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Oil Leaks-anyone else/

On the foam in the lid of the fuse box... in mine it was too thin. so I added a piece of real soft foam about 3/4 inch wide and the length of the lid. That is all I did and my relays stay tight now. I pull the lid about once a month just to check.

Not sure... but wondering if it best to put in some foil type material that won't take a spark between the foam and the fuses, or is heat resistant? Just a thought. Does it need it?

Thanks.
 
Not sure... but wondering if it best to put in some foil type material that won't take a spark between the foam and the fuses, or is heat resistant? Just a thought. Does it need it?

Thanks.
Don't ever put a metallic sustance in an electrical enclosure unless it is:
1...necessary
2...part of the system
3...approved for the use, and
4...well secured or connected into the circuit.
A piece of foil tearing off could have disastrous results!
 
here in Florida or are you in California?

I am in California and it is bloody cold and foggy. That is why I want to head south.

I did go to Key West on the Spyder this summer. That was way too hot. So this summer it is off to Alaska. All the more reason to have my scooter run correctly.
 
here in Florida or are you in California?

I am in California and it is bloody cold and foggy. That is why I want to head south.

I did go to Key West on the Spyder this summer. That was way too hot. So this summer it is off to Alaska. All the more reason to have my scooter run correctly.

Take plenty of mosquito repellent.:yikes: And don't take any small children or small pets....they'll get carried off by the saber tooth mosquito's or sucked dry.:roflblack:
 
I spent my yoot (youth) in South Louisiana. Mosquitoes now give me a pass. Probably because they think I am empty.
 
Don't ever put a metallic sustance in an electrical enclosure unless it is:
1...necessary
2...part of the system
3...approved for the use, and
4...well secured or connected into the circuit.
A piece of foil tearing off could have disastrous results!

Ok, understood. Just foam - thanks, Scotty!
 
Bugs...

Yep... and we also have the alligator snapping gnats down here. So small you can't see them when they land on you but when they open their mouths to bite... it looks like a gator opening up.


Pay close heed to what Scotty said about not putting metal or foil in the fuse box. Never put any metal in the fuse box. /Ken
 
Yep... and we also have the alligator snapping gnats down here. So small you can't see them when they land on you but when they open their mouths to bite... it looks like a gator opening up.
/Ken

I ran into a whole swarm of them down on Mustang Island one time. I called 'em "teeth" because you couldn't see them when they landed, but you sure knew when they bit you.:yikes:
 
Well every area has its own name for them. Some call them noseeums which is pretty self explanatory. I always called them 'flying teeth'

I like how this thread has gone from my miesearble engine problems to miserable insect tales. It is all good.
 
This is done to...

introduce some levity into a bad situation. I suspect it is a sub-conscious thing to help reduce stress on the person with the problem.

Did you get your spyder back to the shop? And did they have a possible solution to the problems you are experiencing? /Ken
 
It goes in first thing on Tuesday. They are closed on Sunday Monday. Carlo at BRP is on the case. He seems very helpful. I am going to remain confident that it will get fixed.

Besides we are expecting a downpour of rain over the next few days. Expecting 6 inches or more which is a lot for us. So I am not going anywhere on my Spyder.
 
one more update

I have my Spyder back-again. During the last 90 days it has been in the shop probably 70.

The oil pump(s) were changed. The oil pressure was measured before doing this at 10 psi at idle and 50psi at 5000RPM. After it was 15-20 at idle and 60-65 at 5000 rpm.

Also they changed the purge valve on the evaporative canister.

Results- Motor runs like it always has. There is the slightest surge but that has been like that forever.

The oil pressure light comes on at idle-no change.

It still leaks oil.

I ran with the catch can today and after 50 miles there was about a tablespoon plus of what looked like water. I almost tasted it to find out but enough is enough. I took the catch can off and put the hose back on the airbox. Let it leak, as it is not likely to stop.

So I am going off on a trip. Wish me luck.
 
oil tank question

I fitted a catch can which seems to be doing it's job. My question is: has anyone plumbed the drain hose directly into the top of the oil tank so it becomes the catch can?
 
I fitted a catch can which seems to be doing it's job. My question is: has anyone plumbed the drain hose directly into the top of the oil tank so it becomes the catch can?
What drain hose? If you're talking about the crankcase breather you would have to vent the tank.
 
Sounds like you are...

thinking about hooking the Crank Case vent to directly to the oil tank. You may want to re-think that idea. It could pressurize the tank and force all the oil into the engine at once. It might also put enough pressure into the tank to split it if there is enough blow by from the piston rings.

Or if you do test this mod you may want to think about installing a pressure relief oil filler cap of about 1 to 2 psi.

Me... I would think long about doing this mod. /Ken
 
Hwy 1

After a 300 mile on California Hwy one I am feeling a lot better about the entire thing. The motor sounds knarley but I am attributing that to the green filter I added right before I left on this trip. It is getting good mileage which, to me at least, is a good sign that things are running the way they should be.

I have not looked at the oil level. They always fill it to the top when they do an oil change at the dealer. I will check it today.

Off to San Diego.
 
What drain hose? If you're talking about the crankcase breather you would have to vent the tank.

I'm talking about the hose that drains into the catch can, while leaving the breather hose to the airbox. Instead of a catch can let the oil return straight to the tank via a small fitting tapped into the top of the tank.

Or because of the oil pumps 'sucking and blowing' into the tank is there some pressure in the tank which would prevent the breather oil flowing into it?
 
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The rest of the story

On October 19,2009 I took my bike in for to have some oil leaks looked at. On December 16, I got it back and the leaks were worse then when I took it in. I also now had a low oil pressure light when the engine was at idle. The valve cover gaskets were changed again and this seemed to fix the oil leak problem

There were many more trips to the dealer on the low oil pressure problem. I got Carlo from BRP involved, oil pumps changed and on and on.

After one liaise with BRP the recommendation was made to change the oil to 20W50. Since my dealer did not carry such oil, why would they?, I changed it out myself to regular Castrol 20w50 mineral oil as I was told to do.

When draining the oil I found a pin on the magnetic plug. It took the pin back to the dealer and was told it was not part of my engine. The heavier weight oil did nothing to solve the low oil pressure problem.

Back to the dealer and another tear down of the engine revealed that the pin was indeed part of the oiling system of my engine. Without it in the oil path, the oil pressure was squirting out of the hole the pin normally occupied.

The pin and tube were replaced and the oil pressure went from 8 to 60 PSI at idle.

I just came back from a 150 mile shakedown run and it appears that the problem has been resolved. I have not had the heart to check for oil leaks since whether they are there or not I am not going to do anything about it.

To those of you who encouraged me to stick with getting this problem fixed, thanks for the support.

I have also reacquired the steering lock up problem again but it is very sporadic. I was told to change the battery. By the same people who told me to put the 20w50 oil in it. I have not changed the battery.

I have spent pretty close to $200k with this dealer over the last 12 years. The dealer did offer me a 2009 demo model for $7k plus my bike. I gave the mechanic some hockey tickets. I have been very patient. Any other suggestions would be appreciated
 
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:congrats: on finally finding out what the oil leak was and thanks for sharing. Good info to tuck away.

Your patience is to be admired. :thumbup:
 
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