What Oil Leak?

[Chrisj CMA]

I was going to look at my timing belts and check on something else under there for a friend (comparison) and what did I find....oil laying inside the casing behind the belt cover.  A few more miles and it would have been seeping out!

Ok, well I was horrified at first, but quickly remembered this has happened before so Im passing it along because with the age and miles of our girls, many of you will be changing timing belts soon.  Some may have done this recently and Id imagine if I have this problem at least one other does.

Heres what happens.  After removing the tensioners on my bike you notice a couple drops of oil on the bolt and in the threads of the throttle side tensioner pulley mount bolt (inboard one).

Upon re-assembly I have to clean those threads and use a good amount of a high quality gasket type sealer (I have tried all the others) I use Yamabond4.  Honda has since come out with essentially the same stuff, but its not cheap either one.

So I spent last night tearing half the belt system apart and re-sealing that bolt again.  Its been 6 or 7 years since I got it sealed the last time.  Hopefully its going to be good for a few more miles since the belts looked new still.  I changed them at 90K and now its at 144K.

So this morning I rolled the old gal outside and fired her up.  Ran perfect and I know it was just because of the freezing morning air, but it even idled smoother than yesterday.  Let it run 5 minutes or so and not a drop of oil could be found...oh wait, Valkyries don't leak oil what am I talking about??

[Chrisj CMA]

Went to Pensacola today to help a buddy with his Valkyrie, just about 100 miles total, most at highway speed...BONE DRY  yea!

[Firefighter]

Can't remember if I sealed mine when I changed my belts, if the book says to I did. No oil leaking. I know what you mean by "horrified", I had rather ride than work on the bike. Glad you fixed yours.
  Firefighter

[pancho]

'"Let it run 5 minutes or so and not a drop of oil could be found...oh wait, Valkyries don't leak oil what am I talking about??"

Don't forget about that shifter shaft seal.

[Chrisj CMA]

Ya, I had that shifter seal leak before too, but its an easy fix plop a new one in and forget about it.  I took the timing belts cover off again today just to check.  I ride almost every day so there was plenty of time for a couple drops to work there way out and NOTHING.  Shes sealed up tight.  That's good because we have a couple rides planned and I don't want be lookin like a Um you know one them bikes that leaks oil all the time