oil from top of motor...

[ahdesakodai]

I sold a buddy of mine a 86 venture 1300 three years ago. He hasn't started it until a week ago due to medical problems. He came to me today and said when he started it up there was oil that came from somewhere near the top of the motor and it wouldn't start.

He sent it to a repair shop that told him before he got it there that the motor was probably toast and quoted him a new motor.

That bike ran great for me and I can't believe what they are saying.

Can someone tell me what the problem could be? I am thinking that maybe he blew a top gasket or seal since it hadn't been run for so long, but not sure because I can't see it.

I would appreciate any help.

Lon

[Snaggletooth]

I wouldn't buy the shops story for nothing. Nope.

 

Hard to tell on the oil. Could be valve cover gaskets or even oil blowby from the crankcase vent tube if it came disconnected from the air box. Might just be some drainage from the airbox if the oil level in the case was over filled and blew some up into the airbox.

 

If it's been sitting that long there are all kinds of reasons it won't start, starting with old gas and run down the list from there.

Edited June 10, 2013 by Snaggletooth

[pmelah]

yea ask him if he put oil in it and filled it to the top of the sight glass while it was on the side stand ask me how i know that one:whistling: ... blew oil for days out the vent tube into the breather box made for very hard starting also the old gas thing

[Jayceesfolly]

Yeah, what Snaggletooth said......these 1300's live forever. I think the stealer is blowing smoke. Either doesn't want to bother with an "old" bike or his mechanics don't know how to work on them.

 

There are a few things that need to be done to get it running. Starting with a carb drain and Seafoam and then plugs, fresh gas, etc. There is a number of simple things to do to make it run. See the Tech Section for more help.

 

Others more knowledgeable than I can help.

 

Jim

[Power Trippin]

Yep, I agree with everyone elses reply. If it ran before, either the oil is overfilled and the carbs are gummed up. Oil is most likely coming from the vent tube that goes to the air filter housing, or a dried up valve cover gasket. Don't let the stealers touch that motor, they'll just make it worse! Find someone who knows these bikes and is not afraid to work on them.

[Flyinfool]

ANY dealer that can diagnose a toasted motor BEFORE it gets there (unless you mention something obvious like a rod sticking out the side of it) is one to never speak to again.

 

There are a lot of small things that can make an oil leak and/or a no start. Especially after sitting 3 years.

[Trader]

the guy I sold a bike to told me there was no oil in the bike so he added some.

 

The next morning he said he had a "huge" oil puddle on the driveway.

 

When I checked everything I found that It DID have oil in it..

It must have been over-full from the PO (I bought it ....hardly even looked at it and resold it) and the oil level window was completely black so he ASSUMED it had no oil in it and added a bunch more.

 

When I drained it to the proper level, I DRAINED more then the regular volume when doing a full oil change!!!

 

So it had more than twice what it should have had.

No wonder he complained that he had an oil leak!!!!

 

 

The oil leak was the o-ring on the timing inspection hole in the left side case....easy fix....but he decided he was too busy to own a bike anyway!