Sportster Models 883, 883 Custom, 1200 Custom, 883L, 1200L, 1200S, 1200 Roadster, XR1200, and the Nightster.
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

oil leak

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
  #1  
Old 11-18-2016, 05:01 PM
jambo1989's Avatar
jambo1989
jambo1989 is offline
Advanced
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: phoenix
Posts: 70
Received 13 Likes on 6 Posts
Angry oil leak

I have oil coming out of the square hole on top my rear cylinder on my XL1200. Would it be that little square rubber gasket under the rocker box cover?
 
  #2  
Old 11-19-2016, 04:04 AM
j_bee's Avatar
j_bee
j_bee is offline
Tourer
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: England
Posts: 336
Received 80 Likes on 70 Posts
Default

It sounds like a rocker box gasket leak as you suggest. Any one of the gaskets at the rocker box can cause a leak, although it's the bottom gasket that often fails.
To verify exactly which gasket, it might be worth drying it all off and watching the area closely over the next couple of rides.
It's typical to replace all the rocker gaskets when one leaks but depending on your mechanical ability if it turns out to be one of the top rubber gaskets that has failed, it is pretty straight forward to replace as it's just four screws and although it can be a little fiddly to do on the rear due to clearance with the frame, it's not a big drama.
 
  #3  
Old 11-19-2016, 04:48 PM
jambo1989's Avatar
jambo1989
jambo1989 is offline
Advanced
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: phoenix
Posts: 70
Received 13 Likes on 6 Posts
Default

Yeah, so I replaced the metal bottom gasket and the top rubber one and still had the leak. But I finally found it; It's coming from the screw hole on the front left screw of the top cover. It's hard to believe oil can come out of that hole with a allen head screw in it. I guess I'll have to find a rubber washer to put in there. Thanks for the replies.
 
  #4  
Old 11-20-2016, 09:56 AM
j_bee's Avatar
j_bee
j_bee is offline
Tourer
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: England
Posts: 336
Received 80 Likes on 70 Posts
Default

There should be a washer type sealing gasket under that screw, your year used to have a paper style one that can become torn on removal.
They've since been updated a few years back to a metal washer with a sealing rubber ring on the internal diameter.
Good job finding the source of the problem.
 
The following users liked this post:
jambo1989 (11-20-2016)
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
felix27
Sportster Models
4
09-26-2018 08:17 PM
lkr0
Touring Models
4
03-24-2014 07:24 AM
JHummel89
Shovelhead
10
11-07-2011 07:07 PM
southside721
Sportster Models
12
09-19-2008 08:52 AM
johnny1966
Oil Archive (no new posts)
3
11-08-2007 04:22 PM



Quick Reply: oil leak



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 04:37 AM.