. Old gaskets were brittle and cracked – definitely the culprit, right? Cleaned everything up real good, made sure the surfaces were smooth. Put the new gaskets in place, torqued everything down to spec. Buttoned it all up, feeling pretty good about myself. Victory was in sight… or so I thought, again.
Started her up. Let it idle. Waited. And waited. Damn it! Still leaking, just as bad as before. This time, it looked like it was coming from somewhere lower down. Time for a deeper dive.
Back to the drawing board, and this time, I took off the air cleaner assembly. That’s when I saw it. A small crack in one of the oil lines going to the oil cooler. Barely noticeable, but enough to spray oil everywhere when the engine was running. A tiny crack, causing a huge headache. Son of a…
Okay, new plan. Ran to the local auto parts store, got some oil-resistant hose and some clamps. Cut out the cracked section of the old line, spliced in the new hose, tightened those clamps down TIGHT. Looked like a Frankenstein job, but hey, if it works, it works.
Fired her up AGAIN. Let it idle. This time… no leak! Hallelujah! Revved it a few times, checked the lines, checked the rocker boxes (since I’d already messed with them). Bone dry. Finally!
Took it for a short ride around the block. Came back, checked for leaks. Still good! So, moral of the story? Don’t always assume the obvious answer is the right one. And those little cracks can be sneaky devils. Always double-check everything. And have plenty of rags on hand. You’ll need ’em.
Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m gonna go clean up the oil slick in my garage. Ride safe, folks!
