Back to the cage, dammit

[woolwich]

head gasket leak day.. I've had my RSV now for a grand total of 18 days, sitting at work this morning I noticed a drop of something under the bike. Upon closer inspection I found that the right rear cylinder seemed to be leaking oil, very diffulcult to see back there running my hand along the valve cover I knew it wasn't there it had to be lower. Called my stealer and explained just how upset I was about the fact that this happened and did they not go over a bike before delivery to a customer.

After an hour and half ride to the dealers and three hours it was brought to my attention that they believe it has a service bulletin on this problem, not impressed was I and explained that to them, why when I called them at 1130am and then rode down there in two hours they didn't get on it and check for a SB. Instead I sat there smoking cigs and and steaming for three hours, while they puttered around having three techs looking at the bike.

I have now read up on here about the problem, and hopefully once I get the bike back this will be the end of it.

One question ... what are the chances antifreeze got into the oil and may have buggered up the bearings??

Anyone here have any problems after the heads and cylinders were pulled and reassembled, due to contaminated oil before the fix?

So just so I'm armed when I go back to the dealer after a major job such as this the valves should have been set correct and carbs sync done, as i want to be sure of what I'm demanding before I leave the dealer ... Thankfully the only thing I will be out is time with the bike, which rain is forecasted for the next five days, so hopefully they will get it back to me soon.

Hopefully my boss isn't to pissed I just left at lunchtime and told him the bike is more important right now than work...opps..lol

[Mariner Fan]

The head gasket deal was to just re-torq the bolts. My local dealer did that and then didn't tighten the valve covers. I ended up with an oil leak there.

[BradT]

Larry sorry to hear. Ask them to change the oil and filter, as it will be the only way to be sure, but I doubt there is any damage to the bearings.

 

My only concern is the repair ? Are they torquing the head bolts or replacing head gaskets. I assume they are only torquing. I have mixed opinions on which is best.

 

Hope it comes home soon.

 

Brad

[woolwich]

I was told changing head gaskets and cylinder gaskets and oil seals, and they have to wait for the parts to come in. He said hopefully nothing is on back order, so its just not the tightening of the bolts, or it better not be...

I would think once the gasket is compromised that it should be replaced. I will be keeping a very close eye on it for the next while once I get it back, I'm hoping they don't want me back there again with the same problem and I'm sure they don't want Sherry back, she was rather angry and let them know it....

[Bummer]

I was told changing head gaskets and cylinder gaskets and oil seals, ...

Cylinder gaskets?

[Squidley]

Cylinder gaskets?

 

 

Probably the gaskets down at the bottom of the Jugs where it connects to the crankcase Steve

[Bummer]

Probably the gaskets down at the bottom of the Jugs where it connects to the crankcase Steve

On a Venture engine?

[Squidley]

On a Venture engine?

 

 

Yeah, the cylinders have to go on someway

I haven't looked at mine hard but every bike I have ever seen uses the same concept for installing cylinders on an engine.

I stand corrected, I just looked it up and you have to split the crancase to get at the pistons...learn something new everyday.

[Bummer]

That's why I wondered when I read his comment. If the shop's telling him they'll have to replace the cylinder gaskets they may be in for a bit of a surprise. First off they're gonna be hard to order...

[Flyinfool]

Unless they meant cylinder cover gaskets ala valve cover gaskets???

[Bummer]

Does seem more likely, doesn't it. On the other hand the shop may have a mechanic who's never worked on a Venture. And of course there's always that language barrier. You know, where they get a Japanese guy who doesn't speak English, give him the address to babelfish, and have him translate the manual.

[woolwich]

Geez now you have me wondering, anyway my wife phoned today and spoke to the service team leader and he told her that the parts should be in on tuesday and they ordered a few extra things as they figured if they have it torn down they should address other issues? She couldn't tell me what the other issues are, but they did tell her its a big job and well take two possibly three days, they told her they have their best guys schedule free and clear and he will be the one working on it.

I know before we left on thursday he told me it looks like a straight eight hours of work. seems rather long, I'm hoping I get a list of everything being done once its done and I can share it here, eight hours to two perhaps three days seems long to me. I've read here something about an I-basket recall, I wonder if they decided it would be wise to simply address all the known problems..

Another thought is they could simply be afraid of my wife as she told them she intends to be calling everyday hell she managed to push for surgery when they told her it couldn't be done and ended up getting it and is now 100% healthy...

Oh and the service tech is scottish..lol, they have like four or five techs in this shop, its a big shop in London Ontario..

[BradT]

I stand corrected, I just looked it up and you have to split the crancase to get at the pistons...learn something new everyday.

 

You do not have to split the crankcase to get at the pistons and not sure why you want too. IF they are replacing head gasket you do have to remove the engine to get the heads off. Then you have access to the pistons just flip the engine over remove the oil pan, oil pump then you can get at the connecting rod caps. Remove two bolts and push piston out of the cylinder. You need a long extension and a swivel to get the caps off.

 

I figured they would just re-torque the bolts this can be done without removing the engine but you have to pull the cams to tighten the head bolts. This should not be an 8 hour job at least for a mechanic, me yes probably more .

 

Big job either way. I am curious what is the oil seal ?, I was thinking valve seals but they do not need to touch them

 

Brad

[woolwich]

Well I will hopefully get answers to these question this coming week, as i hope to get something in writing of the work done. The only other thing I can think of is they found something they aren't willing to let me know about. Wonder if I can trace the vin in the states and perhaps get some info on the bike or some history on repairs etc.. Does anyone here have access to this type of info, or work at a dealership?