Dead forum again?

[Bill H.]

The other day I pulled the carburetor, top, front and back shrouds, the intake and oil cooler off my Mite. I had made mention it never has heated up but in 115 degree heat it got a little hot. Close to 220 degrees. So, what I found was years worth of leaves, bugs, twigs, seeds, sticks, bugs, dirt, bugs and even some grass (lawn type). I used the hose (sitting in 110 degree heat) and pressure nozzle and cleaned all the crud out from around the fins. The oil cooler was packed with crud and it took me 30 minutes with the nozzle and air pressure to clean it out.

My Mite has had a very slight oil seepage for some time. It is coming from behind the generator and dripping off the oil pan and front differential. When I had the top parts off the engine I did notice what looked to be seepage around the push rod tubes and vent tubes. I cleaned everything off real good with "steam cleaner in a can" (brake cleaner) and put everything back together. I did not change out all the "O" rings. My gasket set has been picked over for many, many years that it's been sitting around here. Well, it ran perfect and cool at 180-185.

Now, I've taken it out a couple of time since then and still it runs great. And, I didn't notice an oil leak either. So I thought maybe the oil cooler mounting gasket was seeping a bit even though I really didn't see any evidence of it. Well I took it out again the other day and when I got home and parked it I found three drops of oil on the drip pan. Sure enough there was oil coming from behind and towards the front of the generator and running down the oil pan and differential.

Today I pulled all the stuff off the top of the engine again (I'm off work and bored to tears). I found nothing at all! Everything just as clean and dry as can be. I think the leak may be the front crank seal. It is wet up behind the pulley and there is some evidence of oil on the gear case cover as well and on the passenger side near the oil line. The oil line doesn't look to be seeping though.

I'm going to look at it again in the morning when it is cooler. I lost 10 pounds just sweating today! Hum, maybe I'll wait for it to get hot

[Bill H.]

Okay, you guys are all out working, making a living and ignoring me!

I'll let the pictures speak for themselves other than I didn't realize it was actually leaking more on the passenger side. The fording valve glass fit shaft is leaking also..



I'll detail the paint later.

[BigBlock]

Nice project Bill. You could end up with the only mite on the planet that dosen't drip a little...

[Bill H.]

I hate oil leaks! My Harley doesn't leak (and it has oil in it) and I don't want my Mite to either!

[Bill H.]

Update:

Been running the crap out of the Mite the last few weeks and not one drop of oil! Yep, I might just have the only Mighty Mite that doesn't leak oil.

[acmack]

Bill what was involved in the seal change? Was it just an O-ring you pull out then stuff another in or is there more to it?

David

[Bill H.]

David, it is a regular metal cased rubber lip seal. Just pry the old one out, sand the gear housing put a little RTV in the recess where the sear surface meets the housing, drive the seal in using a socket that is a little smaller than the seal or seal driving tool, sand the sealing surface on the pulley (I use 240 grit emery), put a dab of clean motor oil on both seal and sealing surface of the pulley and put it all back together.