Well, about 20 topics relating to rocker box leaks, so I just picked the one at the top of the list for posting this silliness.
Went out to the annual Chicago Norton Owner's Club Vintage Motorcycle Show on Sunday. Didn't take many pictures, and that's not my reason for writing anyway, but I did love the 1915 Indian in the attached photo.
Having arrived late to the show, after rushing my bike together (after working until 2:00 AM with my son on his Volkswagon brakes), I didn't exhibit for voting. One of the things I DID NOT do in a hurry on Sunday was mount my rocker box. That was a couple weeks earlier. First ride after mouting the box, I noticed significant oil on the top fin of the head, obviously from the rocker box. OK, tightened-down the box a bit, because the bolts did feel a bit slack. On the ride to the show (18 mi. one way), a lot less oil was drenching the works, but still plenty there. Annoying, I told myself, and decided to determine the oil's exact point of departure. This is where the silliness comes in. I cut a doggy pee pad into several strips and wrapped them around the rocker box, secured by twisted wire (should have taken a picture). Took a five-mile ride around town to see if anything was revealed. Abso-*******-lutely! Big oil stain right above the left side of the intake. Today, asked myself, "What the hell is going on?" It didn't take me long to consider that the rocker box gasket might have gotten folded over when installing the box. About two seconds with a very thin artist's pallete knife testing the gasket (my favorite tool. I think) and I found the knife slipping right through the gasket gap where the stain was on the pee pad. Haven't disassembled yet, but confident I won't make that mistake again.
Richard L.
