1. After 20+ years it's time to pass the torch. If you are interested in acquiring this forum please contact support@cv-performance.com for details. Any spam will be reported and blocked.
  2. Welcome to Bike Talk, a forum for all bikers and motorcycle enthusiasts. If you are new to Bike Talk, be sure to register for free and join the conversation.

    There's always someone around willing to help out with questions or give a friendly wave back. All Harley and metric riders are welcome.
Bike Talk Motorcycle Forum is For Sale Welcome to Bike Talk

Oil coming out my timing cover

Discussion in 'Motorcycle Tech Talk' started by ultimate performance sac, Feb 25, 2013.

  1. ultimate performance sac

    ultimate performance sac New Member

    Joined:
    Feb 25, 2013
    Messages:
    2
    Likes Received:
    0
    Well I have oil coming out of my timing cover any idea what it could be and how much work is it to fix? (This is on my Ultima El Bruto motor) Cam oil seal?
    ultimate performance sac, Feb 25, 2013
    #1
  3. hotroadking

    hotroadking Super Moderator Staff Member

    Joined:
    Jun 16, 2004
    Messages:
    13,682
    Likes Received:
    584
    Location:
    Mouseville USA
    from where, out of the nose cover in the center or around the cover,
    are you sure of it's source.

    If the cover is leaking you'll end up dropping the exhaust,
    then pulling the cover and putting on a new gasket.

    A tip is to roll the wheels both front and back up on a 2x6
    then lean over on the sidestand, this increases the angle
    and keeps you from having a pool of oil.

    Or, drain the oil, and plan on doing an oil change,
    then, put on 2x6 lean over on side stand then remove otherwise
    you end up with a frame covered with oil.

    get it clean, clean the allen head threads,
    blue locktite and back together.

    YOu could look for a loose bolt and tighten but
    the issue is if that's not really it yhou need to fix it up anyway.
    hotroadking, Feb 25, 2013
    #2
  4. ultimate performance sac

    ultimate performance sac New Member

    Joined:
    Feb 25, 2013
    Messages:
    2
    Likes Received:
    0
    Ya oil is coming out from cam seal i think. coming from behind the timing set plate. That's the only thing it could be right? That would be a stock casing cam seal for the nose cone?
    ultimate performance sac, Feb 25, 2013
    #3
  5. joshbob

    joshbob Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Nov 19, 2010
    Messages:
    5,687
    Likes Received:
    167
    Location:
    Hobgood, N.C.
    I had that problem on my shovelhead. There's a small hole at the bottom of the cone where the coil wire comes out. That's where the oil was leaking, down the wire and pooling on the bottom of the block, then dripping to the floor. Oil would also get wind swept into my rear exhaust pipe and tranny. It was the cam oil seal which is located behind the timing plate.

    If that's it, you have to remove the cam cover (cone), ignition & timing plate and replace the seal. Make sure it goes on perfectly straight and flush. Had to do mine a couple times because I didn't get it in perfectly. If you install the new oil seal too deep, you'll block the oil journal in the bushing. You don't want to do that!

    It's a good idea to also replace the cam cover gasket with a new one. Inexpensive fix, but time consuming to do.
    joshbob, Mar 1, 2013
    #4
  6. loydmackle

    loydmackle New Member

    Joined:
    Mar 1, 2013
    Messages:
    1
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    New York
    It is probably the crank seal that is leaking. But it will be ok for a while and yes it is time consuming.
    loydmackle, Mar 1, 2013
    #5
  7. joshbob

    joshbob Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Nov 19, 2010
    Messages:
    5,687
    Likes Received:
    167
    Location:
    Hobgood, N.C.
    I think you meant cam seal - the crank seal is on the other side of the motor.;)
    joshbob, Mar 2, 2013
    #6
  8. prodrag1320

    prodrag1320 Active Member

    Joined:
    Oct 27, 2011
    Messages:
    299
    Likes Received:
    4
    Location:
    deland,florida
    if the cam seal is leaking,most likley it will need a cam bushing also (if it a ULTIMA cam cover,ive seen them actully spin the bushing (happen on my 127"),if so it will oversize the hole,i installed a torrington bearing on mine(a trick we do on the race motors)
    prodrag1320, Mar 4, 2013
    #7
  9. joshbob

    joshbob Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Nov 19, 2010
    Messages:
    5,687
    Likes Received:
    167
    Location:
    Hobgood, N.C.
    What a great idea. I wonder why Harley, et al, don't use bearings instead of bushings, especially on the big inch motors?
    joshbob, Mar 4, 2013
    #8
  10. prodrag1320

    prodrag1320 Active Member

    Joined:
    Oct 27, 2011
    Messages:
    299
    Likes Received:
    4
    Location:
    deland,florida
    expense,a bushing is cheaper than a quality bearing
    prodrag1320, Mar 5, 2013
    #9
  11. hotroadking

    hotroadking Super Moderator Staff Member

    Joined:
    Jun 16, 2004
    Messages:
    13,682
    Likes Received:
    584
    Location:
    Mouseville USA
    Actually HD went away from the cam bearing in the twin cams in the cam plate.
    well technically you can call it a bearing, it's a machine fit surface with oil holes not unlike
    the crank bearing surface in a car, however they eliminated the roller and ball bearings
    in the cam plate not long ago.

    The first set of TC's had bearing issues, those were changed from ball bearing to rollers
    and that fixed the implosion problem. Lot of stress on the cams with two chains
    and the valve train pressing down on the cams.

    I like the new setup with no bearings, it's a lot easier to swap cams...
    hotroadking, Mar 5, 2013
    #10
  12. prodrag1320

    prodrag1320 Active Member

    Joined:
    Oct 27, 2011
    Messages:
    299
    Likes Received:
    4
    Location:
    deland,florida
    he`s got a EVO,but even with the twin cam changing to bushings in the hyd. plates,its still a cost thing
    prodrag1320, Mar 5, 2013
    #11
  13. hotroadking

    hotroadking Super Moderator Staff Member

    Joined:
    Jun 16, 2004
    Messages:
    13,682
    Likes Received:
    584
    Location:
    Mouseville USA
    yep I figured as much, my normal conversation drift...

    Pressing those bearings in and out were a pain
    enough that I got a press.

    Of course now I use the freezer method...
    hotroadking, Mar 5, 2013
    #12
  14. joshbob

    joshbob Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Nov 19, 2010
    Messages:
    5,687
    Likes Received:
    167
    Location:
    Hobgood, N.C.
    Well, yesterday I checked my point gap and guess what - I still have an oil leak at the cam seal. I hadn't seen oil coming out of the cone, so I thought I had at last fixed it. Dang, I've changed that seal at least 3 times already.

    I'm thinking of getting an Andrews or Crane stock replacement cam first, then taking it and the new bushing I have over to my local machine shop and have them drill and install the new bushing, and hone it to match the cam shaft. Is this a good idea?

    Any helpful hints or advice would be appreciated, boys.
    Last edited: Mar 12, 2013
    joshbob, Mar 12, 2013
    #13
  15. prodrag1320

    prodrag1320 Active Member

    Joined:
    Oct 27, 2011
    Messages:
    299
    Likes Received:
    4
    Location:
    deland,florida
    new cam or not,replace the bushing.make sure the shop has the tooling to do a proper job
    prodrag1320, Mar 12, 2013
    #14
  16. joshbob

    joshbob Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Nov 19, 2010
    Messages:
    5,687
    Likes Received:
    167
    Location:
    Hobgood, N.C.
    I have a new bushing still in the bag. Will do, and thanks once again, buddy.
    joshbob, Mar 26, 2013
    #15

Share This Page

XenPorta © Jason Axelrod from 8WAYRUN.COM