Posted by Max on July 10, 2001 at 07:31:44:
In Reply to: oil leak, please help posted by cesar on July 09, 2001 at 22:33:23:
There are a number of posts down this forum regarding the famous (or infamous) Savage leak. It can come from gaskets as described in the other posts. However, most leak intermittently past the rubber plug that covers the cylinder head bolt behind the exhaust pipe. Use a flashlight and kneel on the exhaust side of the bike. Look behind the exhaust on the outer side back in the cubby hole in the cylinder head and see if it is clean(er) but oily there. If so you have found your leak. It will follow the fins on the engine and head and show up on both side covers (air filter and tool box cover side), the front of the battery case from the wind. Clean it off with a solvent or citrus based cleaner and a parts cleaning brush and it will look better. My drools between cleanings but I've only had to add a pint of oil once, so the leak is not major. Some riders have had the plug changed more than once under warranty and it still seems to leak. Others never have the problem. Mine is a 96 and it does leak from time to time. I plan to wait until riding season is over to atempt a permanent repair. If you are not mechanically inclined, maybe you can take this information to someone who can then check it for you.