How'd the XX fair in all this... we heard stories about leaking gaskets and shit.
The oil leak proved to be my own doing. :angry2:
After installing new spark plugs before the 1088, upon reassembly I had pinched the crankcase breather hose closed. Pressure (obviously) builds up in the crankcase if it can't breathe, so it found the "seal of least resistance" to leak out the built-up pressure, which in this case is that little $2.98 seal that fits around the shift selector shaft.
This seal is a soft "press-fit", and is only retained by a modest 'C'-clamp, and even then, the 'C'-clamp only covers 1/3 of the seal. The pressure build-up was so great, the other 2/3's of the seal "pooched out" of its recess and allowed oil to stream out.
The seal in question is Item #21 below. The little 'C'-clamp is item #6, and as you can see, it only fits maye 1/3 of the circumference of the seal. There is (normally) very little pressure behind this seal, unless you **** up and close off the crankcase breather hose.... :angry2:
After returning the hose to it's proper position on Sunday, I've put about 100 miles on the bike to test it out, some of it approaching XX-Nominal speeds out on the High Plains. Happily, the engine bay is once again bone-dry and 100% leak-free.
Which is very, very good, as I have several other items that need to get addressed before resuming the training runs. The two biggest items being:
i) the fuel pump for the two side aux tanks has gone tits-up, so I will be replacing that tonight.
ii) I am not 100% happy with my Hydration system on the XX, because the drinking tube collapses above 95-ish mph. I need to find a way to "stiffen up" the tubing such that the wind doesn't collapse it at speed, and/or otherwise re-configure the drinking tube orientation such that it sits more out of the air stream.
MEDICAL UPDATE: Went to my doctor's yesterday afternoon; he is none too please with the arm. He thinks I am a surgery candidate based upon his external exam, but he can't say for sure until I have a MRI done. I am scheduled for this procedure on July 5th.
Wish me luck. Think heavy Karma thoughts for a partially torn tendon as the worse case.....