First start with major oil leakage

[apeonwheels]

Hey folks,

I have a question, someone might have faced the same problem. The restoration finally reached the first start that resulted in an unexpected outcome. The engine fired up for the first kick, which is cool because it underwent a complete rebuilt and overhaul, used up parts from several engines. After about half a min running at idle engine oil started accumulating underneath the bike. It came from underneath the left side cam cover, so I took it off. I noticed that the collar of the cover, see pics, is a bit wider than the corresponding space next to the bearing. Oddly, I didn`t notice this when I assembled the head, and I didn`t observe any tension of the camshaft, it ran freely. SO, what do you guys think? The positioning of the camshaft is screwed? Or, there are differently sized cam covers and I picked the wrong one? Perhaps a thicker gasket may solve the problem? Has anyone of yours faced an issue like this?

Thank you for any ideas!

[LOUD MOUSE]

Place a piece of cloth on that bearing then HARD WOOD on the cloth and drive the cam into the head.
If you have the 2 cams in the sprocket correctly you can do this. .................lm

Hey folks,

I have a question, someone might have faced the same problem. The restoration finally reached the first start that resulted in an unexpected outcome. The engine fired up for the first kick, which is cool because it underwent a complete rebuilt and overhaul, used up parts from several engines. After about half a min running at idle engine oil started accumulating underneath the bike. It came from underneath the left side cam cover, so I took it off. I noticed that the collar of the cover, see pics, is a bit wider than the corresponding space next to the bearing. Oddly, I didn`t notice this when I assembled the head, and I didn`t observe any tension of the camshaft, it ran freely. SO, what do you guys think? The positioning of the camshaft is screwed? Or, there are differently sized cam covers and I picked the wrong one? Perhaps a thicker gasket may solve the problem? Has anyone of yours faced an issue like this?

Thank you for any ideas!

[apeonwheels]

Thanks, I`ll try to hit it a bit more in, but I doubt it`s gonna work, since the cover was tightened on it strongly with the four bolts, so I guess it should`ve gone into place if there was room for that. I`ll measure exactly what the difference is. So are all the covers the same size?

[LOUD MOUSE]

All cam parts are the same.
The points cover has the same lip the left side has.
It is possible you didn't get the cams into the sprocket correctly and now the cam assembly is longer than designed.
Hit it!. ............lm

bl

Thanks, I`ll try to hit it a bit more in, but I doubt it`s gonna work, since the cover was tightened on it strongly with the four bolts, so I guess it should`ve gone into place if there was room for that. I`ll measure exactly what the difference is. So are all the covers the same size?

[OldStan]

It might help if you loosen the nut on the locking bolt in the center of the cam, tap it to unwedge it, then that half of the cam can slide into the center sprocket as the bearing moves.

[apeonwheels]

Thank you, that`s a good idea. I`m gonna do that when I get to the garage.. I`ll keep you guys posted!

[modelman]

I noticed the same with my rebuild, but as already stated, cured by 'tapping' it into position, & if you think about it, there is nothing to prevent the assembly from moving in the bores, so it the ring-lips on each end-cover that keep it centralized.