another oil cap question

[rdsmith3]

I searched the archives. really. I did.

What do you do when the sleeve that the oil cap screws into is loose and turns in place?

thanks.

[Boxer]

I've never had this happen...but I think it tightens up from inside the cover. Take the valve cover off and check to see if there's a way to tighten it up. As many times as I've had that cover off, I have never checked this out.

[daslimpet]

The oil filler plug thingie is really a 2 piece assembly.

1: There's the li'l cap that we take off to reveal the opening for pouring oil. It has an o-ring on its underside.

2: Then there's the plastic piece that the cap screws onto. This ring/ plug is made of rubbery plastic and can be carefully popped out from the outside with a flat screwdriver. It has a small notch that mates to a similar cut-out on the valve cover to keep it from spinning.

Oil tends to leak past (1) when the o-ring either wears out or becomes too wet with oil. Easy fix is to replace or clean the O-ring, and dry off the cap and the surface on (2) where the o ring touches.

Oil can also get up under (2) and make it slick enough that it WILL SPIN and possibly even allow some blow-by leakage. Again, simply remove it carefully from the valve cover, clean/dry all surfaces, and pop that bugger right back in.

Unless you have overfilled your oil above the observation window -thereby increasing crank-case pressure beyond the point that the seals can withstand - this should solve your problems with leakage around the filler hole.

Now.... go out and ride it like you stole it!

Good luck!
DasLimpet

[BobFV1]

I would just replace it with the moto-techniques unit, which comes with a finely machined steel replacement unit which is held in place with two set screws. Pay now - pay later.

[jamais]

Like Bob says, buy the Moto-techniques' version. Best bang for the buck upgrade. Secure and no more weaps-not to mention malicious acts are thwarted.

[Variance]

The Moto plug won't likely do much good if the inner seal is causing your leak. Go to your dealer for a 5 min fix. I learned this the hard way after 1000mi of leaking oil all over my boots and bike, buying the Moto plug (very nice as it is) and drying/redrying the plug o-ring numerous times with no luck.

I don't know how to fix the inner seal or I'd tell you how to do it.

[darthrider]

The Moto Techniques solution replaces the insert in the valve cover that rotates & leaks *and* the cap which can also leak.
Moto Techniques fixes the problem. Others, including new O-rings, just treat the symptoms.

[jamais]

Darth knows of what he speaks. Not one drop, whif, puff, nada since I intalled the Moto-techniques reiteration.

[rdsmith3]

Where is the best (cheapest) place to buy the moto-techniques oil cap?

[jamais]

I bought directly from them:

http://www.moto-techniques.com/

[rdsmith3]

So I carefully removed the sleeve that the oil cap fits in. I carefully cleaned it off. Then I lined up the tab with the notch and carefully inserted it back in. Hmmm. It looked like it should press in just a wee bit more. So I used the handle of a large screwdriver and, well, apparently not so carefully pressed it in a bit more. A plastic part went flying off. The tab had broken off. Oh well. Don't do what I did.