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Message started by BelizeanBanman on 04/22/12 at 01:28:07

Title: bad oil leak
Post by BelizeanBanman on 04/22/12 at 01:28:07

Hi guys

I have a problem, and this seems to be the right place to ask for help. My savage has a stripped bolt on the valve cover. The bolt to the right and the back. Kinda long one. Anyways, so my plan was to just cover up the hole, but everything I've tried so far has failed miserably. Initially I tried inserting the bolt and using locktite, as there was still slight gripping. Oil still came spurting out. Then several layers of UltraGrey silicon, also useless. JB Weld didn't do anything either. After every drive, oil is all over the engine, way to the back of the bike, and every morning there is a next spot of oil in my garage. My question is, what should I do? Anything would be GREATLY appreciated. Thank thanks

-Roger

Title: Re: bad oil leak
Post by LANCER on 04/22/12 at 04:13:42

The right rear bolt hole is also an oil passageway, and because of that if the bolt is not able to be tightened down so the washer on the bolt can make the seal at the top it will leak oil.
I had some stripped threads on mine after the dealership did some work on the bike. It sort of worked for a while but over time became more and more loose and leaked more. I finally tried finding a bolt slightly longer; even ground the head cover down a little around the hole to let the bolt go down more and catch a fresh thread or two so it could hold tight enough. That worked fairly well for a little while but still seeped some oil, and eventually pulled those threads out.
I ended up drilling and installing steel thread inserts in that hole and others when I had the engine apart.
Some folks have just replaced the stock bolt with a longer threaded stud so it could go down into the deeper threads and get a good hold, put a fresh "sealing" washer on it and lock washer and a nut. The last time I heard anyone discuss that solution they seemed to be happy with the result.
It is the quickest and easiest solution so I would give that a try first.

Just be sure you have the "sealing" washer on there when you install the bolt or stud. I think I used a nylon washer for a while because that was what I had on hand at the time and it worked ok for me. I'm not sure of the material makeup of the stock washer, it just needs to be able to seal the oil when everything is torqued down.

Title: Re: bad oil leak
Post by BelizeanBanman on 04/22/12 at 15:35:07

Thanks a bunch Lancer. I talked to the local Kawasaki dealer (who is my cousin) about re-threading only the top part instead of taking apart the whole engine. He said that the oil would then find a next place to seep through. Do you think this is accurate? I'd rather hear it from you than from him, you being the Savage expert ;)

Title: Re: bad oil leak
Post by verslagen1 on 04/22/12 at 16:05:30

That bolt is 130mm long
sometimes a new bolt of the same length will work.
and if you intend to tap it deeper... remember that bolt is 130mm long and you'll need to extend your tap.
that washer is rubber coated, once you get the bolt to take hold, you can coat the washer with rtv to seal it if the rubber on it is no good.
as far as finding the next place to leak... sounds like he's a pessimist ;D

Title: Re: bad oil leak
Post by Serowbot on 04/22/12 at 16:19:01

33203736292422202B74450 wrote:

...as far as finding the next place to leak... sounds like he's a pessimist ;D

Sounds more like what I do on long rides... :-?...

Title: Re: bad oil leak
Post by BelizeanBanman on 04/22/12 at 17:30:12

Thanks for the laugh serowbot!! ;)

So no one objects to re-threading just the few centimeters on the valve cover? I do realize that this is a lazy ass way of doing it, but the Kawasaki dealer wants to charge me 1-150 to re-thread it the proper way (removing the head, etc etc) which I find quite ridiculous. I'm a college boy with a budget as such, forgive me for being cheap.. :-[

Title: Re: bad oil leak
Post by ralfyguy on 04/22/12 at 18:18:40

Since it's stripped anyways, try this:

The bolt is an M6 thread. Acquire a 1/4" Standard bolt, which is 6.35mm OD and is the same length as the old bolt. Take a file and cut three grooves like it is on a threading tap. You can also taper the tip of the bolt a little to help get a grip down in the hole. Standard thread is a little more coarse than metric, so you basically cutting a new thread over the old one.

Title: Re: bad oil leak
Post by serenity3743 on 04/23/12 at 13:03:22

You might be able to get a heli-coil installed in there without removing the head......

Title: Re: bad oil leak
Post by BelizeanBanman on 04/23/12 at 15:11:40

Thanks for all the replies guys. What I just completed:

Bought a same length bolt, just with standard size as ralfy suggested. Put a folded piece of bicycle tube as a washer. I had the bike running for about a minute: no leak yet. I really really hope this lasts. I'm tired of oil covering everything.

Title: Re: bad oil leak
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 04/23/12 at 17:13:54

Yea, the shrimp in the Gulf feel the same way.,

Title: Re: bad oil leak
Post by ralfyguy on 04/23/12 at 18:59:58

6857534E10210 wrote:

It will last if you did it right and carefully. Only concern in that hole is shavings getting into the oil stream, but that possibly already happened anyway with the old bolt stripping. You should have been able to reuse the old washer or get a copper or aluminum washer. I'm not sure if the rubber tube is gonna hold. The bolt should hold if it got a good bite down there.

Title: Re: bad oil leak
Post by BelizeanBanman on 04/23/12 at 20:47:29

if nothing else works, at least ya'll got a whole lot of laughs out of me ;D thanks justin :P

as far as the leak, it appears to be solved for now. when i arrived at class this evening i noticed a strange sound tho. Like oil slushing around in the engine even after the engine is off?

Title: Re: bad oil leak
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 04/24/12 at 02:39:43

Id say thats your fault,,I mean, what is it you want, anyway? YOu dont let the oil leak out, then ya complain about it sloshin around inside,, geeeze dude,, pick one,,

Seriously,, you can hear the oil sloshin? I never have, I cant imagine what youre hearing, maybe someone has heard something along those lines & can help,, Sorry, Its 430, Im not even awake, I just had a look & felt like bein a wise guy,,