I'm posting this so that someone may be able to learn from my mistake. I try to always go over steps and parts when disassembling/assembling something, but this time I goofed. ::010:: Here's the short version...
I meant to change the plugs and air filter at the 10k mark, but didn't find a roundtoit until recently (13k). Got the filter (oem), a set of plugs, and into I dove. Pretty straight forward other than the left side bodywork removal to get at the tank screw. ::010:: That's a design flaw. What's wrong with an access hole, or an accessible bolt head?! Tilt the tank, made note to release the drain lines first (learned that the hard way last time ;D ), and pull the air box cover. Change the filter, replace the lid, and pull the box, then vent hose and sensor connector. On to the plugs...
The vent hose is right in the way, so I wedge it up and out of the way under a frame rail. The spark plugs aren't exactly the easiest thing to change, either, but that's a different topic. Far left (#1? #2? Sorry, I haven't looked) plug boot must've had a bad seal because the plug was rusted up pretty bad. Replaced all plugs, and lubed up the boots, all back in place. Ok, all looks good. Reassembly time...
Everything when back together, no issues. Fired it up, ran good, road test, mission accomplished. Next day I notice some oil film on the right side. WTF?! I start mentally retracing my steps, and it hits me. I didn't reconnect that farking crankcase vent hose to the airbox, dayum! That afternoon I pull it all back apart, and reconnect the hose. It was still wedged in there, right where I left it. ::010:: Curiously though, there wasn't any spray coming from it. "The spray must be coming from the other end.", I thought. So I buttoned it up, and took another ride. Nope, not fixed! :'(
Immediately I was worried that I'd blown a gasket or hose somewhere, and that was my leak source. It was all on the right side, so I took the righthand bodywork off, along with the battery/electronics tray. Pulled it back, and voila. ??? It's hard to see, but the cam access plug on the gasket had popped out of the channel!
It's pretty obvious to those familiar, but to those that aren't I've added the arrows. At least now I know where the weakest link is.
The rubber was way too tight to simply push back in, so I loosened the valve cover up at all six bolts. Didn't remove it, but popped it up enough to shove the rubber back in. It didn't take much, and fell back into place pretty easily. So far it's holding up fine after idling up to fan temp, cooling, and then a trip down the road and back. ::008::
Taking it by the car wash this evening to give it a good douche. It only takes a moment to overlook something small, so keep your eyes peeled! ::003::
I meant to change the plugs and air filter at the 10k mark, but didn't find a roundtoit until recently (13k). Got the filter (oem), a set of plugs, and into I dove. Pretty straight forward other than the left side bodywork removal to get at the tank screw. ::010:: That's a design flaw. What's wrong with an access hole, or an accessible bolt head?! Tilt the tank, made note to release the drain lines first (learned that the hard way last time ;D ), and pull the air box cover. Change the filter, replace the lid, and pull the box, then vent hose and sensor connector. On to the plugs...
The vent hose is right in the way, so I wedge it up and out of the way under a frame rail. The spark plugs aren't exactly the easiest thing to change, either, but that's a different topic. Far left (#1? #2? Sorry, I haven't looked) plug boot must've had a bad seal because the plug was rusted up pretty bad. Replaced all plugs, and lubed up the boots, all back in place. Ok, all looks good. Reassembly time...
Everything when back together, no issues. Fired it up, ran good, road test, mission accomplished. Next day I notice some oil film on the right side. WTF?! I start mentally retracing my steps, and it hits me. I didn't reconnect that farking crankcase vent hose to the airbox, dayum! That afternoon I pull it all back apart, and reconnect the hose. It was still wedged in there, right where I left it. ::010:: Curiously though, there wasn't any spray coming from it. "The spray must be coming from the other end.", I thought. So I buttoned it up, and took another ride. Nope, not fixed! :'(
Immediately I was worried that I'd blown a gasket or hose somewhere, and that was my leak source. It was all on the right side, so I took the righthand bodywork off, along with the battery/electronics tray. Pulled it back, and voila. ??? It's hard to see, but the cam access plug on the gasket had popped out of the channel!
It's pretty obvious to those familiar, but to those that aren't I've added the arrows. At least now I know where the weakest link is.
The rubber was way too tight to simply push back in, so I loosened the valve cover up at all six bolts. Didn't remove it, but popped it up enough to shove the rubber back in. It didn't take much, and fell back into place pretty easily. So far it's holding up fine after idling up to fan temp, cooling, and then a trip down the road and back. ::008::
Taking it by the car wash this evening to give it a good douche. It only takes a moment to overlook something small, so keep your eyes peeled! ::003::
