Help! Manifold oil leak? (New owner)

[eodvic]

I am a new owner of a 2000 Valkyrie which I purchased with 21000 miles. I have side put 2K miles, and recently changed the oil and used Mobil 1 20w-50 V twin. A couple of day ago I noticed what looks like oil (brown substance),  seeping around one of the pipes of the manifold, where it goes into the case.

Have anyone experience this before?

Could it have been caused by me switching to Synthetic oil? (the bike has been running great, and quieter)

Should I stop riding until I fix it (there has been no change in performance on the bike)?

Is is oil, or something else?

Sorry about all the questions, but I am obsessive about maintenance and don’t want to hurt the bike> hanks in advance for your replies and advise.

Victor

[Savago]

Dear Victor

Welcome to the forum and congrats on your valkyrie!
:-)

What you explained sounded like an intake o-ring leak. If so, check this post for photos and comments:
http://www.valkyrieforum.com/bbs/index.php/topic,70101.0.html

I fixed mine and documented the whole process:
https://plus.google.com/+AdenilsonCavalcanti/posts/9JfzY4aFWwK

You can continue using the bike fine for quite some miles before doing the job.


Best regards


Savago
ps: isn't the recommended oil spec for Valkyries 10W40?

[hubcapsc]

It is real normal, as problems go... there's O-rings under the manifolds,
they just need changing is all...

This guy has good stuff...    http://redeye.ecrater.com/p/2064055/intake-o-ring-kit-viton-gf

The OEM ones are easy to get too...

-Mike

[The emperor has no clothes]

Ditto on what Hubcap and Savago said. Happens to all , no worries easy job. Definitely second the recommendation of the red eye orings.

[98valk]

just the factory sealant/adhesive on the o-rings to hold them in the groove in the manifold during assembly seeping out. nothing to worry about, o-rings are fine and are not leaking. just clean it off and after a couple of times, most likely will not see it anymore.

[The emperor has no clothes]

just the factory sealant/adhesive on the o-rings to hold them in the groove in the manifold during assembly seeping out. nothing to worry about, o-rings are fine and are not leaking. just clean it off and after a couple of times, most likely will not see it anymore.

Really ? When I replaced mine they were pretty well flattened out.

[Savago]

I can confirm what meathead commented (the old o-rings were *really* flat).

See below (redeye's new o-ring at left, old o-ring at right):

[98valk]

just the factory sealant/adhesive on the o-rings to hold them in the groove in the manifold during assembly seeping out. nothing to worry about, o-rings are fine and are not leaking. just clean it off and after a couple of times, most likely will not see it anymore.

Really ? When I replaced mine they were pretty well flattened out.

yes the o-ring is doing its job, A lot will flatten out, taking a set and making a seal esp buna-n which the OEMs are.  I re-used my originals four times before they started leaking. tech manual requires replacement every removal of manifolds. as long as the o-ring is still above the surface of the manifold it will seal.
were yours leaking, verified by intake manifold leakage tests? most likely not.
make sure new ones are lubricated with silicone grease aka as dielectric grease. this will greatly increase the life span of the o-rings.

[Otus]

I paid 3 whole dollars for a set of 6 at a gasket place down the street from me. If I was going to pull the intakes off to fix old ones I'd rather just put new in. The number for these are  -123.

[Ricky-D]

It is unnecessary to change the 'O' rings that are not failing.

They are not a preventive maintenance item.

***