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New Bike Has Oil Leak

David Haynes

David Haynes

Just got it firing!
Joined
Apr 27, 2014
Messages
8
Location
Blount Springs AL
I'm the happy owner of a new 2013 orange Stelvio NTX. However, since the first couple hundred miles I've had a small but persnickety oil leak that I've traced to the drain hole for the spark plug well in the RH side. It's just a few drops each time that blows from the drain hole and cooling fin onto my leg and the transmission housing. Probably a thimbleful every 500 miles.

Photo of leak:
P4166843-L.jpg


I had assumed it was an issue with the rubber gasket at the top of the spark plug well, the one in the center of the valve cover. But when I did my first service (900 miles) and had the valve cover off to do the valve check/adjustment the gasket looked fine. Even so I applied a thin coat of silicone RTV gasket maker to it, but the leak continued.

Then last night as I was looking at a parts fiche exploded illustration, I noticed that there are two other seals (the o-rings shown as "9" in the screen grab below) that could be the culprit.

valve%20cover.jpg


However, I'm reluctant to start digging deeper into the engine for fear of warranty issues and it appears that at the least the rocker arm assembly would need to be removed to access these o-rings.

The closest dealer is over 200 miles away and based on what I hear about their service turn-around times I'm thinking I'd have to leave the bike if they do it, meaning two trips there and back.

Anyone had experience with these o-rings leaking and/or the procedure required to access them???

Thanks!
 
This should be covered under warranty. Are you thinking of Rider's Hill or Sloan's in Murfreesboro TN for service?
 
Yeah, covered by warranty, but if I can do myself it'll save me 800 total miles of driving there and back twice in my truck with the bike in the back. Gas alone would be over $150, not to mention the time driving and the time I'd be without the bike.

I was thinking Riders Hill. But really don't know much about either dealership. Each is about the same distance from me give or take 20 miles.

I should mention that when I bought this bike I was employed by the Moto Guzzi (also BMW, Triumph) dealership in Birmingham (40 miles from me) and the dealership closed unexpectedly earlier this month after an ongoing dispute with the landlord got us kicked out of the building. All the employees were taken by surprise by this. When I bought this bike I was expecting to have our service guys show me the ins and outs of routine maintenance and hadn't figured on a new bike having issues this soon out of the box. I also had a poorly crimped ground wire that left me on the side of the road at 200 miles.

The dealership owner, according to one of our service techs, is trying to find another building to resume operations, but that's an iffy proposition at best as of this moment.

Anyone have a recommendation of Rider's Hill vs. Sloan's for warranty service like this. If I could know I can get it done in one trip that would be easiest. And I could ride the bike instead of hauling it.

The leak is not a gusher, just a drop or two of oil back on the tranny cover after a couple of hours ride. The oil level hasn't moved. But I'm reluctant to take a longish trip because I don't know if it's likely to get worse.
 
I was think that you can get to those o'rings, but I suspect I am confusing that with the older Centauro motor heads.

If you pull the valve cover and spark plug can you get a better view?
Be careful with the spark plug caps.
 
My 13 did the same thing, I took it to the dealer and they said that the sealant on the set screw had cracked but no mention of an o ring. No more leak.yaaa!
 
Cage Free said:
My 13 did the same thing, I took it to the dealer and they said that the sealant on the set screw had cracked but no mention of an o ring. No more leak.yaaa!
Click to expand...

What "set screw" are you referring to?
 
To anyone who has removed the rocker arm tower on the 4-valve head… Can it be removed without removing the cam and/or disconnecting the cam chain drive? From the exploded view I posted above it appears that it might, but I've been unable to find a clear reference to whether it can or not in the service manual. Everything I've found is for removing the entire head or just the valve cover.

I'm trying to access the two o-rings (#9 in the exploded view I posted earlier) that seal off the spark plug tube at the lower end, between the top of the head and the bottom of the rocker arm assembly.
 
You should give Ian a call at Riders Hill they serviced my Griso 2009 new before shipping it to me in Phx, Az. I had that same leak but mine was from the o-rings after removing the valve cover.
 
David Haynes said:
To anyone who has removed the rocker arm tower on the 4-valve head… Can it be removed without removing the cam and/or disconnecting the cam chain drive? From the exploded view I posted above it appears that it might, but I've been unable to find a clear reference to whether it can or not in the service manual. Everything I've found is for removing the entire head or just the valve cover.

I'm trying to access the two o-rings (#9 in the exploded view I posted earlier) that seal off the spark plug tube at the lower end, between the top of the head and the bottom of the rocker arm assembly.
Click to expand...

I'm sure that you need to disconnect the cam chain sprocket in order to lift the cam assembly.
 
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